Geometry Find The Distance, See below.

Question

Geometry Word Problem: Points J, E, and M are collinear. The points are not in that order. The distance from M to J is 11 feet. The distance from M to E is 18 feet. Find the distance from J to E. Please show work.

thank you.

Answer 1

Draw a long straight line and mark M somewhere in the centre. Draw two circles, each with centre M, with radii 11 and 18. So you have two concentric circles. The larger circle cuts the line at two points, so mark one as point E. The smaller circle also cuts the line at two points and either of them could be J. The point J between M and E would create the order in line MJE or EJM (centre point is J), or EMJ or JME (centre point is M). So there are two answers: if the centre point is J, then JE=18-11=7; if the centre point is M, then JE=18+11=29.