Distance (2, -3) (2, 4)

Step by step

The question

Question: find the distance between (2, −3) and (2, 4).

1 Plot the points

Draw the grid.

Put both points on the grid: (2, −3)

and (2, 4).

The distance is the length of this line.

We call it d.

2 Count up

The two points have the same x.

So the line goes straight up.

The distance is how far up: from y = −3 to y = 4.

Take the smaller y away from the bigger one.

Taking away a negative is the same as adding.

So it becomes 4 + 3.

4 plus 3 is 7.

So d = 7.

3 Check

Let's check: start at y = −3 and go 7 up.

−3 plus 7 is 4.

We land on the other point!

Let's look back.

First: plot the points.

Then: count up.

Last: check.