Creating a Distance Formula Template

Here is a way to create a template that calculates the distance between any two points you construct.

Create a graphing window.

Press Control-G to hide the entry line.

Add two points to the grid.

Label the coordinates.

Assign each coordinate to a variable.

Use these variables to calculate the distance in a spreadsheet formula.

First, create a split screen.

Then create a spreadsheet in the new window.

Use the distance formula.

For each variable you will be asked if it refers to the variable you created or the cell

reference in the spreadsheet.

Select the Variable Reference option and click OK.

Do this for variable in the formula.

Now, as you manipulate the points in the graph window, the spreadsheet automatically

calculates the distance between the two points.