The figure created by plotting the points A(5 ,-1), B(2, 2), C(-4, -1) and D(2, -4) is a ________.

To determine the figure created by the points A(5, -1), B(2, 2), C(-4, -1), and D(2, -4), we need to calculate the distances between the points.

1. Calculate the distance between A and B: AB = sqrt[(2-5)² + (2-(-1))²] = sqrt[9 + 9] = sqrt[18]

2. Calculate the distance between B and C: BC = sqrt[(-4-2)² + (-1-2)²] = sqrt[36 + 9] = sqrt[45]

3. Calculate the distance between C and D: CD = sqrt[(2-(-4))² + (-4-(-1))²] = sqrt[36 + 9] = sqrt[45]

4. Calculate the distance between D and A: DA = sqrt[(5-2)² + (-1-(-4))²] = sqrt[9 + 9] = sqrt[18]

5. Calculate the distance between A and C: AC = sqrt[(-4-5)² + (-1-(-1))²] = sqrt[81 + 0] = sqrt[81]

6. Calculate the distance between B and D: BD = sqrt[(2-2)² + (2-(-4))²] = sqrt[0 + 36] = sqrt[36]

From the above calculations, we can see that AB = DA, BC = CD, and AC = BD. This means that opposite sides are equal and the diagonals are equal, which is the definition of a rectangle.

Therefore, the figure created by plotting the points A(5, -1), B(2, 2), C(-4, -1), and D(2, -4) is a rectangle.