Question

question 1 of 5 select the correct answer. fernando is using the distance formula to find the length, d, of the line segment. his work is shown on the graph. what mistake did he make? d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \bigcirc he subtracted the wrong coordinates to find the distance of the horizontal leg. \bigcirc he squared the distance terms. \bigcirc he used a radical to find d. \bigcirc he subtracted the wrong coordinates to find the distance of the vertical leg.

Explanation:

To determine Fernando's mistake, we analyze the vertical leg calculation. The vertical leg's length is found by subtracting the y - coordinates of the two points. Looking at the graph, the y - coordinates of the two points are - 1 and 3. The correct calculation for the vertical leg should be \(3-(-1)\)? No, wait, actually, when finding the length of the vertical leg (the difference in y - coordinates), we should subtract the lower y - coordinate from the upper one or take the absolute value of the difference. But in terms of the vertical leg's length (the vertical distance), we calculate the difference in y - coordinates. If one point has a y - coordinate of - 1 and the other has 3, the vertical change is \(3 - (-1)\)? Wait, no, maybe the points are, for example, let's assume the two points: one has coordinates (let's say) \((x_1,y_1)\) and the other \((x_2,y_2)\). For the vertical leg, we calculate \(|y_2 - y_1|\). If Fernando subtracted the wrong coordinates for the vertical leg, that's the mistake. So the option "He subtracted the wrong coordinates to find the distance of the vertical leg" is correct.

Answer:

He subtracted the wrong coordinates to find the distance of the vertical leg.