Point B has coordinates (1,2). The x-coordinate of point A is -3. The distance between point A and point B is 5 units. What are the possible coordinates of point A?

Answer 1

|AB|=5

A is (1,2)

B is (-3,y)

it may help to plot the point A

and draw a vertical line x=-2

then notice there's 2 points where AB=5

construct 2 right triangles with base =4

height =3, hypotenuse =5

B can be either (-3,2+3) or (-3,2-3)

B = (-2, 5) or (-2,-1)

use the distance formula or Pythagorean Theorem

5^2 = 9+16 = 25