how do you find the distance between two points on a straight line?

Question

how do you find the distance between two points on a straight line? Please tell me any formula or method.

Answer 1

the distance between to points is equivalent to the square root of the sum of (x1-x2)^2 and (y1-y2)^2

so say we have the points (5,3) and (-2,4)

We would do
5--2 = 5+2 =7 (this is our x1-x2)
3-4= -1 (this is our y1-y1)

Now we square them
7^2= 49
-1 ^2 = 1

Then we add them together
49+1=50

We then take the square root of the sum:
square root (50) = 7.07

7.07 is thus the distance between the points (5,3) and (-2,4)

Answer 2

If you know the cords of the two points

AB^2 = (x1-x2)^2 + (y1-y2)^2

If you know the gradient of the line, m and the two x cords, then you can use trig to find the distance.

AB = (x2-x1) / cosθ
where θ = atan(m)

Answer 3

sqrt ( (x1 - x2)^2 + (y1 - y2)^2 )

where x1 x coord of point 1
where y1 y coord of point 1
where x2 x coord of point 2
where y2 y coord of point 2

Answer 4

d = sqrt[(x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2 + (z2-z1)^2] in flat 3-dim space.

Answer 5

Let the points be A(c, d) and B(e, f)

Then distance AB = √[(e - c)² + (f - d)²]