text: # Thread: Need some help with part A
  
  1. ## Need some help with part A
  
  2. Let P=(x, y) be a point on the graph of y = x^2 - 8.
  a) Express the distance of d from P to the point (0, -1) as a function of x.
  b) What is d if x = 0?
  c) What is d if x = -1?
  d) Use a graphing utility to graph d = d (x).
  e) For what values of x is d smallest?
  
  a) d(x) = √x^4-13x^2+49
  b) d(0)=7
  c) d(-1)= √37 ... is similar to ... 6.08
  d) Graph d(x) = √x^4-13x^2+49
  e) D is the smallest when x ... is similar to ... -2.55 or x ... is similar to ... 2.55
  
  I can do all of them but part “A” can someone help me figure out how to find out part A?
  
  and how do you do a "... is similar to ..." sign on here?
  
  2. Originally Posted by Robthebear
  2. Let P=(x, y) be a point on the graph of y = x^2 - 8.
  a) Express the distance of d from P to the point (0, -1) as a function of x.
  [...]
  I can do all of them but part “A” can someone help me figure out how to find out part A?
  
  and how do you do a "... is similar to ..." sign on here?
  $\sim$ or $\approx$ or simply ~.
  
  As to part a: The distance between points with coordinates (a,b) and (c,d) is
  $\sqrt{(a-c)^2 + (b-d)^2}$.
  Now in this case, $a = x, b = y = x^2-8, \, c = 0,\, d = -1$.
  Insert these expressions in the distance formula and you are done.
  
  3. Thank you for the help.
  Robert