why does the distance formula work?

geno....I wonder if this person is referring to the distance between points in a plane???

If so, here's a pretty good website that explains it in detail!!!..........http://www.purplemath.com/modules/distform.htm

The distance fomrula is:   distance  =  rate x time

For example, if you were travelling at 60 miles per hour and you have driven for 3 hours, the distance that you went was 180 miles.

     distance  =  (60 mi / hr) x (3 hrs)     <---    multiply to get the answer

If the distance was 100 miles and it took 2 hours, your rate was 50 miles per hour.

     100 miles  =  rate x (2 hrs)     <---     divide both sides by 2 hrs to get the answer

If the distance was 200 miles and the rate was 50 miles per hour, you time was 4 hours.

     200 miles  =  (50 mi / hr) x time     <---     divide both sides by 50 miles per hour to get the answer

Ignore my answer; I misread the question. Sorry.