1. What Is Segment Length?

The segment length is the distance between two points in a coordinate plane. It's calculated using the Pythagorean theorem applied to the differences in the x and y coordinates of the two points.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the distance formula:

Where:

• \( x_1, y_1 \) — Coordinates of the first point
• \( x_2, y_2 \) — Coordinates of the second point

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

3. Importance of Segment Length Calculation

Details: Calculating segment lengths is fundamental in geometry, computer graphics, physics, engineering, and many other fields where spatial relationships are important.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the coordinates of two points in any units (must be consistent). The calculator will return the distance between them in the same units.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does the order of points matter?
A: No, the distance is the same regardless of which point you consider first.

Q2: Can this be used for 3D coordinates?
A: No, this calculator is for 2D only. For 3D, you would need to add a z-coordinate term.

Q3: What if my points have negative coordinates?
A: The calculator works fine with negative coordinates as the differences are squared.

Q4: How precise are the results?
A: Results are rounded to 2 decimal places. For higher precision, use more decimal places in input.

Q5: Can I use this for geographical coordinates?
A: No, for geographical coordinates you would need the haversine formula to account for Earth's curvature.