This is a worked example. Change the values, then press Calculate.
Finding the straight-line distance between two points on a plane is a direct application of the Pythagorean theorem, this calculator handles the computation and shows the full working.
The distance between two points on a 2D plane is found using the distance formula, a direct application of the Pythagorean theorem where the horizontal and vertical differences between the points form the two legs of a right triangle, and the direct distance between them is the hypotenuse.
Δx (the horizontal difference) and Δy (the vertical difference) between the two points form the two perpendicular legs of a right triangle, and the straight-line distance between the points is exactly the hypotenuse of that triangle, which is why the distance formula is structurally identical to a² + b² = c², just applied to coordinate differences instead of triangle side lengths directly.
Yes, Δx and Δy between two points form the legs of a right triangle, and the distance between the points is the hypotenuse, making the distance formula a direct application of a² + b² = c².
No, since Δx and Δy get squared in the formula, swapping which point is “first” and which is “second” produces the identical distance result.