1. Distance between Points on a Coordinate Plane
Using Quadrant Signs & Absolute Value

2. Know the Signs of Each Quadrant!5 4 3 2 1
- +
+ +
- -
+ -

3. Point A is (-5, 3) Point B is (-2, 3) Point A is 3 units from Point B
Same Means Subtract
*If two coordinate points are in the same quadrant, then you need to subtract the absolute value of the numbers that are different in the coordinate pairs.
Same Means Subtract A B
Point A is (-5, 3) Point B is (-2, 3)
Point A & Point B are in the same quadrant, so I must subtract the absolute value of the different numbers.
|-5| - |-2| =
5 – 2 = 3
Point A is 3 units from Point B 5 4 3 2 1

4. Point A is (3, 1) Point B is (3, -5) Point A is 6 units from Point B
Different Means Add
*If two coordinate pairs are in different quadrants, then you need to add the absolute value of the different numbers.
Different Means Add
Point A is (3, 1) Point B is (3, -5)
Point A & Point B are in the same quadrant, so I must subtract the absolute value of the different numbers.
|1| + |-5| =
1 + 5 = 6
Point A is 6 units from Point B 5 4 3 2 1 A B

5. Point A is 7 units from Point B
Let’s Practice
Point A is (-4, -3)
Point B is (3, -3)
Different Means Add 5 4 3 2 1
Point A & Point B are in different quadrants, so I must add the absolute value of the different numbers.
|-4| + |3| =
4 + 3 = 7 B A
Point A is 7 units from Point B

6. Point A is 2 units from Point B
Let’s Practice
Point A is (-4, -3)
Point B is (-2, -3)
Same Means Subtract 5 4 3 2 1
Point A & Point B are in the same quadrant, so I must subtract the absolute value of the different numbers.
|-4| - |-2| =
4 - 2 = 2 B A
Point A is 2 units from Point B

7. Let’s Try Without the Coordinate Plane
When we do not have a coordinate plane,
we use the quadrant signs to help us!
Remember the
Quadrant signs:
Figure out if the points are
in the same quadrant or in different quadrants.
by looking at the signs of the numbers.
For example: (2, -3) has a +2 and a -3, so it’s +-
+- means Quadrant 4.
Then follow the steps, we have already learned:
Same Quadrant – Subtract
Different Quadrants - Add ++ -- -+ +-

8. (9, -3) & (9, -11)
Are the points in the same quadrant? (9, -3) is + - (9, -11) is + - Both points are + - So both points are in the same quadrant! (all points that are + - are in quadrant 4!)

9. (-3, -6) & (-11, -6)
Are the points in the same quadrant? (-3, -6) is - - (-11, -6) is - - Both points are - - So both points are in the same quadrant! (all points that are - - are in quadrant 3!)

10. (-1, 5) & (6, 5)
Are the points in the same quadrant? (-1, 5) is - + (6, 5) is ++ One point is - + The other point is + + The combination of signs are different, so the points are in different quadrants! (all points that are - + are in quadrant 2! all points that are ++ are in quadrant 1!)

11. Now… Back to Finding Distance between Two Points without the Coordinate Plane

12. (9, -3) & (9, -11)
1) Are they in the same quadrant? (9, -3) is + - (9, -11) is + - Yes! 2) Subtract the absolute value of the different numbers. |-11| - |-3| = 11 – 3 = 8 The distance between points is 8!

13. The distance between points is 8!
(-3, -6) & (-11, -6)
1) Are they in the same quadrant?
(-3, -6) is - -
(-11, -6) is - -
Yes!
2) Subtract the absolute value of the different numbers.
|-11| - |-3| =
11 – 3 = 8
The distance between points is 8!

14. The distance between points is 7!
(-1, 5) & (6, 5)
1) Are they in the same quadrant?
(-1, 5) is - +
(6, 5) is ++
No!
2) Add the absolute value of the different numbers.
|-1| + |6| =
1 + 6 = 7
The distance between points is 7!

15. With the Coordinate Plane Without the Coordinate Plane
You Try!!
With the Coordinate Plane
Without the Coordinate Plane
(6, -3) & (12, -3) is: _____
(-5, -9) & (-5, 7) is: _____
(21, 0) & (-1, 0) is: _____
(-2, 5) & (-2, 1) is: _____ 5 4 3 2 1 B A 18 16 22 C D 4
What is the distance between
A & B: ____ C & D: _____
B & C: ____ D & A: _____ 7 7 8 8