In Euclidean Geometry, the shortest distance from a point P(x, y) in the plane to a line L can be

found by constructing the line perpendicular to L and running through P. Then the distance of
the line segment from point P to the intersection of the perpendicular line and L would be the
shortest distance from P to L. For clarity, refer to the picture below.



In Taxicab Geometry, this is not the case. According to Reynolds and Fenton (2006) there are 3
cases to consider: when the slope of L is between -1 and +1, when the slope of L is equal to ,
and when the the slope of L is greater than the absolute value of 1 (p. 128).

In order to find the distance from P to L, we can use taxi circles constructed around P and
determine at what radius the taxi circle will intersect L. To see this, lets start by investigating the
first case. (For convenience, lets refer to m as the slope of L).

Case One:

According to Reynolds and Fenton (2006), a taxi-circle centered at P will first touch L at a point
directly above or below P. To find the point X on L that is closest to P, construct a vertical line
through P. Point X will be the point where this vertical line intersects L (p. 128). In other words,
if -1 < m < 1, then the taxi-circle centered at point P will first intersect L at one of the corners of
the taxi-circle.

In the picture below, line L has a slope of 0.7 and the taxi-circle centered at P has a radius of
AB. We can see that when the radius is 3.78 cm, then the taxi-circle intersects L. Hence, the
shortest distance from P to L is 3.78 cm.



Using the method Reynolds and Fenton discussed, we get the same result.



Case Two: if

If this is true, Reynolds and Fenton (2006) explain that the point X on L that is closest to P is
not unique; there will be a whole line segment containing points X for which

is
minimum (p.128). Using the idea of taxi-circles to find the shortest distance between P and L, it
makes sense that the taxi-circle would intersect L at more than one point, since the sides of the
taxi-circle have slopes of -1 and +1. So although we can still use the radius of the taxi-circle to
determine the minimum distance from P to L, there is not a unique point where this distance
occurs.



In the picture above, the slope of L is 1, the shortest distance from P to L is 3.15 cm (the radius
of the taxi-circle), but every point along the green line segment lies a distance of 3.15 cm away
from P.

Case Three: ||

In this case, Reynolds and Fenton (2006) state that a taxi-circle centered at P will first touch L
at a point directly to the left of right of P. To find the point X on L that is closest to P, construct a
horizontal line through P. Point X will be the point where this line horizontal line intersects L (p.
128).

In the picture below, line L has a slope of -2 and the taxi-circle centered at P has a radius of AB.
We can see that when the radius is 4 cm, then the taxi-circle intersects L. Hence, the shortest
distance from P to L is 4 cm.



Using the method Reynolds and Fenton discussed, we get the same result.