Distance between (-5, 2) and (1, 2)

Step by step

The question

Question: find the distance between (−5, 2) and (1, 2).

1 Plot the points

Draw the grid.

Put both points on the grid: (−5, 2)

and (1, 2).

The distance is the length of this line.

We call it d.

2 Count across

The two points have the same y.

So the line is flat.

The distance is how far across: from x = −5 to x = 1.

Take the smaller x away from the bigger one.

Taking away a negative is the same as adding.

So it becomes 1 + 5.

1 plus 5 is 6.

So d = 6.

3 Check

Let's check: start at x = −5 and go 6 across.

−5 plus 6 is 1.

We land on the other point!

Let's look back.

First: plot the points.

Then: count across.

Last: check.