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Lesson 8: The Distance Formula

This document introduces the Cartesian coordinate system and defines key terms like the x-axis, y-axis, quadrants, abscissa, and ordinate. It explains how to plot points on the coordinate plane using ordered pairs and how to find the distance between two points using the distance formula. The distance formula is derived by applying the Pythagorean theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the horizontal and vertical distances between two points. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the distance formula to calculate distances and determine if a triangle is isosceles.

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Marquez Francis
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49 views17 pages

Lesson 8: The Distance Formula

This document introduces the Cartesian coordinate system and defines key terms like the x-axis, y-axis, quadrants, abscissa, and ordinate. It explains how to plot points on the coordinate plane using ordered pairs and how to find the distance between two points using the distance formula. The distance formula is derived by applying the Pythagorean theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the horizontal and vertical distances between two points. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the distance formula to calculate distances and determine if a triangle is isosceles.

Uploaded by

Marquez Francis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 8

The Distance Formula


Cartesian Coordinate System

 It is set up by two pverpendicular lines called axes.

 A point on the plane corresponds to a pair of real numbers called


coordinates.

 In 1637, Rene Descartes, a French mathematician and


philosopher used this method of associating points with numbers.
 The axes are the horizontal axis is called the x-axis and the
vertical axis is called the y-axis.

 The intersection of the x and y axes is called the origin whose


coordinate is (0,0).

 The two axes divide the plane into four parts called quadrants.
Cartesian Coordinate System

Quadrant Quadrant
(-,+) (+,+)

Quadrant Quadrant
origin
(-,-)
(+,-)
(x,y)

Abscissa Ordinate
 Is the x-coordinate of a point. It is  Is the y-coordinate of a point. It is the
the distance of the point from the distance of the point from the x-axis,
y-axis, positive if the point is to positive if the point is above the x-axis
the right of the y-axis and negative and negative if the point is below the
if the point is to the left of the y- x-axis.
axis.
 Given any ordered pair of real
numbers, it is easy to plot them
on the Cartesian plane.
A(2, 3)
Examples: C(-4, 2)
 Plot the following points on a
coordinate plane. Label the points
A, B and C.

1. with abscissa 2 and ordinate 3.


2. (-5, -1)
3. four units to the left of y-axis and B(-5, -1)
two units above the x-axis.
 The distance between two points in one dimensional plane is denoted by:
Ix2 - x1I
Example:
 Find the distance from point A to B.

A B

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Solution: AB = Ix2 - x1I


AB = I2 - (-1)I
AB = I3I
AB = 3
 In two dimensional coordinate plane, all points on a horizontal line have
the same y-coordinates. So to find the distance on a horizontal line, we
can use the same method.

 Using the given coordinate plane, we can find C(1, 4)

the distance from point A to B. A(-2, 3) B(6, 3)

Solution:
AB = Ix2 - x1I
AB = I-2 - 6I
D(1, -2)
AB = I-8I
AB = 8
 In two dimensional coordinate plane, all points on a vertical line have the
same x-coordinates. So to find the distance on a vertical line, we can use
the same method.

 Using the given coordinate plane, we can find C(1, 4)

the distance from point C to D. A(-2, 3)

B(6, 3)
Solution:
CD = Ix2 - x1I
CD = I4 - (-2)I
D(1, -2)
CD = I6I
CD = 6
 To find the distance between two pints not on vertical or horizontal line, Pythagorean
Theorem and the methods done can be used.
S(2, 6)
Solution:
PR = Ix2 - x1I PS = Ix2 - x1I
= I2 - (-1)I = I2 - 6I
R(-1, 2) P(2, 2)
= I3I = I-4I
PR = 3 PS = 4

 TThe figure shows a right triangle ∆PRS with


PS and PR as legs and RS as the hypotenuse.
 To find the distance between two points not on vertical or horizontal line,
Pythagorean Theorem and the methods done can be used.
S(2, 6)
Solution:
 The figure shows a right triangle ∆PRS with PS
and PR as legs and RS as the hypotenuse.
R(-1, 2) P(2, 2)
 By Pythagorean Theorem:
(RS)2 = (PR)2 + (PS)2
(RS)2 = (3)2 + (4)2
(RS)2 = 9 + 16
(RS)2 = 25
√( 𝑅𝑆 ) 2=√ 25
 
RS = 5
 Now, we let R and S be any point with coordinates (x1, y2) and (x2, y2)
respectively. The vertical and horizontal lines through R and S intersect at
point P(x2, y1).

 Thus (RS)2 = Ix1 - y2I2 + Ix2 - y2I2.


• Since for ny number a, a2 > 0 even when a < 0.
We can write:

(RS)2 = (x1 - y2)2 + (x2 - y2)2.


 By taking the square root of both sides, the distance formula will be
derived.
Distance Formula

 If point R is at (x1, y1) and point S is at (x2, y2), then the


distance from R to S is:

 
RS =

 Remember that distance is always positive.


Examples:
B
1. Find the distance between two points whose
endpoints are A (-4, 2) and B(3, 5).
Solution:
A C
  AB =
  AB =
  AB =
  AB =
  AB =
Examples:
2. Determine if the following points are vertices of an isoseles
triangle. A(1, 2), B(4, -1) and C(6, 4).
Solution:
 To determine if the triangle is isosceles, we have to find the lengths
of the three sides. If two sides are equal, then it is isosceles.
 Find AB, BC and AC.
  AB =   AB =
  AB =   AB =
  AB =   AB = units
BC =   AC =
BC =   AC =
BC =   AC =
BC =   AC =
BC =   AC =
BC = units   AC = units

  Since both BCand AC have lengths equal to units, then triangle ABC is an
isosceles triangle.
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