Asked by Robert
Two students are using the distance formula to determine the distance between (9, 4) and (–3, 8) on a coordinate grid. Their work is shown below.
Karlin’s Work
d = StartRoot (9 minus (negative 3)) squared + (4 minus 8) squared EndRoot. D = StartRoot (12) squared + (negative 4) squared EndRoot. D = StartRoot 144 + 16 EndRoot. D = StartRoot 160 EndRoot.
Abby’s Work
d = StartRoot (negative 3 minus 9) squared + (8 minus 4) squared EndRoot. D = StartRoot (negative 12) squared + (4) squared EndRoot. D = StartRoot 144 + 16 EndRoot. D = StartRoot 160 EndRoot.
Which best explains why the order in which the subtraction occurred did not cause a difference in the answers determined by the two girls?
The differences are each squared.
The differences are added together.
The square root of the differences is taken.
The differences are the same regardless of order.
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
The differences are each squared.
Explanation: 9 − (−3) = 12 and (−3) − 9 = −12, but squaring 12 and −12 gives the same result (144), so the sign change from reversing the subtraction does not affect the distance.
Explanation: 9 − (−3) = 12 and (−3) − 9 = −12, but squaring 12 and −12 gives the same result (144), so the sign change from reversing the subtraction does not affect the distance.
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