The document outlines two group activities involving the placement of a rescue squad in Squarestown, focusing on the concepts of midpoint, slope, and distance. Participants must determine equidistant locations from two houses and explore the implications of these locations, considering both fairness and distance efficiency. Additionally, the document prompts students to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of their chosen rescue squad locations, providing a basis for decision-making from a mayoral perspective.

1. Squarestown (Activity #1)
midpoint/slope/distance - Group Activity

2. 1. Use the midpoint formula below
to determine the location of the
rescue squad so that the distance
from the rescue squad to each
house is the same.

3. 2. Plot point M on the grid and label its
coordinates.
3.a. The distance from the rescue squad and
Adam’s house is ______?
3.b. The distance from the rescue squad and
Brown’s house is ______?

4. 4. Are there other possible locations for the
rescue squad that are equidistant from the
Adams and the Browns? If yes, list them. What
would the Adams and Browns think about how
fair each location of the rescue squad is?
5. What if the requirements were changed from
equidistant to minimum total distance? Example,
if the rescue squad is at (8,7) the total distance is
12 blocks(6+6=12). If the rescue squad was at
(5,6) the total distance is still 12 blocks(10+2=12).
List other locations that would have the same
minimum total distance and graph a few on the
grid.

6. Squarestown (Activity #2)
midpoint/slope/distance - Group Activity

8. 2. Find the point that is the closest to each
building on the new graph.

9. RESCUE
SQUAD
A B C D E TOTAL

10. 4. What are the advantages of having the
Rescue Squad where you chose to put it?
5. What are some disadvantages of having the
Rescue Squad where you chose to put it?
6. If you were the Mayor, what would you have
to consider when deciding where to put the
Rescue Squad?