Category Archives: 3.6 Mathematical Models: Building Functions

Finding the Distance

The Distance Formula

Suppose A is ( x_1, y_1) and B is ( x_2, y_2)

The distance between points A and B is given by the following formula.

$d=sqrt {(x_2-x_1)^2+ (y_2-y_1)^2}$

Example: Find the distance between points A and B.

Point A is ( 4, -2) and point B is ( -8, 3)

$d=sqrt {(-8-4)^2+ (3-(-2))^2}$

$d=sqrt {(-12)^2+ (3+2)^2}$

$d=sqrt {144+ (5)^2}$

d=sqrt {144+ 25}

d=sqrt {169}

d=13