What is the distance between #(-2,1)# and # (3,7) #?

1 Answer
GlassGirl
Dec 7, 2015

The distance between #(-2, 1)# and #(3, 7)# is #sqrt61# units.

Explanation:

We can use the distance formula to find the distance between any two given points, where #d =#the distance between the points #(x_1, y_1)# and #(x_2, y_2)#:

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

If we plug in our points, our equation will be:

#d = sqrt((3-(-2))^2 + (7-1)^2)#

This can be simplified to #d = sqrt((5)^2 + (6)^2#

And then: #d = sqrt((25) + (36)#, which is #d = sqrt(61)#.

You can't simplify this further, so your final answer is #sqrt61# units.

Usually, the square root of a quantity would be #+# or #-# , but in this case, the quantity is only positive because it represents distance, which can never be negative.

Related questions
See all questions in Distance Formula
Impact of this question
5171 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License