The Shortest Distance

Strategies and Hints

1. Most students will guess that the optimal location for point P will be at the center of the triangle.

2. If students measure segments to the nearest millimeter, they should get a total distance of about 59 mm.

3. No matter where point P is placed, the total distance will be the same.

Solution

It does not matter where P is located. The sum of the perpendicular distances to the three sides will always be the same.