Finding the Distance between Two Points (GMAT/GRE/CAT/Bank PO/SSC CGL) | Don't Memorise

TL;DR

The distance between two points on a coordinate plane can be easily calculated using the absolute values of the differences in their x or y coordinates, or by using the distance formula.

Transcript

this is a coordinate plane two axis and four quadrants how do we find the distance between any two points say we have two points a and B how do we find this distance it's pretty simple let's calculate the distance on the right hand side of the whiteboard we need to find a B the length of segment a B if you look at the figure it lies entirely on the... Read More

Key Insights

• 👈 The distance between two points on the x-axis is the absolute value of the difference between their x coordinates.
• 😀 The distance between two points on the y-axis is the absolute value of the difference between their y coordinates.
• 🫥 The distance between two points that do not form a line parallel to an axis can be found using the distance formula.
• 🟨 The distance formula involves taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences in the x and y coordinates of the two points.
• 😥 The distance formula can be applied to find the distance between any two points on a coordinate plane.
• 👉 Perpendicular lines form right angles, which can be useful in finding the distance between two points on a coordinate plane.
• 👉 The Pythagorean theorem can be used to find the distance between two points when a right triangle is formed.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do we find the distance between two points on the x-axis?

To find the distance between two points on the x-axis, we simply take the absolute value of the difference between their x coordinates.

Q: What about the distance between two points on the y-axis?

The distance between two points on the y-axis can also be found by taking the absolute value of the difference between their y coordinates.

Q: How do we find the distance between two points that do not form a line parallel to an axis?

To find the distance between two points that do not form a line parallel to an axis, we can use the distance formula, which involves taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences in their x and y coordinates.

Q: Is there a general formula to find the distance between any two points on a coordinate plane?

Yes, the distance formula can be used to find the distance between any two points on a coordinate plane. It involves taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences in the x and y coordinates of the two points.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The distance between two points on the x-axis can be found by taking the absolute value of the difference between their x coordinates.

• The distance between two points on the y-axis can be found by taking the absolute value of the difference between their y coordinates.

• To find the distance between two points that do not form a line parallel to an axis, you can use the distance formula, which is the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences in their x and y coordinates.