How do you determine the length of a line segment whose endpoints are (6,4) and (-9,-4)#?

1 Answer
Jan 5, 2017

Use the formula for distance between two points: #d = sqrt((color(red)(x_2) - color(blue)(x_1))^2 + (color(red)(y_2) - color(blue)(y_1))^2)#

Explanation:

Use the formula for distance between two points:

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

Substituting the points given in the problem yields:

#d = sqrt((color(red)(-9) - color(blue)(6))^2 + (color(red)(-4) - color(blue)(4))^2)#

#d = sqrt(-15^2 + -8^2)#

#d = sqrt(225 + 64)#

#d = sqrt(289)#

d = 17