Find Distance Along One Coordinate Direction
Identify the shared coordinate.
About 20 minutes, plus any extended practice
Supplied materials
- Paper and a pencil; drawing and spoken explanations are welcome. An adult may read directions and options aloud.
- Supplied worked-case record: A(2,5) and B(9,5) have equal y=5.
- All quantities and shape descriptions are supplied in the worked example and questions; no purchase or personal information is needed.
Learn the idea
When two points have the same y-coordinate, their segment is horizontal and its length is the difference between x-coordinates. When x-coordinates match, compare y-coordinates instead. This lesson uses axis-aligned segments, so no diagonal-distance formula is needed. Coordinate position and segment length are different quantities.
Identify the shared coordinate. Subtract the smaller changing coordinate from the larger and report the length in units. Check that moving this distance from one endpoint reaches the other without changing the shared coordinate.
Find the shared coordinate before calculating. An endpoint coordinate is not a segment length unless the other endpoint is zero. Connect the points with a horizontal or vertical segment and mark its intervals.
- Connect the points with a horizontal or vertical segment and mark its intervals.
- Follow the worked example. Point to each number or shape feature and say what it tells you.
- Identify the shared coordinate.
- Try the question and then the three practice questions. Check your answers and explain any change you make.
See the method in action
A(2,5) and B(9,5) have equal y=5. Their horizontal distance is 9−2=7 units. The endpoint nine is not the distance because the segment begins at x=2, not the origin. The five sets vertical position and does not contribute to the horizontal length. Find the shared coordinate before calculating. An endpoint coordinate is not a segment length unless the other endpoint is zero. Connect the points with a horizontal or vertical segment and mark its intervals.
Check your reasoning
Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.
Helpful tips
- Find the shared coordinate before calculating.
- An endpoint coordinate is not a segment length unless the other endpoint is zero.
See the answer and explanation
8
Subtract horizontal coordinates because the vertical coordinates match. The result is 8.
Take it further
Points (6,2) and (6,11) have vertical distance 9 units.
Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.
More practice: try new cases
Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.
Your choices are temporary. Feedback appears after you check all the answers.
Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. Keep your own notes or download them before leaving. The score describes these questions; it does not certify subject mastery.
Check the subject sources
These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.