Chapter 9: Coordinate Geometry of Straight Lines

Distance Formula
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the meaning of Distance Formula and construct the Distance Formula.
2. Apply the Distance Formula to calculate the distance between any two points on a Cartesian
coordinate plane.

Activity
"Imagine you are at the TST Star Ferry Pier (point A on the map) and

you need to walk to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (point B on the map).

What will be the shortest distance? Mark it down on the above figure.

What kind of line is it? It is a ____________________.

And the next question: How could we find the length of this shortest walking
distance?"

1
 AC=
BC=

AB= ( )
AB=
AB= units

C( , )

Generally speaking,

A
AC=
BC=

B
C( , )

Distance formula: For any two points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) on a rectangular plane,

AB=

Exercise 0
Find the distance between the two given points.
A(0, 8), B(6, 0) C(3, −5), D(−7, −2)
AB = CD =
AB = CD =
AB =__________ units CD = __________ units

2
E(5, −2), F(−1, 3) G(−5, −2), H(−1, 3)
EF = GH =
EF = GH =
EF = __________ units GH = __________ units

Example 1
The coordinates of points I and J are (−2, k) and (4, −1) respectively, where k is a constant. If
IJ = 10 units, find all possible value(s) of k.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Practice 1
The coordinates of points L and M are (n, 1) and (3, 5) respectively, where n is a constant. If
LM = 5 units, find all possible value(s) of n.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

3
Example 2
Find the distance between the four given points. And then identify are there any special triangles.
O(0, 0), P(4, 0),Q(2, 4), R(2, 2√3)
OP= OQ= PQ=
OP= OQ= PQ=
OP= ________ units OP= ________ units PQ= ________ units
OR= PR= QR=
OR= PR= QR=
OR= ________ units PR= _________ units QR= _________ units

What type of triangle is △OPQ?

△OPQ is a(n) ____________________ triangle.

What type of triangle is △OQR?

△OQR is a(n) ____________________ triangle.

Quiz
Find the distance between the two given points.
S(15, 40), T(55, 10) U(−8, −1), V(−2, −9)
ST = UV =
ST = UV =
ST =__________ units UV = __________ units
**W(0, −4a), X(3a, 0) **Y(3b, −7b), Z(−2b, 5)
WX = YZ =
WX = YZ =
WX = __________ units YZ = __________ units