SSAT Upper Level Math : Distance Formula

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Coordinate Geometry

A line segment has the endpoints \(\displaystyle (-1, 3)\) and \(\displaystyle (4,-2)\). What is the length of this line segment?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt2\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{30}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt2\)

Explanation:

Use the following formula to find the distance between two points:

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Plug in the points that are given.

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(4-(-1))^2+(-2-3)^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(5)^2+(-5)^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{25+25}=\sqrt{50}=\sqrt{5*5*2}=5\sqrt2\)

Example Question #92 : Coordinate Geometry

A line segment has end points at \(\displaystyle (8,1)\) and \(\displaystyle (-2,-3)\). What is the length of this line segment?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9.88\)

\(\displaystyle 7.46\)

\(\displaystyle 6.32\)

\(\displaystyle 10.77\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10.77\)

Explanation:

The distance between two points is given by the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Now, using the two given points, plug them in to find the distance.

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(-2-8)^2+(-3-1)^2}=\sqrt{100+16}=\sqrt{116}=10.77\)

Example Question #371 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

Find the length of a line that has end points at \(\displaystyle (8, -1)\text{ and }(-2, 1)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{26}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{26}\)

\(\displaystyle 126\)

\(\displaystyle 104\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{26}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of this line segment:

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Substitute in the values provided:

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(-2-8)^2+(1-(-1))^2}=\sqrt{100+4}=\sqrt{104}\)

At this point, break down the square root:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{104}=\sqrt{2\cdot52}=\sqrt{2\cdot2\cdot26}=\sqrt{2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot13}\)

You can remove two of the twos and put them on the outside of the square root symbol, and multiply the two and the thirteen that remain underneath the square root symbol:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot13}=2\sqrt{2\cdot13}=2\sqrt{26}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Line With Distance Formula

A line segment has endpoints at \(\displaystyle (-2, -1)\text{ and }(8, 1)\). Find the length of this line.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 52\)

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{26}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 96\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{26}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line segment.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(-2,-1)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(8,1)\).

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(8-(-2))^2+(1-(-1))^2}=\sqrt{100+4}=\sqrt{104}=2\sqrt{26}\)

Example Question #5 : Distance Formula

Find the length of the line segment that has endpoints \(\displaystyle (0, 4)\text{ and }(12, 6)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12.166\)

\(\displaystyle 10.659\)

\(\displaystyle 12.412\)

\(\displaystyle 8.451\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.166\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line segment.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(0,4)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(12,6)\).

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(12-0)^2+(6-4)^2}=\sqrt{144+4}=\sqrt{148}=12.166\)

Example Question #6 : Distance Formula

Find the length of the line segment that has the endpoints \(\displaystyle (2, 4)\text{ and }(7, 8)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{31}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{29}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{41}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{41}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(2,4)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(7,8)\).

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(7-2)^2+(8-4)^2}=\sqrt{25+16}=\sqrt{41}\)

Example Question #7 : Distance Formula

One leg of a triangle has endpoints at the coordinates \(\displaystyle (-1, -2)\text{ and }(-4, -1)\). Find the length of this leg.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt2\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{10}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{10}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the leg.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(-1,-2)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(-4,-1)\).

\(\displaystyle \text{Length}=\sqrt{(-4-(-1))^2+(-1-(-2))^2}=\sqrt{9+1}=\sqrt{10}\)

Example Question #101 : Lines

A side of a square is graphed onto a coordinate plane. The side has endpoints at \(\displaystyle (-3, 1)\text{ and }(4, -1)\). Find the length of the side of the square.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{53}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\sqrt5\)

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 53\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{53}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line segment.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(-3,1)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(4,-1)\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(4-(-3))^2+(-1-1)^2}=\sqrt{49+4}=\sqrt{53}\)

Example Question #102 : Lines

The side of a triangle is graphed onto a coordinate plane. The side has endpoints at \(\displaystyle (2, 2)\text{ and }(1, -5)\). Find the length of this side.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt2\)

\(\displaystyle 50\)

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 48\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt2\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line segment.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(2,2)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(1, -5)\).

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(1-2)^2+(-5-2)^2}=\sqrt{1+49}=\sqrt{50}=5\sqrt2\)

Example Question #10 : Distance Formula

Find the length of a line segment that has endpoints at \(\displaystyle (1, 2)\text{ and }(5, 1)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{17}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{15}\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{17}\)

Explanation:

Use the distance formula to find the length of the line segment.

\(\displaystyle D=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\)

Where,

\(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)=(1,2)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_2,y_2)=(5,1)\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Distance}=\sqrt{(5-1)^2+(1-2)^2}=\sqrt{16+1}=\sqrt{17}\)

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors