Line ℓ1 has the equation x= - 1 and line ℓ2 has the equation x= - 3. Find the distance between ℓ1 and ℓ2.

Question

Round answer to nearest 10th

Answer 1

| -3 - -1 | = | -3 + 1 | = | -2 | = 2

The perpendicular line to a vertical line is a horizontal line.

So for some fixed horizontal line y units above (or below) the x-axis

the distance can be found using the distance formula, for (-3, y) on line 1 and (-1, y) on line 2'

the distance is sqrt ( (-3 - -1)^2 + (y-y)^2 ) = sqrt( (-2)^2 + 0^2) = sqrt ( 4 + 0) = sqrt(4) = 2