To find the distance between the points \((2, 3)\) and \((-4, -9)\), we can use the distance formula:
\[ d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]
Here, \((x_1, y_1) = (2, 3)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (-4, -9)\).
Plugging in the values:
\[ d = \sqrt{((-4) - 2)^2 + ((-9) - 3)^2} \]
Calculating the differences:
\[ d = \sqrt{(-6)^2 + (-12)^2} \]
Now, squaring the differences:
\[ d = \sqrt{36 + 144} \]
Adding these values together:
\[ d = \sqrt{180} \]
Now, we can simplify \(\sqrt{180}\):
\[ \sqrt{180} = \sqrt{36 \times 5} = 6\sqrt{5} \]
Using a calculator to find the decimal value:
\[ 6\sqrt{5} \approx 6 \times 2.236 = 13.416 \]
Rounding to the nearest hundredth:
\[ d \approx 13.42 \]
Thus, the distance between the two points is approximately 13.42.