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Find the distance between PQ. P(3,4) and Q(6,8) 2520155

User Razor Jack
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1 Answer

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Explanation:

2 points on a coordinate grid establish a right-angled triangle.

the direct distance between them is the Hypotenuse (the side opposite of the 90° angle), and the x- and y-coordinate differences are the legs.

so, we can use Pythagoras

c² = a² + b²

with c being the Hypotenuse, and a and b being the legs.

PQ² = (3 - 6)² + (4 - 8)² = (-3)² + (-4)² = 9 + 16 = 25

PQ = sqrt(25) = 5

FYI - because of the squaring it does not matter which point gets subtracted from which point when calculating the coordinate differences. we could have done (6-3)² and (8-4)² with the same result.

User Yasith Prabuddhaka
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