LET’S TRY ONE
Find the distance from (1, 2) to (4, 6).
5
The changes are 3 and 4; √(32 + 42) = 5 coordinate units.
Learning steps & teaching tips
Use horizontal and vertical changes to find distance between two points.
- The coordinate differences form perpendicular legs of a right triangle.
- Work through the example. Explain how its evidence supports the answer.
- Try a new question; use the explanation to check your thinking.
Try it together
Write or draw your own example with different numbers. Solve it, then ask a partner to check the method as well as the answer.
The coordinate differences form perpendicular legs of a right triangle.