## anonymous 3 years ago Use the distance formmula to find the distance between point B (-3,-8) and point C (2,4).

1. PhoenixFire

Do you know what the distance formula is?

2. anonymous

yes but I'm confused as to where to put the numbers in.

3. PhoenixFire

$d=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}=\sqrt{(x_1-x)^2+(y_1-y)^2}$ You have two points, find the change in x and change in y, and put into the formula.

4. anonymous

is -3 -8 x1 and y1

5. PhoenixFire

it shouldn't make a difference since it's squared. But usually if you want to find the distance from B to C, your x1y1=C and xy=B

6. anonymous

7. PhoenixFire

$dist=\sqrt{(2+3)^2+(4+8)^2}=\sqrt{25+144}=\sqrt{169}=13$

8. anonymous

My distance formula says you subtract x 2 and x 1

9. PhoenixFire

yup. $2-(-3)=2+3=5$

10. PhoenixFire

$4-(-8)=4+8=12$ Double negative becomes a positive.

11. anonymous

Ok. Thanks for youre help.