Shortest distance from a point to a line

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Learn it The shortest distance from a point to a line is along the perpendicular. Find the perpendicular line through the point, find where it meets the original line, then use the distance formula. (Shortcut: for Ax + By + C = 0, distance = |Ax₀ + By₀ + C| ÷ √(A² + B²).)

Example: Distance from (5, 5) to 3x + 4y = 10.

|3(5) + 4(5) − 10| ÷ √(9 + 16) = 25 ÷ 5.
5 units.

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