Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry

CDS
Basics of a coordinate geometry

Note;
 For any point P on the x axis,the value of y coordinate (ordinate) is zero that is, P
(x,0).
 For any point Q on the y axis, the value of x coordinate (abscissa) is zero. that is,
Q (0, y)
 (x, y) ≠ (y, x) unless x= y
 A plane with the rectangular coordinate system is called the Cartesian plane.
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Distance between the two points on the coordinate axes
 Points on x-axis;
Consider two points A (X1 ,0) and B (X2 ,0) on the x-axis .
The distance of B from A is AB = OB – OA
= X2 –X1 if X2 > X1
AB = |X2 –X1|
 Points on y-axis;
Consider two points P(0, Y1) and Q (0, Y2) on the y-axis
The distance Q from P is PQ = OQ – OP.
= Y2 – Y1 if Y2 > Y1
PQ = |Y2 – Y1|

Note;
 Distance Between Two Points Lying on a Line Parallel to Coordinate Axes is same
as the distance between the two points on the coordinate axes.

Distance between the two points on a plane

Two points: P (X1, Y1) and Q ( X2, Y2)

Cartesian Plane: xy
Distance between the P and Q: d
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
From the above diagram,
OM = X1, MP = Y1
ON = X2 , NQ = Y2

Here,
PR = MN
= ON – OM
= X2 – X1 and

RQ = NQ – NR
= NQ – MP
= Y 2 – Y1

The triangle PQR is right angled at R.

PQ2 = PR2 + RQ2

d2 = (X2 – X1 )2 + (Y2 – Y1)2

d = Root of (X2 – X1 )2 + (Y2 – Y1)2

Note;
 The distance between the point P (X1, Y1)and the Origin (0, 0) is
OP = root of (X2 – X1 )2
 Similarly, for the Point Q ( X2, Y2) is OQ = root of (Y2 – Y1)2

Properties of Distance
 Distance (A,B) = 0 exactly when A and B denote the identical point: A = B.
 Distance (A,B) > 0 for any two distinct points A and B.
 Condition for the collinear points in the plane: distance(A,B) + distance(B,C) =
distance(A,C)
 Condition for the formation of triangle: distance(AB)2 + distance(BC)2 =
distance(AC)2

Collinear Points: The sum of the distance between two pairs of points is equal to the
third pair of points. AB + BC = AC

Another condition for collinearity: If A (X1, Y1) , B (X2, Y2) and C (X3, Y3) are collinear
then, X1(Y2 – Y3) + X2(Y3 – Y1) + X3(Y1 – Y2) = 0 or

Right angled triangle: the sum of the squares of two sides is equal to the square of the
third side, which is the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle.

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 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
The Mid point of a line segment

The mid-point M of the line segment joining the points A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2) is

M = (X + X , Y
1 2 1 + Y2 ) )
2 2

Point of Trisection of a Line Segment

If A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2) are the end points of a line segment as shown in the above
picture then the mid points P and Q are,

Coordinates of Point P is (X 2 + 2X1, Y2 + 2Y1 )

3 3

Coordinates of Point Q is ( 2X 2 + X1 , 2Y2 + Y1 )

3 3
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Section Formulae
Internal section

The point P which divides the line segment joining the two points A (X1, Y1) and B (X2,
Y2) internally in the ratio m : n is

P = ( mX2 + nX1 , mY2 + nY1 )

m + n m + n
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
External Section

The Point P which divides the line segment joining the two points A (X1, Y1) and B (X2,
Y2) externally in the ratio of m : n is

P = ( mX2 - nX1 , mY2 - nY1 )

m - n m - n

Note;
 The line joining the points A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2) is divided by x-axis in the ratio
–Y1 / Y2 and by y-axis in the ratio –X1 / X2
 If three points are collinear, then one of the points divide the line segment joining
the other two points in the ratio r : 1.
 The section formula can be used only when the given three points are collinear.
 This formula is helpful to find the centroid, incenter and excenters of a triangle. It
has applications in physics too; it helps to find the center of mass of systems,
equilibrium points and many more.

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Coordinates of a centre of a centroid of a triangle

The centroid G of the triangle with vertices A (X1, Y1) , B (X2, Y2) and C (X3, Y3) is
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS

G = (X +X +X , Y +Y +Y )
1 2 3 1 2 3

3 3
Note;
 The medians of a triangle are concurrent and the point of concurrence, the centroid
G, is one-third of the distance from the opposite side to the vertex along the
median.
 The Euler line of a triangle is the line that passes through the orthocenter (H),
centroid (G) and the circumcenter (S). G divides the line segment HS in the ratio
2:1 from the orthocenter. That is centroid divides orthocenter and circumcenter
internally in the ratio 2:1 from the Orthocentre.

 In an equilateral triangle, orthocentre, incentre, centroid and circumcentre are all

the same.

Finding area of a triangle by it’s vertices

 Area of ABC = 1/2 { X1(Y2 – Y3) + X2(Y3 – Y1) + X3(Y1 – Y2) } sq. Units

Area of ABC = 1/2 | X1 X2 X3 X1 |

| Y1 Y2 Y3 Y1 |
= 1/2 { ( X1 Y2 + X2 Y3 + X3 Y1 ) - ( X2 Y1 + X3 Y2 + X1 Y3 ) } sq.
Units
Finding the area of a quadrilateral

Area of a quadrilateral = 1/2 | X1 X2 X3 X4 X1 |

| Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y1 |
= 1/2 { ( X1 Y2 + X2 Y3 + X3 Y4 + X4 Y1 ) - ( X2 Y1 + X3 Y2 +
X4 Y3 + X4 Y1 ) } Sq. Units
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
Equation of coordinate axes
The X axis and Y axis together are called coordinate axes.
The X coordinate of every point on Y axis is 0. The equation of OY (Y axis) is x = 0

The y coordinate of every point on X axis is 0. The equation of OX (X axis) is y = 0

Equation of a straight line parallel to X-axis

Let AB be a straight line parallel to X axis, which is at a distance ‘b’. Then y coordinate of
every point on ‘AB’ is ‘b’.

The equation of AB is y = b

Note;
 If b > 0 , then the line y=b lies above the X axis
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
 If b < 0 , then the line y=b lies below the X axis
 If b = 0 , then the line y=b is the X axis itself.

Equation of straight line parallel to the y-axis

Let CD be a straight line parallel to Y axis, which is at a distance ‘c’. Then x coordinate of
every point on CD is ‘c’.

The equation of CD is x = c.

Note;
 If c > 0 , then the line x=c lies right to the side of the Y axis
 If c < 0 , then the line x=c lies left to the side of the Y axis
 If c = 0 , then the line x=c is the Y axis itself.

Straight Line
Any first degree equation in two variables of X and Y of the form aX + bY + c = 0 where,
a, b, and c are real numbers and at least one of a, b, c is non-Zero is called Straight line
in XY plane.
General form of a straight line --- ( aX + bY + c = 0 )
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
Note;
 Equation of a line parallel to the line aX + bY + c = 0 is aX + bY + k = 0
 Equation of a line perpendicular to the line aX + bY + c = 0 is bX − aY + k = 0
 Two straight lines a1 X + b1 Y + c1 = 0 and a2 X + b2 Y + c 2 = 0 where the
coefficients are non-zero, are
 parallel if and only if a1 / b1 = a2 / b2 ; that is a1 b1 - a2 b2 = 0
 perpendicular if and only if a1 b1 + a2 b2 = 0

Slope of a straight line

If θ is the angle of inclination of a non-vertical straight line, then tan θ is called the slope
or gradient of the line and is denoted by m.
Therefore the slope of the straight line is m = tan θ , 0 ≤ θ ≤ 180 °, θ ≠ 90°

Slope of a Line AB where the coordinates are A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2);

Slope = Tan θ = Difference in y-coordinates = Y2 – Y1

Difference in x-coordinates X 2 – X1

Properties of slope of a non-vertical straight line

 L1 is parallel to L2 if and only if m1 = m2
 L1 is perpendicular to L2 if and only if m1 × m2 = −1

Values of Slopes
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS

Slope – Intercept form

y = mx + c

Note;
 If a line with slope m, m≠0 makes x intercept d, then the equation of the straight
line is y = m (x–d).
 y = m x represent equation of a straight line with slope m and passing through
the origin

General Equation of a straight line aX + bY + c = 0

Here,
Co-efficient of X = a
Coefficient of Y = b
Constant Term = c

Y = ( -a/b )X - c/b comparing this equation to y = m x + c,

m = -a/b
y intercept = -c/b
x intercept = m

m = - coefficient of x / coefficient of y
Y intercept = - constant term / coefficient of y
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS
Point- Slope form

One point form

To Find the equation of a straight line which passes through the Points A (X1, Y1) and P
(X, Y) we will use the Point-slope form.

Slope of the straight line joining A (X1, Y1) and P (X2, Y2) is
m = Y – Y1
X – X1

Y – Y1 = m ( X – X1 ) ---- equation of the straight line in point-slope form

By one point

Two Point form

Let A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2) be two given distinct points. Slope of the straight
line passing through these points is given by m = Y2 – Y1 , (X2 ≠ X1)
X 2 – X1

Substituting the value of slope in the point-Slope form,

Y – Y1 = m ( X – X 1 )
Y – Y1 = Y2 – Y1 ( X – X1 )
X2 – X1

Y – Y1 = X – X1 ---- equation of the straight line in the point-slope form

Y2 – Y1 X2 – X1 by two points

Intercept form
 Elementary mathematics –Coordinate Geometry
CDS

To find the equation of a line whose intercepts are a and b on the coordinate
axes we will use the intercept form method.

Let PQ be a line meeting X axis at A and Y axis at B. Let OA=a, OB=b. Then the
coordinates of A and B are (a, 0) and (b, 0)

The equation of the line in the intercept form is X + Y = 1

a b