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Please please help!

When you use the distance formula, does it matter what point you choose as (x1 , y1) and what point you choose as (x2 , y2)? explain why or why not.

1 Answer

7 votes

Answer:

No.

Explanation:

No, as long as you use the correct formula which is

√[(y2 - y1)^2 + (x2 - x1)^2].

If for example the 2 points are (1,6) and (-2,-5) and

we let (x1, y1) be (1, 6) and (x2,y2) be (-2,-5) the length is

√(-5-6)^2 + (-2-1)^2

= √(121 + 3) = √130

and if it was the other way around the length is

√((6--5)^2 + (1- -2)^2)

= √(121 + 9)

= √(130).

The differences are negative in one case and positive in the other but the squares are the same.

User JeffreyABecker
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