What is the degree (highest exponent) of
a quadratic?

Step-by-step explanation:

The highest degree is

quadratic equations are usually in this form: +bx +c =0 (the signs may be positive or negative depending on the question given)

step-by-step explanation:

points a and b are equidistant from the desired line, so the line you find by using them will go through point r.

using points other than a and b will give the desired line only if they are equidistant from r. if they are randomly located, the perpendicular line you create will not necessarily go through point r, hence will not be a solution to the problem.