Using the Distance Formula to Find the Distance Between Two Points in a Coordinate Plane: Explained & Illustrated

Distance Formula

The distance formula is a mathematical formula used to find the distance between two points in a coordinate plane

The distance formula is a mathematical formula used to find the distance between two points in a coordinate plane. It is derived from the Pythagorean theorem.

The formula is as follows:

d = sqrt((x2 – x1)^2 + (y2 – y1)^2)

Where:
– d represents the distance between the two points.
– (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the two points.

Let’s use an example to understand how to use the distance formula:

Example: Find the distance between the points (2, 3) and (-1, 5).

Using the formula, we substitute the coordinates into the equation:

d = sqrt((-1 – 2)^2 + (5 – 3)^2)

Simplifying:

d = sqrt((-3)^2 + (2)^2)
d = sqrt(9 + 4)
d = sqrt(13)

So, the distance between the points (2, 3) and (-1, 5) is sqrt(13), which is approximately 3.61.

It is important to note that the distance formula can be used to find the distance between points in any dimension, not just two-dimensional space. The formula can be extended to three dimensions and higher. It follows the same concept, with additional terms for each coordinate axis.

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