Using the distance formula:
distance = √((x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2)
Plugging in the values:
distance = √((-4 - 2)^2 + (-9 - 3)^2)
distance = √((-6)^2 + (-12)^2)
distance = √(36 + 144)
distance = √180
distance ≈ 13.42 (rounded to the nearest hundredth)
Therefore, the distance between (2, 3) and (-4, -9) is approximately 13.42 units.