Answer:
a = 2
Step-by-step explanation:
Here, we want to find all the possible values of a
If Q is 5 units away from P, then the distance between Q and P is 5 units
Mathematically, to find the distance between two points, we use the following formula
D = √( (x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2
So we have ;
D = √(2-(-2)^2 + (a-(-1)^2
D = √(16) + (a + 1)^2
Since D is 5, we have
5 = √(16) + (a +1)^2
Squaring both sides to remove the square root, we have
25 = 16 + (a + 1)^2
(a + 1)^2 = 25 - 16
(a + 1)^2 = 9
(a + 1)^2 = 3^2
Since power is equal, equate base
a + 1 = 3
a = 3-1
a = 2
