Question

How is the Pythagorean theorem related to the distance formula? Explain.

Answer 1

Both formulas can be used to find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane. The vertical leg of the right triangle represents the difference in the y values of the two points. The horizontal leg of the right triangle represents the difference in the x values of the two points. The hypotenuse of the right triangle represents the distance between the two points.

Explanation:

Answer 2

If you plot 2 points on a graph right, you can form a triangle between the 2 points. You can determine the legs's sizes using the coordinates of the points. Pythagorean theorem is then used to find the hypotenuse, which IS the distance from one point to the other. Hope that helps.