Kendra is determining the distance between the points (6, 8) and (2, –3). her work is shown below.

The x-coordinates need to be subtracted and the y-coordinates need to be subtracted.

The x-coordinates are 6 and 2.
Their subtraction is 6 - 2.
Kendra did this correctly.

The y-coordinates are 8 and -3.
Their subtraction is 8 - (-3) = 8 + 3 = 11.
Kendra did this incorrectly. She should have had 8 - (-3) = 8 + 3 = 11.
Then she'd square 11.
Instead, she subtracted 8 and -3 incorrectly and got 8 - 3 = 5.
Then she squared 5 when she should have squared 11.

With a continuous thought process.