How do you find the distance between (-2,-4) and (-5,-3)?

2 Answers
Aug 10, 2017

d = sqrt(10) units

Explanation:

Use the distance formula in coordinate geometry.

d = sqrt((y_2 - y_1)^2+(x_2 - x_1)^2)

Label your points with (x_1, y_1) and (x_2, y_2).

Let's let (-2,-4) be (x_2, y_2), and (-5, -3) be (x_1, y_1). Then we substitute in the values into the equation and solve.

d = sqrt(((-4) - (-3))^2+((-2) - (-5))^2)

d = sqrt(1+9)

d = sqrt(10)

Therefore, the distance is sqrt(10) units.

Aug 10, 2017

color(magenta)(sqrt 10 or color(magenta)(+-3.162 units to the nearest 3 decimal places

Explanation:

:.y_2-y_1

:.(-4)-(-3)=-1=opposite

:.x_2-x_1

:.(-2)-(5)=3=adjacent

Pythagoras:

:.d^2=(-1)^2+(3)^2

:.d^2=1+9

:.d^2=10

:.color(magenta)(d=sqrt 10=+-3.162 to 3 decimal places