The point (-5, 2) is nearer to:

The correct answer is Option (1) → the x-axis

For a point \((x,\,y)\), the distance from the x-axis is \(|y|\) and the distance from the y-axis is \(|x|\); the distance from the origin is \(\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\), which is never less than either of them.

• Distance from the x-axis \(=|2|=2\)

• Distance from the y-axis \(=|-5|=5\)

• Distance from the origin \(=\sqrt{(-5)^2+2^2}=\sqrt{29}\approx5.4\)

• The smallest distance is 2, so the point is nearer to the x-axis