help w/ 'Find point on x-axis equidistant from (-4, -3) and

[cartman13]

I have a take home quiz and have spent three hours trying to figure this problem out:

Find the point on the x-axis that is equidistant from the points (-4, -3) and (-1, 5).

We have to figure it out using the midpoint and/or the Distance Formula. What would x have to equal to make the distance from (-4, -3) to (x, 0) be the same distance as from (-1, 5) to (x, 0)?

Thank you!
___________________________________
Edited by stapel -- Reason for edit: fixing copy-n-paste, spelling, etc

 

[jacket81]

You're finding distances, so use the Distance Formula. It's just:

sqrt[(x - (-4))^2 + (0 - (-3))^2] = sqrt[(x - (-1))^2 + (0 - 5)^2]

Simplify inside. Then square both sides and solve for x.

 

[cartman13]

yep

thanks man.