Distance on the coordinate plane worksheets
Fifty questions finding the distance between two points with the Pythagorean theorem. Every answer is a whole number, so children can check their work.
Download the free distance on the coordinate plane worksheet (PDF)
Distance on the coordinate plane worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 50 questions on distance on the coordinate plane, sized for US Letter paper
- 4 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grade 8, matching Common Core 8.G.B.8
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Sample questions from this worksheet
- Find the distance between the points (1, −5) and (6, 7).
- Find the distance between the points (−1, −3) and (4, −15).
- Find the distance between the points (−3, −3) and (5, 12).
- Find the distance between the points (0, 0) and (15, 8).
- Find the distance between the points (2, −1) and (−3, −13).
- Find the distance between the points (5, 3) and (2, −1).
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new distance on the coordinate plane worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh distance on the coordinate plane worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose how many questions, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Distance on the coordinate plane: a worked example ((1, −5) and (6, 7))
- Find the horizontal distance: 6 − 1 = 5.
- Find the vertical distance: 7 − (−5) = 12.
- Use the Pythagorean theorem: 5² + 12² = 25 + 144 = 169.
- The distance is √169 = 13.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Sketch the two points and draw the right triangle between them before calculating. The legs are the horizontal and vertical distances. Every answer is 5, 10, 13, 15 or 17, because the legs come from the 3-4-5, 6-8-10, 5-12-13, 9-12-15 and 8-15-17 triangles. If an answer is not on that list, look for a sign mistake in the subtraction. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Subtracting a negative coordinate wrongly, so 7 − (−5) becomes 2.
- Adding the two distances instead of squaring them.
- Forgetting to take the square root at the end.
What to practice before and after distance on the coordinate plane
- Before: integer word problems. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: exponents, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the distance on the coordinate plane lesson.
More grades 6–8 worksheets
Last reviewed
Questions parents ask
How do you find the distance between two points?
Find the horizontal and vertical distances, square them, add, then take the square root. For points on the same horizontal or vertical line, just subtract the coordinates.
What grade is this distance on the coordinate plane worksheet for?
It is written for grade 8 and matches Common Core standard 8.G.B.8.
Can I get a different version of this distance on the coordinate plane worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new distance on the coordinate plane worksheet with different numbers every time, with its own answer key.