How to Use the Distance Formula in Algebra

There are some formulas and calculations so basic to algebra that anyone can recognize them with just a mite of investigation and education. The distance formula in algebra is one of these famous and basic forms of math knowledge. So get ready to be an expert in the basics of algebra. Read on to learn how.

Instructions

1. Use the Cartesian coordinate system to plot two points. You remember, this is where you have an "x" and "y" axis. You locate each point by an ordered pair of one x and one y, (x,y).

2. Plot your two points. Let's say your first point is (1,3) and your other point is (4,7).

3. Draw a straight line between your two points, and label this line "d." This is the distance you will be calculating.

4. Make a triangle now, by drawing a straight line due east from the point (1,3) over to x=4. And draw a straight vertical line up and down line from (4,7) to the (4,1) point.

5. Label the distance on the horizontal line as 3, because it is 3 units from 1 to 4. And label the vertical line 4, because it is 4 units in height.

6. Employ the Pythagorean Theorem for calculating the distance. This formula will be "d^2 = 3^2 + 4^2 = 9 + 16 = 25."

7. Take the square root of that: "d^2 = 25" so the square root of 25 equals 5 and you have your distance of 5. Now you have used the distance formula in algebra to calculate the distance.