piter23
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when you use the distance formula does the order in which you subtract the x and y coordinates matter explain

Answer :

use the first x then subtract the second x. then the y then the second y. yes it does matter because the numbers you subtract will add up to your answer

Answer:

No,  order in which we subtract the x coordinates and y coordinates does nor matter

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the two points be [tex]\left ( x_1,y_1 \right )\,\,,\,\,\left ( x_2,y_2 \right )[/tex]

By distance formula: distance between points [tex]\left ( x_1,y_1 \right )\,\,,\,\,\left ( x_2,y_2 \right )[/tex] is equal to [tex]\sqrt{\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2+\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2}[/tex]

We know that [tex]\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2=\left ( x_1-x_2 \right )^2[/tex] and [tex]\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2=\left ( y_1-y_2 \right )^2[/tex]

So,

[tex]\sqrt{\left ( x_2-x_1 \right )^2+\left ( y_2-y_1 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{\left ( x_1-x_2 \right )^2+\left ( y_1-y_2 \right )^2}[/tex]

Therefore, we can say in distance formula , order in which we subtract the x coordinates and y coordinates does nor matter .

For example distance between points [tex]\left ( 2,3 \right )\,,\,\left ( 4,5 \right )[/tex] is shown as below :

[tex]\sqrt{\left ( 4-2 \right )^2+\left ( 5-3 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{\left ( 2-4 \right )^2+\left ( 3-5 \right )^2}\\=\sqrt{4+4}\\=\sqrt{8}[/tex]

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