First, we find the distance between the two points. The equation is
d = √[(x1 - x2)² + (y1 - y2)²]
d = √[(-2 - 4)² + (-3 - 1)²]
d = 52
In a right triangle, the legs are the hypotenuse, the shorter and the longer side. The hypotenuse is the longest side, so this must be 62 units. So, she found the length of the longer side, which is 52 units.