STEM LEARNING:

Advanced Air Mobility: Flight 

Control Math 2 (Distance FormulaAll Quadrants) Student Guide

www.nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2 | ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY: FLIGHT CONTROL MATH 2 (DISTANCE FORMULA ALL QUADRANTS) STUDENT GUIDE

PACKAGE DELIVERY DRONES

DISTANCE FORMULA

NASA is leading the nation to quickly open a new era in air 

travel called Advanced Air Mobility, or AAM. The vision of 

AAM is that of a safe, automated, accessible, and affordable 

air transportation system for passengers and cargo in both 

urban and rural locations.

Package delivery drones are small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, 

or UAVs, which carry a package from a distribution point to 

its final destination. These drones fly autonomously, meaning 

that they are controlled by a computer while flying. 

This method of package delivery is more efficient than 

traditional ground-based transportation methods. Delivery 

drones avoid traffic, travel shorter distances, and don’t 

require a driver. Eventually, drones will be able to deliver 

more than just packages. Imagine being able to save lives 

by quickly delivering urgent medical supplies to remote 

locations!

The distance formula can be used to determine the distance between two points on a graph.

Distance between two points: P1

 (x1, y1) and P2 (x2, y2)

Example: Determine the distance between a point at (5, 6) and a point at (22, 4) where each point on the graph 

represents 1 kilometer.

Package delivery drones transport packages to their 

final destination. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY: FLIGHT CONTROL MATH 2 (DISTANCE FORMULA ALL QUADRANTS) STUDENT GUIDE | 3 

Your delivery drones cannot fly too far because of their batteries. So, it is very important that you schedule deliveries to 

come from the distribution center that is closest to the final destination. Your system determined that Barbara and Deirdre 

are closest to Package Distribution Center 1, while Anthony and Ekani are closest to Package Distribution Center 2. 

Note: Don’t forget to convert your answers into kilometers (km) (1 square = 0.5 km).

1. What is the distance from Package Distribution Center 1 to Barbara’s house?

2. What is the distance from Package Distribution Center 1 to Deirdre’s house?

To determine the distances between points on a map, a graph has been placed over the map. In figure 2, the two 

package distribution centers and five customers’ houses have been plotted on the graph. 

The origin (0, 0) is the company’s headquarters and is indicated on the graph.

Determine the coordinates of each location and enter them below:

Location Coordinate (x) Coordinate (y)

Package Distribution Center 1

Package Distribution Center 2

Anthony

Barbara

Clive

Deidre

Ekani

Part 1: Getting the Coordinates

Part 2: Using the Distance Formula

STUDENT ACTIVITY

In this activity, you are the assistant distribution manager for an online retailer. Your job is to coordinate the “last mile 

delivery,” which means the delivery of packages from distribution centers to their final destination.

Today you are to review the delivery system in Dallas, Texas where your company has two distribution centers. You 

work in the company’s headquarters, so you will be evaluating the system using this as the reference point (the origin 

for your graph).
4 | ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY: FLIGHT CONTROL MATH 2 (DISTANCE FORMULA ALL QUADRANTS) STUDENT GUIDE

3. What is the distance from Package Distribution Center 2 to Anthony’s house?

4. What is the distance from Package Distribution Center 2 to Ekani’s house?

5. Your boss calls and asks which distribution center is closest to Clive’s house. You need to figure out the answer and 

call her back. Make sure you have mathematical calculations to use as evidence to support your claim.

6. A new customer calls to see if it’s possible to have your drone delivered to his house. The coordinates of his house 

are (20, 12). Plot this on the graph. 

a. If your drone is capable of traveling 25 km (round trip), would it be capable of delivering to this location from

Package Delivery Center 1? (Keep in mind that the drone must fly back to the delivery center as well.) Support

your answer with your calculations.

b. If your drone is capable of traveling 25 km (round trip), would it be capable of delivering to this location from

Package Delivery Center 2? (Keep in mind that the drone must fly back to the delivery center as well.) Support

your answer with your calculations.

7. Keeping in mind that the maximum range of the drone is 25 km, would it be possible to leave Package Delivery 

Center 1, fly to Barbara’s house, then fly to Deirdre’s house, and finally return to Package Delivery Center 1? 

Support your answer with your calculations.
ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY: FLIGHT CONTROL MATH 2 (DISTANCE FORMULA ALL QUADRANTS) STUDENT GUIDE | 5 

Figure 2. Map with key locations marked. Credit: USGS

Figure 3. Graph with key points plotted and labeled.
6 | ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY: FLIGHT CONTROL MATH 2 (DISTANCE FORMULA ALL QUADRANTS) STUDENT GUIDE Figure 4. Printable blank graph.
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