SOLUTION: I need to calculate the distance between point a and b when a is (-1,5) and b is (7,-3). i come up with the square root of 128. Can that be right when there is no exact square roo

Algebra ->  Coordinate-system -> SOLUTION: I need to calculate the distance between point a and b when a is (-1,5) and b is (7,-3). i come up with the square root of 128. Can that be right when there is no exact square roo      Log On


   

Question 886627: I need to calculate the distance between point a and b when a is (-1,5) and b is (7,-3). i come up with the square root of 128. Can that be right when there is no exact square root of 128?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
That complaint is not a real hindrance.
128=32%2A4=2%5E5%2A2%5E2=2%5E7
2%5E6%2A2
8%2A8%2A2

Square root of that is 8%2Asqrt%282%29.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yes, it is common for distances between two points with whole numbers
for coordinates to be the square root of a number with no exact square root.

However sqrt%28128%29 can be simplified

sqrt%28128%29%22%22=%22%22++sqrt%2864%2A2%29%22%22=%22%22sqrt%2864%29%2Asqrt%282%29%22%22=%22%228%2Asqrt%282%29.

Even though you can't get rid of a radical, always simplify it so as to have
as small a number under the square root radical as possible.

Edwin