Find vertical distance between points

Vertical distance between two points with the same $x$ -coordinate is the number of units separating their $y$ -coordinates, found by taking the absolute value of their difference, $\lvert y_2-y_1\rvert$ . On a coordinate plane, this is the length of the vertical segment between the points, regardless of which point is higher; the horizontal coordinates do not affect it.

Detailed Explanation: Find vertical distance between points

When two points have the same $x$ -coordinate, they are directly above or below each other. Their vertical distance is the number of units between their $y$ -coordinates.

Use the formula:

\text{vertical distance}=\lvert y_2-y_1\rvert

The absolute value makes the answer positive, no matter which point is higher.

Example: Find the vertical distance between $A(-3,5)$ and $B(-3,-2)$ .

Identify the $y$ -coordinates: $5$ and $-2$ .
Subtract the $y$ -coordinates:

-2-5=-7

Take the absolute value:

\lvert -7\rvert=7

The vertical distance between the points is $7$ units. The $x$ -coordinate, $-3$ , does not affect the vertical distance.

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Cartesian Grid - Distance Between Coordinates (Straight)

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Find vertical distance between points

Detailed Explanation: Find vertical distance between points

Learn by doing: Find vertical distance between points

Practice with unlimited practice problems

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Cartesian Grid - Distance Between Coordinates (Straight)