Find the distance between two points using the distance formula, with steps and diagram.

Calculate distances on a Cartesian plane with visual representation

2D Distance 3D Distance

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Coordinate System

2D Cartesian Plane

Results

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Coordinate Plane Diagram

About the Distance Formula

The distance between two points in a plane can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, expressed as the distance formula. This formula calculates the straight-line distance between two points in a Cartesian coordinate system.

Examples:

  • Horizontal line: For points (2, 3) and (7, 3), distance = |7 - 2| = 5 units
  • Vertical line: For points (4, 1) and (4, 8), distance = |8 - 1| = 7 units
  • Diagonal line: For points (1, 1) and (4, 5), distance = √((4-1)² + (5-1)²) = 5 units
  • 3D space: For points (1, 2, 3) and (4, 6, 9), distance = √((4-1)² + (6-2)² + (9-3)²) = √(9+16+36) = √61 ≈ 7.81 units

Real-World Applications:

The distance formula is used in navigation, physics, map-making, computer graphics, and many other fields. It helps calculate the shortest path between two points, which is essential in GPS technology, robotics, and game development.

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