Zak P.
asked • 10/27/15What is the distance between (-3,8) (3,0)
This is for an Algebra II problem. Please answer as soon as you can thanks
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2 Answers By Expert Tutors
Don L. answered • 10/27/15
Tutor
5
(18)
Fifteen years teaching and tutoring basic math skills and algebra
Hi Zak, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the distance between two points.
Let d equal the distance, then d = √( (x1 - x2)2 + (y1 - y2)2 )
Let x1 = -3, x2 = 3, y1 = 8, y2 = 0,
d = √( (-3 - 3)2 + (8 - 0)2 )
d = √( (-6)2 + (8)2 )
d = √(36 + 64)
d = √100, or d = 10
The distance between the two given points is 10 units.
Questions?
Zak P.
Yes, one question my math book says that d=the square root of (x2-x1)2+(y2-y1)2 the difference between the two changes the answer significantly.
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10/27/15
Zak P.
Ahh I see. Thank you so much for the help it is greatly appreciated.
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10/27/15
Don L.
tutor
Zak, it does not matter which you pick for the X1 or x2 values. The reason is you are getting the difference of two numbers on the number line. Example the difference between -3 and 3 and the number line is 6. one is 3 units to the left of zero and the other is 3 units to the right of zero.
Now, turn them around. Let x1 = 3 and x2 = -3. This gives 3 - (-3), which also equals 6, minus times a minus is a plus.
The same is true for the y values.
Questions?
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10/27/15
Zak P.
No, questions once again thank you very very much for the help
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10/27/15
Sonal G. answered • 10/27/15
Tutor
New to Wyzant
Let's do some Math!
The distance between two points is
d = √(x2-x1)2 + (y2-y1)2
here x2 being 3,
x1 = -3
y1= 8
y2 = 0
d =√( 3- (-3) )2 + (0-8)2
= √36+ 64
= 10
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David W.
10/27/15