Pythagoras’ theorem can be used to calculate the length of any side in a right-angled triangle.

Pythagoras’
theorem can be applied to solve 3-dimensional problems.

The length of a line segment

Pythagoras' theorem can be used to calculate the distance between two points.

The line between points X and Y is a line segment. A line segment is a part of a line which has
Rise
two end points. If we employ the method of we will form a right-angled triangle.
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If we remember Pythagoras theorem, we will remember that the sum of the squares on the two
short sides would equal to the sum of the squares of XY. And to find the size of XY we would
take the square root.
This would mean
2 2 2
(xy ) =a +b

And we recall that to find “XY? We must find out the square root from our results

XY =√ a2 +b2
Example

Point X has the coordinates (2,6).

Point Y has the coordinates (7,1).

Calculate the distance XY.

How do I find the length of a line segment with endpoints?

To find the length of a line segment with endpoints we use the distance formula:

d= √ [(x ₂−x ₁)²+( y ₂− y ₁)² ]

We then identify our values for x 1 , y z , x 2 , y 2 and then substitute the values into the distance
formula.

x 1=2 , y z =6 , x 2=7 , y 2 =1

Replace the values for the coordinates of the endpoints, (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂).

d= √ [(7−2) ²+(1−6)² ]

Then you do your calculations

d= √ [(5)²+(−5) ²]

d= √ ¿ ¿

d= √ 50

d=7.071units