Question

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

Answer 1

Use the first x then subtract the second x. then the y then the second y. yes it does matter because the numbers you subtract will add up to your answer

Answer 2

Answer:

No,  order in which we subtract the x coordinates and y coordinates does nor matter

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the two points be $\left ( x_1,y_1 \right )\,\,,\,\,\left ( x_2,y_2 \right )$

By distance formula: distance between points $\left ( x_1,y_1 \right )\,\,,\,\,\left ( x_2,y_2 \right )$ is equal to $\sqrt{\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2+\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2}$

We know that $\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2=\left ( x_1-x_2 \right )^2$ and $\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2=\left ( y_1-y_2 \right )^2$

So,

$\sqrt{\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2+\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{\left ( x_1-x_2 \right )^2+\left ( y_1-y_2 \right )^2}$

Therefore, we can say in distance formula , order in which we subtract the x coordinates and y coordinates does nor matter .

For example distance between points $\left ( 2,3 \right )\,,\,\left ( 4,5 \right )$ is shown as below :

$\sqrt{\left ( 4-2 \right )^2+\left ( 5-3 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{\left ( 2-4 \right )^2+\left ( 3-5 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{4+4}\\=\sqrt{8}$