distance between two points

Question

In Algebra 1 I am given the following equation:

 

The distance between (0,-1) and (4,3) is what?

 

Please help me.

Answer 1

James, if you were to plot these two points and draw a line from one to the other, then draw a vertical line from 3 to -1 and a horizontal line from 0 to 4, we'd have a triangle.

 

The length of the vertical line would be 3 - (-1) = 4 and the length of the horizontal line would be 4 - 0 = 4, right?

 

a² + b² = c²

4² + 4² = c²

16 + 16 = c²

32 = c²

c = √32 = 4√2 = 5.66

 

One of the last two answers should help.