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C# C# Objects Methods Using Static Methods

Daniel Hildreth
Daniel Hildreth
16,170 Points

Using Static Methods C# Objects

In the Using Static Methods, I am confused on how the two codes mean the same thing, particularly the 2. The code used to be:

    int xDiff = X - x;
    int yDiff = Y - y;

    int xDiffSquared = xDiff * xDiff;
    int yDiffSquared = yDiff * yDiff;

    return (int)Math.Sqrt(xDiffSquared + yDiffSquared);

Then it was refactored into this:

return (int)Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(X-x, 2) + Math.Pow(Y-y, 2));

Can someone help break this down for me so I understand it better? What does the 2 do in the refactored code?

1 Answer

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
STAFF
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Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

Hi there! In the refactored code you are using Math.Pow. This method accepts 2 numbers. The first number is the base and the second number is the exponent. So if we had 2 and 3 in there this would be equivalent to two to the third power or 8. So to square any number we first pass in that number and then use 2 as the power. If we'd passed in a 4 and a 2 the result would be 16. Here we're passing in the difference of two X points and two Y points and then squaring them. Which is what happens in the middle section of your code posted above. Hope this helps! :sparkles:

Daniel Hildreth
Daniel Hildreth
16,170 Points

Yes thank you. I missed the part in the video where the 2 meant that it was the exponent for the Math.Pow method.