First, you have to draw your cartesian coordinates.
Once you draw your cartesian plane, you have to locate the points.
The first one M(-5,8) is located in the second quadrant.
The second one is located in the fourth quadrant.
Once you hace your drawing, you can use a ruler to find the distance.
It is worth noting that with this approach you need to use a ruler and that the drawing should be very well done.
The algebraic approach to solve this problem is more straightforward.
Remember that the distance between two points is:
![d(M,N)=\sqrt[]{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2_{}}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/y3zk6o9eg3ymp3xd1uj344qps8yjg1yfli.png)
Then, in this case.
![\begin{gathered} d(M,N)=\sqrt[]{(-5-9)^2+(8-(-2))^2} \\ =\sqrt[]{(-14)^2+(10)^2} \\ =\sqrt[]{196+100} \\ =\sqrt[]{296} \\ =17.2 \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/g8wn1jgcvu759c3wenrloe848hjtv6cz1m.png)