Point A lies at (2, 4) and point B lies at (3, 6). Which point is needed so that triangle ABC is isosceles?

A. C (3, 4)
B. C (0, 4)
C. C (5, 5)
D. C (5, 4)

1 answer

To determine which point C makes triangle ABC isosceles, we need to check the distances between the points A (2, 4), B (3, 6), and each candidate point C provided.

  1. Calculate the distance between A and B: \[ AB = \sqrt{(3 - 2)^2 + (6 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{1^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{1 + 4} = \sqrt{5} \]

  2. Now, let's check each option:

    Option A: C (3, 4)

    • Distance AC: \[ AC = \sqrt{(3 - 2)^2 + (4 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{1^2 + 0^2} = \sqrt{1} = 1 \]
    • Distance BC: \[ BC = \sqrt{(3 - 3)^2 + (6 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{0^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{4} = 2 \]
    • Not isosceles (1, 2, \(\sqrt{5}\))

    Option B: C (0, 4)

    • Distance AC: \[ AC = \sqrt{(0 - 2)^2 + (4 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + 0^2} = \sqrt{4} = 2 \]
    • Distance BC: \[ BC = \sqrt{(0 - 3)^2 + (4 - 6)^2} = \sqrt{(-3)^2 + (-2)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 4} = \sqrt{13} \]
    • Not isosceles (2, \(\sqrt{5}\), \(\sqrt{13}\))

    Option C: C (5, 5)

    • Distance AC: \[ AC = \sqrt{(5 - 2)^2 + (5 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{3^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{9 + 1} = \sqrt{10} \]
    • Distance BC: \[ BC = \sqrt{(5 - 3)^2 + (5 - 6)^2} = \sqrt{2^2 + (-1)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 1} = \sqrt{5} \]
    • Not isosceles (\(\sqrt{10}\), \(\sqrt{5}\), \(\sqrt{5}\))

    Option D: C (5, 4)

    • Distance AC: \[ AC = \sqrt{(5 - 2)^2 + (4 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{3^2 + 0^2} = \sqrt{9} = 3 \]
    • Distance BC: \[ BC = \sqrt{(5 - 3)^2 + (4 - 6)^2} = \sqrt{2^2 + (-2)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 4} = \sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2} \]
    • Not isosceles (3, 2\(\sqrt{2}\), \(\sqrt{5}\))
  3. The only option where two sides are equal:

Option C plugs well, where \( AC \) is \( 1 \) and \( BC \) are equal. Thus, point \( C(5, 5) \) creates triangle ABC to be isosceles with two equal lengths (both being \( \sqrt{5} \)).

So, the answer is: C. C (5, 5).