Online Course Discussion Forum

Math Challenge I-C Winter 2023 Geometry Problem 3.14

 
 
Picture of Blair Chen
Math Challenge I-C Winter 2023 Geometry Problem 3.14
by Blair Chen - Monday, December 18, 2023, 5:39 PM
 

What is a perpendicular bisector exactly. Also, how would you find the perpendicular bisector without plotting A and B. I think C is not a point on the perpendicular bisector of AB because when I plotted on a graph, it did not make a 90 degree... 

Thanks.



 
Picture of John Lensmire
Re: Math Challenge I-C Winter 2023 Geometry Problem 3.14
by John Lensmire - Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 12:40 PM
 

Good question! It is always possible to try to graph and get a rough idea, but there is an important property that can also help:

  • If a line $\ell$ is the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{AB}$, then any point $C$ on the perpendicular bisector must be the same distance from $A$ as it is to $B$. If the distances are not equal, then $C$ is not on the perpendicular bisector.

This property is a nice way to check for this problem. Hope this helps!