How do you find the perpendicular distance between the straight lines y=2x+7 and y=2x+2?

1 Answer

5/ sqrt 5 = sqrt 5

Explanation:

r : y = 2x + 7

s : y = 2x + 2

r and s are parallel, and both are perpendicular to

t : y = -1/2 x + b

Let b = 0 and find r cap t = P, s cap t = Q

2x + n = -1/2 x

4x + 2n = -x

x = - (2n) / 5

y = -1/2 x = n/5

|PQ|^2 = (-(2n_1)/5 + (2n_2)/5)^2 + ((n_1)/5 - (n_2)/5)^2

|PQ|^2 = 4/25 (n_2 - n_1)^2 + 1/25 (n_1 - n_2)^2

|PQ| = sqrt {1/5} |n_1 - n_2|

n_1 = 7, n_2 = 2