Preliminary

Concepts
Analytic Geometry
 I. The Cartesian Coordinate System
Outline II. The Distance, Midpoint, and Point of
Division Formulas
Preliminary Concepts
Preliminary
Concepts
• Analytic Geometry is the study of
the geometric properties and
relationships between points, lines,
and angles in a coordinate system.
• Analytic Geometry uses algebra
(i.e., algebraic manipulations,
equations, and formulas) as its
main tool.
• Geometrical shapes are defined
using a coordinate system and
algebraic principles.
The Cartesian Coordinate
System
 Coordinate System

• A coordinate system consists of reference lines or curves used to identify the

location of points in space.
• In two dimensions, the most common is the Cartesian Coordinate System
• It uses one or more numbers (coordinates) to uniquely determine the position of
point of other geometric element.
• Coordinates are an ordered set of numbers that define the position of a point.
• If the point is on a plane, two numbers are used. To define the position of a
point in three-dimensional space, three numbers are needed.
The Cartesian
Coordinate System
• The Cartesian Coordinate System or
the Rectangular Coordinate Plane
consists of two perpendicular lines –
a vertical line called the y-axis, and a
horizontal line called the x-axis.
• These two perpendicular lines,
called the Cartesian coordinate
axes, intersect at a point called
the origin.
The Cartesian
Coordinate System
• The coordinate axes divides the
Cartesian coordinate plane into four
quadrants.
• The quadrants are denoted as QI,
QII, QIII, QIV.
• Segments to the right of the y-axis
and above the x-axis are positive,
while those on the left of the y-axis
and below the x-axis are negative.
The Cartesian
Coordinate System
• In each quadrant, the coordinates of a
point are represented by signed
numbers.
• The signs indicate whether the
point is on the right or left side of
the y-axis, and whether it is above
or below the x-axis.
The Cartesian
Coordinate System
• Each point on the Cartesian
coordinate plane is associated with a
unique ordered pair of numbers
(𝑥, 𝑦), called the coordinates, where
• 𝑥 is the abscissa, and
• 𝑦 is the ordinate.
• A point, usually represented by a
capital letter, is referred to as point
𝑥, 𝑦 , or 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦).
The Distance, Midpoint, and
Point of Division Formulas
 The Distance Between Two Points:
Directed Distance

• When the direction is important, in cases of horizontal and vertical

distances, the distance is called directed distance.
• The directed distance tells the order of the points on the plane.
• As a convention, if the direction is to the right or upward, the distance is
positive. If the direction is to the left or downward, the distance is negative.
• For slant (diagonal) line segments, the direction is not usually considered.

A line segment is a part of a line that is

bounded by two distinct endpoints.
The Distance Between Two Points:
Directed Distance
• The directed distance from 𝐴 to 𝐵 is y
denoted by the line segment 𝐴𝐵 with
an arrow pointing to the right written
𝐴 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝐵 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
above 𝐴𝐵 .
• From the figure, 𝐴𝐵 and 𝐶𝐷 are 𝐷 𝑥3 , 𝑦3
x
positive, while 𝐵𝐴 and 𝐷𝐶 are
negative.

𝐶 𝑥3 , 𝑦2
The Distance Between Two Points:
Directed Distance
a) The directed distance between y
points 𝐴 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝐵 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 is
computed as follows:
𝐴𝐵 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝐴 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝐵 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
and
𝐷 𝑥3 , 𝑦3
𝐵𝐴 = 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 x
b) The directed distance between
points 𝐶 𝑥3 , 𝑦2 and 𝐷 𝑥3 , 𝑦3 is
computed as follows:
𝐶𝐷 = 𝑦3 − 𝑦2
and
𝐷𝐶 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦3 𝐶 𝑥3 , 𝑦2
The Distance Between Any Two Points
• Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the y
distance between points 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , or the
length of the line segment joining
𝑃1 and 𝑃2 , denoted as 𝑑, given by the
formula: d 𝑋𝑃2 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝒅= 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝟐

𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x

𝑃1 𝑋 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
The Midpoint of a Line Segment
• The midpoint of a line segment is the y
point midway between the two 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
endpoints of the line segment.
• In the figure, point 𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത is the
midpoint of the line segment 𝑃1 𝑃2 . 𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦ത
• From similar triangles:
𝑃1 𝑀 𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑃3 𝑀 1
= = =
𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃1 𝑋 𝑋𝑃2 2
𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x
The Midpoint of a Line Segment
• Considering: y
𝑃1 𝑃3 1 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
=
𝑃1 𝑋 2
𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑥ҧ − 𝑥1 1
= =
𝑃1 𝑋 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 2
• Solving for 𝑥:ҧ 𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦ത
𝑥ҧ − 𝑥1 1
=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 2
1
𝑥ҧ − 𝑥1 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
2
1 1 𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
𝑥ҧ = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 + 𝑥1
2 2 x
𝟏
ഥ
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐
𝟐
The Midpoint of a Line Segment
• Considering: y
𝑃3 𝑀 1 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
=
𝑋𝑃2 2
𝑃3 𝑀 𝑦ത − 𝑦1 1
= =
𝑋𝑃2 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 2
• Solving for 𝑥:ҧ 𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦ത
𝑦ത − 𝑦1 1
=
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 2
1
𝑦ത − 𝑦1 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
2
1 1 𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
𝑦ത = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 + 𝑦1
2 2 x
𝟏
ഥ = 𝒚 𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐
𝒚
𝟐
The Midpoint of a Line Segment
• The coordinates of the midpoint y
𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത of the line segment 𝑃1 𝑃2 are 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
given by:
𝟏
ഥ
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐
𝟐
𝑀 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦ത 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦ത
and
𝟏
ഥ = 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐
𝒚
𝟐

𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥,ҧ 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x
The Division of a Line Segment
• A line segment 𝑃1 𝑃2 can be divided by y
a point 𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 either internally or 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
within the line segment, or
externally, which is by a point on its
extension through any one endpoint.
• By similar triangles: 𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦
𝑃1 𝑀 𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑃3 𝑀
= = =𝑟
𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃1 𝑋 𝑋𝑃2
𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥, 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x
The Division of a Line Segment
• Considering: y
𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
=𝑟
𝑃1 𝑋
𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑟1 𝑥 − 𝑥1
= = =𝑟
𝑃1 𝑋 𝑟2 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦
• Solving for 𝑥:ҧ
𝑥 − 𝑥1
=𝑟
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑥 − 𝑥1 = 𝑟 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒓 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥, 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x
The Division of a Line Segment
• Considering: y
𝑃3 𝑀 𝑃2 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
=𝑟
𝑋𝑃2
𝑃1 𝑃3 𝑟3 𝑦 − 𝑦1
= = =𝑟
𝑃1 𝑋 𝑟4 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑃4 𝑥2 , 𝑦
• Solving for 𝑥:ҧ
𝑦 − 𝑦1
=𝑟
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑟 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒓 𝒚 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝑃1 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑃3 𝑥, 𝑦1 𝑋 𝑥2 , 𝑦1
x