Answer
a) 15.8
b) yes
Work Step by Step
a)
Use the distance formula:
$d=\sqrt{(x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2}$
$d=\sqrt{(-2-3)^2+(14-(-1))^2}$
$d=\sqrt{-5^2+15^2}$
$d=\sqrt{25+225}$
$d=\sqrt{250}$
$d=15.8$
b) Switching the order or the two numbers being subtracted results in the same difference with the opposite sign. Since the differences are then squared and all squared numbers are positive, switching the order has no impact on the final result.
