GMAT Math : Distance Formula

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Lines

A line segment has an endpoint at (1, -1) ; what is its length?

1) Its other endpoint is (7, -9)

2) Its midpoint is (4, -5)

Possible Answers:

BOTH statements TOGETHER are not sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer: EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Given the other endpoint, you can use the distance formula to find the length of the segment:

$d = \sqrt{\left (x_{2}-x_{1} \right) ^{2}+\left (y_{2}-y_{1} \right) ^{2}}$

$d = \sqrt{\left (7-1 \right) ^{2}+\left (-9-(-1) \right) ^{2}}$

$d = \sqrt{\left 6 ^{2}+\left (-8\right) ^{2}}$

d=10

Given the midpoint, you can use the distance formula to find the distance from the first endpoint to the midpoint, then double that to get the length of the segment:

$d = \sqrt{\left (x_{2}-x_{1} \right) ^{2}+\left (y_{2}-y_{1} \right) ^{2}}$

$d = \sqrt{\left (4-1 \right) ^{2}+\left (-5-(-1) \right) ^{2}}$

$d = \sqrt{\left 3 ^{2}+\left (-4\right) ^{2}}$

d=5

The total length is twice that, or 10.

The answer is that either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

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Example Question #2 : Lines

Lines

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

AB = BC = DE

Give .

Statement 1: AB = 17

Statement 2: CD = 25

Possible Answers:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

AE = AB + BC + CD + DE

If you know only that AB = 17 , then you know that BC = 17 and DE = 17 , but you still need , or a way finding it.

If you know only that CD = 25 , you still know only that AB = BC = DE , but you don't know their actual lengths.

If you know both facts, then you know AE = AB + BC + CD + DE = 17 + 17 + 25 + 17 = 76

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Example Question #3 : Distance Formula

Consider segment .

I) Point can be found at the point (-4,8) .

II) Segment had a length of units.

Find the coordinates of point .

Possible Answers:

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Neither I nor II are sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Both statements are necessary to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Neither I nor II are sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Explanation:

Statement I gives us a point.

Statement II gives us the length of the segment.

We are asked to find the coordinates of the other end of the segment. However, we will need more information. Even with all of our information, we have no clue as to the orientation of the line. It could be 14 units straight up and down, it could be a perfectly horizontal line, or something inbetween, thus our answer is:

Neither I nor II are sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

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Example Question #4 : Distance Formula

Find the length of Segment YZ

I) Point Y is located at the point (9,7) .

II) Point Z has a y-coordinate twice that of Point Y and an x-coordinate one-third of Point Y.

Possible Answers:

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Explanation:

To find the length of a segment, use the distance formula. The distance formula is given by the following:

$d=\sqrt{(x-x)^2+(y-y)^2}$

Where your 's and 's correspond to the coordinates of the endpoints.

To find the length of Segment YZ, we need the endpoints.

Statement I gives you Point Y's coordinates.

Statement II relates Point Z's coordinates to Point Y's coordinates. Thus, we can find the point Z using Statement II.

Therefore, we need both.

Recap:

Find the length of Segment YZ

I) Point Y is located at the point (9,7) .

II) Point Z has a y-coordinate twice that of Point Y, and an x-coordinate one-third of Point Y.

Use Statement II along with Statement I to find the coordinates of Point Z:

z=(3,14)

Then, use distance formula to find the length of Segment YZ:

$d=\sqrt{(3-9)^2+(14-7)^2}=\sqrt{36+49}=\sqrt{85}$

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Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of A Line With Distance Formula

Consider segment

I) Endpoint is located at the point (6,14) .

Ii) Endpoint has an x-coordinate twice that of and a y-coordinate 15 times that of H.

What is the length of ?

Possible Answers:

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Explanation:

To find the length of a segment, we need both endpoints.

Statement I gives us one endpoint.

Statement II relates and , allowing us to find the second endpoint.

Thus, we need both. Once we have both endpoints, distance is easily calculated via the distance formula or the Pythagorean theorem.

Using Statement II, we find the second endpoint to be (12,210) . Use the distance formula to find your answer:

$d=\sqrt{(x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2}$

$d=\sqrt{(6-12)^2+(14-210)^2}=\sqrt{36+38416}=\sqrt{38452}$

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GMAT Math : Distance Formula

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

All GMAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Lines

Example Question #2 : Lines

Example Question #3 : Distance Formula

Example Question #4 : Distance Formula

Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of A Line With Distance Formula

All GMAT Math Resources

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