How to compute distance of points to a line?

[msn009]

I have computed a line from point A to point B by just subtracting the coordinates as below:

line = np.array (x2-x1, y2-y1)

I am not sure if I need to form the formula for this line first by computing the slope and intercept but I continued my code as below, slope being m and b being the intercept from the formula y=mx+b

slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
b = (y2-y1) - (x2-x1)*slope

Now I am not sure how I can calculate the distance of several x,y points to this line.

can anyone help? thanks.

 

[phinds]

Is this a homework problem?

 

[msn009]

no this is a self project

 

[phinds]

OK. When you say "the distance of several x,y points to this line" I assume you mean the standard "shortest distance", not just any old distance. If that's the case then it should be clear that the distance from any point to any line L is going to be on a line that is perpendicular to L, yes?

 

[msn009]

yes.. but just to be sure we are on the same page... say I have line L that I have computed as above. and I have x,y coordinates around this line or as you said that are perpendicular to this line and I now want to compute the distance of each x,y points to this line and take the point that has the maximum distance. I have attached the image for clarity. thanks

 

[msn009]

should I use the formula as per this link under https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_from_a_point_to_a_line ?
Line defined by two points

 

[msn009]

i tried this formula and implemented it in python, and it seems to work so this problem is solved.