Given n fixed points (a_1, b_1), ..., (a_n, b_n). Show that the sum of the squares of the distances from a point P(c,d) to the n fixed points is minimized when c is the average of the a_i's, and d is the average of the b_i's.

Algebra for College Students
10th Edition
ISBN:9781285195780
Author:Jerome E. Kaufmann, Karen L. Schwitters
Publisher:Jerome E. Kaufmann, Karen L. Schwitters
Chapter9: Polynomial And Rational Functions
Section9.4: Graphing Polynomial Functions
Problem 43PS
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Given n fixed points (a_1, b_1), ..., (a_n, b_n). Show that the sum of the squares of the distances from a point P(c,d) to the n fixed points is minimized when c is the average of the a_i's, and d is the average of the b_i's.

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