How is this related to Pythagoras?

It is the same theorem. Draw a right triangle with one leg horizontal and one vertical between the points, and the distance is the hypotenuse.

What if the points share a coordinate?

The distance is just the difference in the other coordinate. One of the legs is zero, and the triangle collapses to a straight line.

Distance Formula Calculator

Distance between two points, which is Pythagoras in disguise.

Distance between two points, which is Pythagoras in disguise. The distance formula is the Pythagorean theorem wearing different clothes.

Written and maintained by Mohit PatelLast checked August 4, 2026How we build these

x₁

y₁

x₂

y₂

Distance between the points

6.708204

√(3² + 6²)

Slope (m)2

Rise6

Run3

Distance6.708204

Midpoint(2.5, 5)

Angle from horizontal63.4349°

Equationy = 2x + 0

The distance formula is the Pythagorean theorem wearing different clothes. The horizontal gap 3 and the vertical gap 6 are the two legs of a right triangle, and the distance is its hypotenuse: √(9 + 36) = 6.708204.

How the Distance Formula Calculator works

The distance formula is the Pythagorean theorem wearing different clothes. The horizontal and vertical gaps between two points are the legs of a right triangle, and the distance between them is its hypotenuse.

Also known as: distance between two points · euclidean distance calculator · distance formula · coordinate distance calculator

Where to go next

The Distance Formula question rarely arrives on its own. These are the ones that usually come with it:

Slope Calculator — Slope, intercept and the line's equation from two points.
Midpoint Calculator — The point exactly halfway between two others.
Pythagorean Theorem Calculator — The missing side of a right triangle, plus its angles and area.
Percentage Calculator — Every common percentage question in one place.

Sources

NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions

Frequently asked questions

What is the distance formula?

√((x₂−x₁)² + (y₂−y₁)²). It is a² + b² = c² applied to the horizontal and vertical gaps.

Does the order of the points matter?

No. The differences get squared, which discards the sign, so measuring from either end gives the same distance.

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