How to Find Distance on a Coordinate Grid

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a clear, step-by-step guide to calculating distances on a coordinate plane, specifically targeting 6th-grade mathematics standards. The lesson progresses logically from finding the distance of a single point from the axes to calculating the distance between two distinct points that share a common coordinate. By incorporating the concept of absolute value, the video bridges the gap between arithmetic and geometry, helping students understand distance as a positive magnitude regardless of the quadrant. The content covers key topics including plotting ordered pairs in all four quadrants, understanding the relationship between coordinates and distance from axes, and using absolute value to sum distances when crossing an axis. It features practical applications, such as a narrative example involving a character traveling between locations on a map, and geometric applications where students must construct shapes based on vertex distance. Teachers can use this video to introduce or reinforce the concept of distance on a coordinate grid. The visual demonstrations of "counting boxes" alongside the mathematical method of using absolute value provide scaffolded learning that appeals to both visual and logical learners. The video is particularly useful for transitioning students from simple plotting to analyzing geometric relationships on a grid.