Question

Find the distance between the points (3, –8) and (0, –9).

Answer 1

The formula for distance between two points is:

$\sqrt{(x_{2} -x_{1})^{2} + (y_{2} -y_{1})^{2}}$

In this case:

$x_{2} =0\\x_{1} =3\\y_{2} =-9\\y_{1} =-8$

^^^Plug these numbers into the formula for distance like so...

$\sqrt{(0-3)^{2} + (-9 - (-8))^{2}}$

To solve this you must use the rules of PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction)

First we have parentheses. Remember that when solving you must go from left to right

$\sqrt{(0-3)^{2} + (-9-(-8))^{2}}$

0 - 3 = -3

$\sqrt{(-3)^{2} + (-9-(-8))^{2}}$

-9 - (-8) = -1

$\sqrt{(-3)^{2} + (-1)^{2}}$

Next solve the exponent. Again, you must do this from left to right

$\sqrt{(-3)^{2} + (-1)^{2}}$

(-3)² = 9

$\sqrt{9 + (-1)^{2}}$

(-1)² = 1

$\sqrt{(9+1)}$

Now for the addition

$\sqrt{(9+1)}$

9 + 1 = 10

√10 <<<This can not be further simplified so this is your exact answer

Your approximate answer would be about 3.16

***Remember that the above answers are in terms of units

Hope this helped!

~Just a girl in love with Shawn Mendes