Math 230 Dr.

Perdue

Math 230: Lecture 4

Dr. Diana S. Perdue

Algebra
• Intro to Sketchpad
• Algebra Review
– Midpoint: pg.
– Slope: pg.
– Distance: pg.
– Equations: pg.
• Resources?

The Geometer’s Sketchpad

• The software is a combination of Paint,
a graphing calculator, & a dynamic
construction / measurement tool.
• Basic tools from the toolbar:
• Basic menu items & what can be done:

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Math 230 Dr. Perdue

Midpoint
• The midpoint of
a segment is a B

point on the
segment that is
equidistant from midpoint
the endpoints of
the segment.
• The formula is:
A

⎛ x1 + x2 y1 + y2 ⎞ What do you know about the distance from A to the midpoint

⎜⎝ , ⎟ compared to the distance from B to the midpoint?
2 2 ⎠

Sample Questions
• Segment AB has • Given the point L (1/2,
endpoints at (3, 6) and 4.5) and the point M (0,
(5, 9). What are the -5), what is the
coordinates for the midpoint of the
segment ML?
midpoint?
• If a segment has a
• Find the midpoint of midpoint at (7, -3) and
segment EF with an endpoint at (2, -
endpoints (-4, -9) and 0.75), what are the
(-3, 0). coordinates of the
other endpoint?

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Slope
4

E
Slope DE = 0.50
2

-10 -5 5 10

-2

D: (-8.89 , -3.88 )
E: (4.87 , 3.03 )
-4
D

-6

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Math 230 Dr. Perdue

Slope
• The slope of a line • The formula for
(or segment or ray) finding slope is:
is defined as:

Sample Questions
• Line j has points A (4, -
3) and B (0, 3) lying on
it. What is the slope of
line j?
• Line RS has a slope of -
2. Give possible
coordinates for points R
& S. Explain how you
know they will work.

Distance
• The distance between two points, A
(xa, ya) and B (xb, yb) is given by the
formula:

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Math 230 Dr. Perdue

Sample Questions
• What is the distance • If point P (-3, 8) is 6
from point T (-3, 5) units away from
to point S (-4.5, 0)? point N. What are
the coordinates of
point N? Explain
how you know.

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Equations
• Linear equations are
equations of LINES.
An equation is
linear if:
• Some forms are:
– Slope-intercept
– Point-slope

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Sample Questions
• A line, j, has a • A line, m, passes
slope of -3/4 and through the points
passes through point M (6, -2) and N (4, -
P (-4, 6). Write the 2). Find the slope
equation for line j. of line m and write
the equation of line
m.

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