How do you find the distance between the points (-8,-4), (-3,-8)?

1 Answer
Feb 20, 2017

The distance between the points is #sqrt(41)# or #6.403# rounded to the nearest thousandth.

Explanation:

The formula for calculating the distance between two points is:

#d = sqrt((color(red)(x_2) - color(blue)(x_1))^2 + (color(red)(y_2) - color(blue)(y_1))^2)#

Substituting the values from the points in the problem gives:

#d = sqrt((color(red)(-3) - color(blue)(-8))^2 + (color(red)(-8) - color(blue)(-4))^2)#

#d = sqrt((color(red)(-3) + color(blue)(8))^2 + (color(red)(-8) + color(blue)(4))^2)#

#d = sqrt(5^2 + (-4)^2)#

#d = sqrt(25 + 16)#

#d = sqrt(41) = 6.403# rounded to the nearest thousandth.