Three points A, B and C are given on the straight line, with AB = 83 cm, AC = 97 cm. Find the length of the segment BC.
Three points A, B and C are given on the straight line, with AB = 83 cm, AC = 97 cm. Find the length of the segment BC. How many solutions does the problem have?
The problem can have two solutions depending on the location of points A, B and C relative to each other on a straight line.
Option 1.
If the points lie on a straight line in the sequence A, B and C, then the length of the segment BC is calculated as the difference between the segments AC – AB. Whence the length of the sought-for segment is BC = 97 – 83 = 14 cm.
Option 2.
If the points lie on a straight line in the sequence B, A and C, then the length of the segment BC is calculated as the sum of the segments AC + AB. Whence the length of the sought-for segment is BC = 97 + 83 = 180 cm.