Taxi-Distance Tool
The following are the steps necessary to create a custom tool in Geometer’s Sketchpad that will enable the user to calculate the taxicab distance between two given points:
1. In a new sketch, graph any two points A and B.
2. Select A. From the Transform dropdown menu, select Translate. Keep the fixed distance at 1.0 cm and change the fixed angle to 0 degrees. This creates the point A’ that translates point A horizontally to the right 1.0 cm.
3. Construct a line through A and A’.
4. Construct a line perpendicular to the line in the above step that passes through point B. Label the intersection of these two lines as C. Hide all of the objects except points A, B, and C.
5. Calculate the distances for AC, AB, and BC. Then calculate AC+BC. This is the taxicab distance between A and B. For the sake of constructing the tool, change the label from “AC+BC” to “Taxicab Distance” or whatever label is most helpful.
6. Hide everything except A, B, and the Taxicab Distance. The user may now create the custom tool.
1. In a new sketch, graph any two points A and B.
2. Select A. From the Transform dropdown menu, select Translate. Keep the fixed distance at 1.0 cm and change the fixed angle to 0 degrees. This creates the point A’ that translates point A horizontally to the right 1.0 cm.
3. Construct a line through A and A’.
4. Construct a line perpendicular to the line in the above step that passes through point B. Label the intersection of these two lines as C. Hide all of the objects except points A, B, and C.
5. Calculate the distances for AC, AB, and BC. Then calculate AC+BC. This is the taxicab distance between A and B. For the sake of constructing the tool, change the label from “AC+BC” to “Taxicab Distance” or whatever label is most helpful.
6. Hide everything except A, B, and the Taxicab Distance. The user may now create the custom tool.
taxidist_tool.gsp | |
File Size: | 4 kb |
File Type: | gsp |