Question

Does it matter which way you subtract the values when finding distance

Answer 1

No it does not matter when your finding distance :)

Answer 2

Yes, to find the distance between two points in one dimensional plane ,it matters that which way you subtract the values.

For, example we have to find distance between , a=6 and ,b=23 on the number line.

⇒a-b=6-23=-17, gives distance in Negative which is not possible.

⇒Now,b-a=23-6=17, gives distance in Positive Units .

⇒So, it is advisable that you subtract Smaller number from Larger Number. Or Take Modulus of Difference between two numbers which always yield a positive Quantity.

Now, Coming to Two Dimensional and three dimensional Plane

Distance between two points is given by

`=\sqrt{(x_(2)-x_(1))^2+(y_(2)-y_(1))^2)}} \text{and}\\\\=\sqrt{(x_(2)-x_(1))^2+(y_(2)-y_(1))^2+(z_(2)-z_(1))^2}`

So,In Two Dimensional and three dimensional Plane , Direction does not matter that is whether you are taking

`x_(2)-x_(1) or x_(1)-x_(2),\\\\y_(2)-y_(1) or y_(1)-y_(2)\\\\z_(2)-z_(1) or z_(1)-z_(2)`

because you have to square the difference , and then take it's square root which always yields positive value.