What is the perimeter of a triangle ABC on a graph? A (6,1) B (2,7) C (-3,-5)

1 Answer
Aug 22, 2015

13 + 5sqrt13

Explanation:

Let's see what this triangle looks like.

enter image source here

I used desmos.com to make the graph; it's a great free online graphing calculator!

Anyway, let's use the Pythagorean theorem to find each of the sides. Let's start with the side connecting (-3, -5) and (2, 7). If you go "over" 5 along the x-axis, and "up" 12 along the y-axis, you get from (-3, -5) to (2, 7). So, this side can be thought of as the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs of 5 and 12.

5^2 + 12^2 = x^2
169 = x^2
13 = x

So this side has length 13. Now let's find the length of the side connecting (2, 7) and (6, 1). To get from (2, 7) to (6, 1), you go "down" 6 and "over" 4. So, this side is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides of 6 and 4.

6^2 + 4^2 = x^2
52 = x^2
2sqrt(13)=x

So this side has length 2sqrt13. One last side (the one from (-3, -5) to (6, 1)). To get from (-3, -5) to (6, 1) you go "over" 9 and "up" 6. So, this side is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides of 9 and 6.

9^2+6^2=x^2
117=x^2
3sqrt13=x

So this side has length 3sqrt13.

This means the total perimeter is 13 + 2sqrt13 + 3sqrt13 or 13 + 5sqrt13.