SOLUTION: The distance between the points (-1,5) and -3,-1) is: Do you subtract the x and y to find this? Like -1--3 = 1 and 5--1-6 so would the answer be 1,6? thank you

Algebra ->  Coordinate-system -> SOLUTION: The distance between the points (-1,5) and -3,-1) is: Do you subtract the x and y to find this? Like -1--3 = 1 and 5--1-6 so would the answer be 1,6? thank you      Log On


   

Question 970527: The distance between the points (-1,5) and -3,-1) is:
Do you subtract the x and y to find this? Like -1--3 = 1
and 5--1-6 so would the answer be 1,6?
thank you
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solved by pluggable solver: Distance Formula


The first point is (x1,y1). The second point is (x2,y2)


Since the first point is (-1, 5), we can say (x1, y1) = (-1, 5)
So x%5B1%5D+=+-1, y%5B1%5D+=+5


Since the second point is (-3, -1), we can also say (x2, y2) = (-3, -1)
So x%5B2%5D+=+-3, y%5B2%5D+=+-1


Put this all together to get: x%5B1%5D+=+-1, y%5B1%5D+=+5, x%5B2%5D+=+-3, and y%5B2%5D+=+-1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now use the distance formula to find the distance between the two points (-1, 5) and (-3, -1)



d+=+sqrt%28%28x%5B1%5D-x%5B2%5D%29%5E2+%2B+%28y%5B1%5D+-+y%5B2%5D%29%5E2%29


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


d+=+sqrt%28%28-1+%2B+3%29%5E2+%2B+%285+%2B+1%29%5E2%29


d+=+sqrt%28%282%29%5E2+%2B+%286%29%5E2%29


d+=+sqrt%284+%2B+36%29


d+=+sqrt%2840%29


d+=+sqrt%284%2A10%29


d+=+sqrt%284%29%2Asqrt%2810%29


d+=+2%2Asqrt%2810%29


d+=+6.32455532033676

==========================================================

Answer:


The distance between the two points (-1, 5) and (-3, -1) is exactly 2%2Asqrt%2810%29 units


The approximate distance between the two points is about 6.32455532033676 units



So again,


Exact Distance: 2%2Asqrt%2810%29 units


Approximate Distance: 6.32455532033676 units