Example finding distance with Pythagorean theorem

TL;DR

This video explains how to find the distance between two points on a grid using the Pythagorean Theorem.

Transcript

• We are asked what is the distance between the following points. Pause this video and see if you can figure it out. There's multiple ways to think about it. The way I think about it is really to try to draw a right triangle where these points, where the line that connects these points is the hypotenuse and then we can just use the Pythagorean Theo... Read More

Key Insights

• 👉 The Pythagorean Theorem can be used to find the distance between two points on a grid by creating a right triangle.
• 🔺 The X and Y coordinates of the points determine the lengths of the triangle's legs in relation to the grid.
• 😥 Counting the spaces on the grid can provide an approximate distance between the points.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can the distance between two points on a grid be determined?

The distance can be found by creating a right triangle with the line connecting the two points as the hypotenuse. By applying the Pythagorean Theorem, the length of the hypotenuse, and thus the distance, can be calculated.

Q: How are the coordinates of the points used in finding the distance?

The X and Y coordinates of the points determine the length of the triangle's legs. The change in the X value represents the width, while the change in the Y value represents the height of the triangle.

Q: Can the distance be found by simply counting the spaces on the grid?

Yes, by counting the spaces between the two points, you can determine the distance. In the example, the distance was found to be nine spaces. This method works when there is no change in the X direction.

Q: What is the Pythagorean Theorem used for in this context?

The Pythagorean Theorem allows us to find the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle. By substituting the lengths of the triangle's legs into the equation, the distance between two points can be calculated.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video demonstrates how to create a right triangle to find the distance between two points on a grid.

• By using the Pythagorean Theorem, it is possible to calculate the length of the hypotenuse, which represents the distance between the points.

• The example in the video shows the process of finding the distance between two points (-5, 8) and (4, 6) on a grid.