A, B, C, and D are points on a line, and the lengths of the line segments are: AB = 12, BC = 4, CD = 7, and DA = 15. Which of the following is a possible order for the points?

A.A,B,C,D

B. A,C,D,B

C. A,D,C,B

D. A,C,B,D•Math - Steve, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 7:36pm
ACBD

•Math - Henry, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 7:43pm
D. A,C,B,D.

•Math - mmv, Monday, June 22, 2015 at 3:57pm
A, B, C, and D are points on a line, and the lengths of the line segments are: AB = 12, BC = 4, CD = 7, and DA = 15. Which of the following is a possible order for the points?

A.A,B,C,D

B. A,C,D,B

C. A,D,C,B

D. A,C,B,D•Math - Steve, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 7:36pm
ACBD

•Math - Henry, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 7:43pm
D. A,C,B,D.

Can someone please explain how they got this answer? Thanks.

1 answer

AB = 12, BC = 4, CD = 7, and DA = 15
Start off my assuming that the largest number is the whole line. That might not be so, but it's a good place to start.

B must be to the right of C, since BC < CD

That means we have ACBD.
Check:
AC=8
CB=4
BD=3

You just have to play around a bit.