The length of the major axis of the ellipse below is 12, and the length of the red line segment is 4. How long is the blue line segment?

The answer to your question is letter B. 8

Step-by-step explanation:

Data

Major axis length = 12 = 2a

red line = 4

blue line = ?

Process

In an ellipse, the distance from the focus to a point is equal to the major axis.

                     2a = PF + PF'

Substitution

                     12 = PF + 4

Solve for PF

                      PF = 12 - 4

Simplification and result

                      PF = 8

b

step-by-step explanation:

a difference is the result of subtraction. while each of these expressions has subtraction in it, a difference will be the result when subtraction is the last operation applied in the order of operations for the expression. this means subtraction must be outside of the parenthesis. only b has this.