1. What is the Distance Formula?

The distance formula calculates the straight-line distance between two points in a 2D plane. It's derived from the Pythagorean theorem and is fundamental in geometry, physics, and engineering.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the distance formula:

Where:

• \( x1, y1 \) — Coordinates of first point
• \( x2, y2 \) — Coordinates of second point
• \( d \) — Distance between the points

Explanation: The formula calculates the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the differences in x and y coordinates.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Distance calculations are essential in navigation, computer graphics, physics simulations, and many engineering applications where spatial relationships matter.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter coordinates for both points. The calculator accepts any real numbers (positive or negative) and provides results with 4 decimal places precision.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can this calculate 3D distance?
A: No, this is for 2D points only. For 3D, you would need to add a z-coordinate term.

Q2: What units does this use?
A: The result is in whatever units your input coordinates are in (meters, feet, etc.).

Q3: Does the order of points matter?
A: No, the distance is the same regardless of which point you consider first.

Q4: How precise are the results?
A: Results are rounded to 4 decimal places for readability.

Q5: Can I use negative coordinates?
A: Yes, the formula works with any real number coordinates.