The distance formula and an example to go with the distance formula. I don't get the x^2 - y^2 to x^1 - y^1
Answers (2)
The distance formula is quite simple. For example,
Find the distance between (3,-1) and (5,0)
d = √(x^2 - x^1) + (y^2 - y^1)
d = √(5^2 - 3^1) + ((-1^2 - 0^2))
d = √(5 - 3^2) + (0 + 1)^2
d = √2^2 + 1^2
d = √5
d ≈ 2.24
The distance between (3,-1) and (5,0) is approximately 2.24 units.
The "≈" is the almost equal to sign.
You need to look at a chart to see what they are talking about. Points are plotted with x and y values, so there is a horizontal distance, the difference between the x values, and a vertical distance, the difference between the y values. Then you see that they make a triangle, and the Pythaogrean theorem gives you the distance between the points. Math is only valid when it describes reality, so you always have to figure out what reality folks are talking about.