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