What is the distance formula in coordinate geometry?
The distance formula in coordinate geometry is \\( \\sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \\), where \\((x_1, y_1)\\) and \\((x_2, y_2)\\) are the coordinates of the two points.
How do you derive the distance formula?
To derive the distance formula, begin with two points in a plane: \\((x_1, y_1)\\) and \\((x_2, y_2)\\). The difference in \\(x\\)-coordinates is \\(x_2 - x_1\\) and in \\(y\\)-coordinates is \\(y_2 - y_1\\). Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to the right triangle formed, yielding: \\(d = \\sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}\\).
How is the distance formula applied in three-dimensional space?
The distance formula in three-dimensional space is applied by calculating the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences between corresponding coordinates. It is expressed as: √((x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)² + (z₂ - z₁)²). This measures the straight-line distance between two points (x₁, y₁, z₁) and (x₂, y₂, z₂) in 3D space.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the distance formula?
Common mistakes to avoid include: not squaring the differences of the coordinates, forgetting to take the square root of the sum of the squared differences, incorrect subtraction order in the coordinate differences, and miscalculation of signs when dealing with negative coordinates.
What are some real-life applications of the distance formula?
Real-life applications of the distance formula include navigation systems (GPS) to calculate the shortest route, determining the distance between celestial bodies in astronomy, measuring the length of a diagonal in architecture and construction, and analysing the distance between data points in statistical and machine learning models.