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

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-13T14:50:53

Basically use the formula #a^2 + b^2 = c^2#. where
#a = "the change in " x,#
# b = " the change in " y#
# c = "the distance between them. "#

#x# and #y# form the legs of a ninety degree triangle so the equation
# a^2 + b^2 = c^2 #can be used to find the distance between the two points.

The length of the #x# line can be found by subtracting the two values for #x# in the two points

# x_1 - x_2 = a#

# 5 -3 = 2# so, # a# the distance for #x# is 2

The length of the #y# line can be found by subtracting the two values for #y# in the two points

# y_1 -y_2 = b#

#2 -(-3) = 5# so, #b# the distance for #y# is 5

#2^2 + 5^2 = c^2#

# 4 + 25 = c^2#

# 29 = c^2#

#sqrt 29 = sqrt c^2#

#5.4 = c #