Perpendicular Lines

Question

The vertices of a triangle are labeled clockwise A(–5, 3), B(6, 1), and C(–2, –3). How could you show that the figure is a right triangle?

 

Answer 1

show AB and CB are perpendicular

show the slope of AB is the negative inverse of the slope of CB

plot the points, construct the triangle. It looks like a right triangle

or also show AB^2 + CB^2 = AC^2

either way, you show it's a right triangle

sum of 2 sides squared = 3rd side squared

or 2 sides have negative inverse slopes