What is the distance between the points (-1, 5) and (3, -1)?

1 Answer
Mar 15, 2018

#sqrt(52) #

Explanation:

By Pythagoras, the distance, #d#, between the points #(x_1,y_1# and #(x_2,y_2)# is given by:

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

Thus the distance we seek between #(-1,5)# and #(3,-1)# is given by:

# d^2 = (-1-3)^2 + (5-(-1))^2 #
# \ \ \ = (-4)^2 + (6)^2 #
# \ \ \ = 16+36 #
# \ \ \ = 52 #

Giving us:

# d = sqrt(52) #