For two points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) the distance formula would determine the length of a line segment between those two points:
sqrt( (x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2)
here (x1,y1) = (-9,-4) and (x2,y2) = (-2,-6)
applying the distance formula:
sqrt((-2--9)^2 + (-6--4)^2) = sqrt(53) = 7.28