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2 votes
Distance between points (-1,2) and (3,-5)

User Abosede
by
7.9k points

2 Answers

5 votes

The formula for distance between two points is:


\sqrt{(x_(2) -x_(1))^(2) + (y_(2) -y_(1))^(2)}

In this case:


x_(2) =3\\x_(1) =-1\\y_(2) =-5\\y_(1) =2

^^^Plug these numbers into the formula for distance like so...


\sqrt{(3 -(-1))^(2) + (-5-2)^(2)}

To solve this you must use the rules of PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction)

First we have parentheses. Remember that when solving you must go from left to right


\sqrt{(3 -(-1))^(2) + (-5-2)^(2)}

3 - (-1) = 4


\sqrt{(4)^(2) + (-5-2)^(2)}

-5 - 2 = -7


\sqrt{(4)^(2) + (-7)^(2)}

Next solve the exponent. Again, you must do this from left to right


\sqrt{(4)^(2) + (-7)^(2)}

4² = 16


\sqrt{16 + (-7)^(2)}

(-7)² = 49


√((16 + 49))

Now for the addition


√((16 + 49))

16 + 49 = 65

√65 <<<This can not be further simplified so this is your exact answer

Your approximate answer would be about 8.06

***Remember that the above answers are in terms of units

Hope this helped!

~Just a girl in love with Shawn Mendes

User Tudor Olariu
by
8.4k points
4 votes


\huge{\boxed{√(65)}}\ \ \boxed{\text{approx. 8.06225775}}

The distance formula is
√((x_2-x_1)^2 + (y_2-y_1)^2), where
(x_1, y_1) and
(x_2, y_2) are the points.

Substitute in the values.
√((3-(-1))^2 + (-5-2)^2)

Simplify the negative subtraction.
√((3+1)^2 + (-5-2)^2)

Add and subtract.
√(4^2 + (-7)^2)

Solve the exponents.
√(16 + 49)

Add.
√(65)


65 has no square factors, so this is as simple as the answer can get. You can use a calculator to find that
√(65) is approximately
8.06225775.

User TheFoxx
by
7.9k points