Final answer:
The distance between points B(8, -7) and C(1, -2) is the square root of 74, calculated using the distance formula derived from the Pythagorean theorem.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the distance between two points B(8, -7) and C(1, -2), you can use the distance formula which is derived from the Pythagorean theorem. The distance formula is √((x2 - x1)² + (y2 - y1)²), where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the two points.
To find the distance BC, plug in the coordinates of B and C:
- x1 = 8, y1 = -7
- x2 = 1, y2 = -2
The calculation will be:
√((1 - 8)² + (-2 - (-7))²) = √((-7)² + (5)²) = √(49 + 25) = √74
The distance BC is √74, which is the exact length of the segment between the points B and C.