SOLUTION: I am challenging a question and need your help. Can you tell me what the distance between (5,1) and (3,8) is. Thank you so much!

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: I am challenging a question and need your help. Can you tell me what the distance between (5,1) and (3,8) is. Thank you so much!      Log On


   

Question 114436: I am challenging a question and need your help. Can you tell me what the distance between (5,1) and (3,8) is. Thank you so much!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start with the given distance formula
d=sqrt%28%28x%5B1%5D-x%5B2%5D%29%5E2%2B%28y%5B1%5D-y%5B2%5D%29%5E2%29 where is the first point and is the second point

d=sqrt%28%285-3%29%5E2%2B%281-8%29%5E2%29 Plug in x%5B1%5D=5, x%5B2%5D=3, y%5B1%5D=1, y%5B2%5D=8

d=sqrt%28%282%29%5E2%2B%28-7%29%5E2%29 Evaluate 5-3 to get 2. Evaluate 1-8 to get -7.

d=sqrt%284%2B49%29 Square each value

d=sqrt%2853%29 Add

So the distance approximates to

d=7.28010988928052

which rounds to
7.28

So the distance between (5,1) and (3,8) is approximately 7.28 units