1. What is a Distance Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the straight-line distance between two points in a 2D plane using their coordinates.

Purpose: It's useful in mathematics, physics, engineering, and mapping applications to determine the shortest path between two points.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the distance formula derived from the Pythagorean theorem:

Where:

• \( (x_1, y_1) \) — Coordinates of the first point
• \( (x_2, y_2) \) — Coordinates of the second point
• Distance is measured in the same units as the coordinates (meters in this case)

Explanation: The formula calculates the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the differences in x and y coordinates.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance measurement is crucial for navigation, construction planning, physics problems, and many scientific applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the coordinates of both points in meters. The calculator works with both positive and negative coordinate values.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can this calculator work with 3D coordinates?
A: No, this is specifically for 2D coordinates. For 3D, you would need to extend the formula to include the z-axis.

Q2: What if my coordinates are in different units?
A: Convert all coordinates to the same unit (meters in this case) before calculation.

Q3: Does the order of points matter?
A: No, the distance from point A to B is the same as from B to A.

Q4: How precise is the calculation?
A: The calculator provides results with 3 decimal places for high precision.

Q5: Can I use this for geographic coordinates?
A: For small distances on Earth's surface it works, but for large distances you should use the Haversine formula that accounts for Earth's curvature.