Distance Between Two Points

Learning Goal

Students will explore distance between two points in a coordinate plane and learn how this relates to right triangles.

Find the distance between each set of two points:

Explain how you know.

Find the distance between (1,1) and (8,6).

The longest side of the right triangle (called the hypotenuse) is the diagonal distance.
The two shorter sides of the right triangle (called the legs) make up the horizontal and vertical components of the diagonal distance.

Click the most correct choice.

Select all that apply

A
The sides of a right triangle are called the hypotenuse (1 long side) and the legs (2 shorter sides).
B
The sides of a right triangle are called the hypotenuse (1 short side) and the legs (2 longer sides).
C
The sides of a right triangle are called the hypotenuses (2 longer sides) and the leg (1 short side).
D
The sides of a right triangle are called the hypotenuses (2 shorter sides) and the leg (1 long side).

Estimate the distance between each set of two points in terms of the lengths of the hypotenuse and legs of the right triangle:

What patterns are there between these lengths? Use the words hypotenuse and leg.