The correct answer is B

Explanation

The key to this question lies in not jumping to incorrect conclusions. The question names the points on a line. It gives you a variety of information about the points. The one thing it does not do is tell you the order in which the points fall.

Many students assume that the order of the points is A, then B, then C, then D. As you will see, if you try to locate the points in this order, you will be unable to answer the question.

What Is the Question Asking?

The question asks for the length of line segment line A D. In order to find this length, you have to establish the relative positions of the four points on the line.

What Do You Know?

Try to draw the figure. You might be tempted to locate point A first. Unfortunately, you don't have enough information about A, yet, to place it.

You can place B,C, and D because D is the midpoint of line B C.

You know the lengths of three of the line segments:

line A B = 10

line A C = 2

line B C = 12

Because you know where line B C is, you can label the length of line B C.

Build the Figure, Adding What You Know and What You Can Figure Out

Because D is the midpoint of line B C, you know that line B D and line D C are each 6 units long.

Where can you place point A?

It has to be 2 units from C, because line A C = 2.
It also has to be 10 units from B, because line A B = 10.
So the only location for A is between B and C, but closer to C.

Place point A and mark the distances.

It is now an easy matter to figure out the answer to the question:

line D C is 6 units.

A is 2 units closer to D than C, so line A D is 4 units.