Need help test tomorrow and i cant get this.

bump

That is what my professor gave me, That is exactly what he wrote on the board. What do you want me to tell him?

ONly sense i can make of this is that the distance would equal to the x value which would solve the equation

just solve it.

square both sides and solve the quadtratic

Where are the radicals man?

what?

You have to solve the "equitation with radicals" - see the opening post. There is a dearth of radicals (surds) if we follow your method.

No idea what you are talking about. As i stated the only sense i make of it is solving the equation for x, which is probably the distance.

It isn't but never mind.

Well, then tell me what you think atleast if you claim me to be wrong.

The question as set does not have an answer. Your "solution" does not satisfy the requirements of the question because it is rational. In any event, if you find the point of intersection between a line and a curve by solving a pair of simultaneous equations, you will inevitably find that the separation distance at that point is zero.