# Math Help - Coordinate Geometry

1. ## Coordinate Geometry

Hey, how do you know in a random question with 2 coordinates which is the x1 and y1 and which is the x2 and y2? I keep doing the x1/x2 and y1/y2 the wrong way round!

E.G. The line MN is the diameter of a circle, where M and N are (6,-4) and (0,-2) respectively. Find the radius of the circle

I know the forumla being the square root of (x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2...

But how on earth do you know from the question which is y2 and y1? I keep getting it wrong!

Thanks

2. Originally Posted by Danielisew
Hey, how do you know in a random question with 2 coordinates which is the x1 and y1 and which is the x2 and y2? I keep doing the x1/x2 and y1/y2 the wrong way round!

E.G. The line MN is the diameter of a circle, where M and N are (6,-4) and (0,-2) respectively. Find the radius of the circle

I know the forumla being the square root of (x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2...

But how on earth do you know from the question which is y2 and y1? I keep getting it wrong!

Thanks
it really doesn't matter. just pick one point to be $(x_1,y_1)$ and the other to be $(x_2,y_2)$. you'll get the same answer either way

(you can try this, do it both ways and you will see. can you tell why this works out?)

3. ## Well..

Well I just tried it with the following:

X2: -2
X1: -4
Y2: 0
Y1: 6

I end up with the diameter being the square root of 40. Therefore, the radius is the square root of 20? It says the answer is the square root of 10!

Thanks for your help, but I am still stuck..

4. Originally Posted by Danielisew
Well I just tried it with the following:

X2: -2
X1: -4
Y2: 0
Y1: 6

I end up with the diameter being the square root of 40. Therefore, the radius is the square root of 20? It says the answer is the square root of 10!

Thanks for your help, but I am still stuck..
ok, here's how coordinates work. the first value in the pair are the x-values. so x1 and x2 are NOT -4 and -2, respectively. but technically, it also does not matter.

$\underbrace {(6,-4)}_{(x_1,y_1)}$ and $\underbrace {(0,-2)}_{(x_2,y_2)}$

thus, $D = \sqrt{(0 - 6)^2 + (-2 - (-4))^2} = \sqrt{36 + 4} = \sqrt{40} = 2\sqrt{10}$

the radius is half of this, thus it is $\sqrt{10}$

so that was your mistake. 1/2 of sqrt(40) is NOT sqrt(20)

5. Ok thanks very much..

Can you give me a quick lesson on that kinda thing where you cancel down surds? I can't do it and have no idea how square root of 40= 2 multiplied by square root 10..

It would be much appreciated!

Thanks

6. Originally Posted by Danielisew
Ok thanks very much..

Can you give me a quick lesson on that kinda thing where you cancel down surds? I can't do it and have no idea how square root of 40= 2 multiplied by square root 10..

It would be much appreciated!

Thanks
well, this hinges on the fact that we can write roots as powers.

we also know that $(ab)^n = a^n b^n$

so, if we have $\sqrt{ab}$, that is the same as $(ab)^{\frac 12} = a^{\frac 12}b^{\frac 12}$

or equivalently, $\sqrt{ab} = \sqrt{a} \sqrt{b}$

so now on to your example. always look to factor out a number for which you know the square root of.

so, $\sqrt{40} = \sqrt{4 \cdot 10} = \sqrt{4} \sqrt{10}$ and we know the square root of four, that's just 2. so we end up with $2 \sqrt{10}$

7. Ok thanks a lot! I am sorted =)