Question

when you use the distance formula does the order in which you subtract the x and y coordinates matter explain

Answer 1

no it does not

as long as you subtract the x's from the x's and y's from the y's

consider

`D=√((x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2)`
and

`D=√((x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2)`

alright, lets say x2-x1=z and x1-x2=-z
also y2-y1=t and y1-y2=-t

if we subsituted then we get


`D=√((z)^2+(t)^2)`
and

`D=√((-z)^2+(-t)^2)`

which simplifies to


`D=√(z^2+t^2)`
and

`D=√(z^2+t^2)`

the same thing
because the square of a negative becomes positive
so it doesn't matter