Distance Formula:
From: | To: |
The distance between two points in a 2D plane is the length of the straight line connecting them. It's a fundamental concept in geometry with applications in physics, engineering, computer graphics, and more.
The calculator uses the distance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula is derived from the Pythagorean theorem, calculating the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the differences in x and y coordinates.
Details: Calculating distances between points is essential in navigation, computer vision, physics simulations, game development, and many scientific applications where spatial relationships matter.
Tips: Enter the coordinates of two points in the plane. The calculator will compute the straight-line distance between them. All values must be valid numbers.
Q1: Does the order of points matter?
A: No, the distance is the same whether you calculate from point A to B or B to A.
Q2: Can this be used for 3D points?
A: No, this calculator is for 2D points only. For 3D points, you would need to extend the formula to include the z-coordinate.
Q3: What units does the calculator use?
A: The calculator uses whatever units your coordinates are in. If you input meters, the distance will be in meters.
Q4: How precise are the calculations?
A: The calculator shows results with 4 decimal places, but internal calculations use higher precision.
Q5: Can I calculate distances on a sphere (like Earth)?
A: No, this uses Euclidean distance for flat planes. For spherical distances, you would need the Haversine formula.