Problem 1446. Minimum Distance Point to Segment

This Challenge is to determine the minimum distance from a 2-D line segment defined by two points to a point.

The point is (px,py) and the segment is [(vx,vy) to (wx,wy)].

Input are the three defining points and the output is distance.

Input (px py vx vy wx wy): 1 1 0 3 3 0

Output distance: .7071

Point is beyond perpendicular to segment.

Input (px py vx vy wx wy): 4 3 -100 0 0 0

Output distance: 5

Follow Up Challenges:

1) Minimum distance between non-contiguous N-sided polygons

2) USC Spring 2013 ACM: Walking on Thin Ice

Solve

Solution Stats

31.31% Correct | 68.69% Incorrect
Last Solution submitted on Oct 10, 2025

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