To prove that the point \( B(7,4) \) lies on the circle with center \( A(4,4) \) and radius 3, Negin’s first step should be to:
Negin should use the distance formula to calculate the length of segment AB.
This is because to determine if point B lies on the circle, you need to find the distance between point A and point B and see if it equals the radius of the circle. The distance formula is necessary for this calculation.