Lecture 7

Coordinate Geometry
Learning Objectives:
• To define coordinate geometry.
• To calculate the distance between two points.
• To determine the mid-point of a straight line.
• To determine the equation of a straight line, parallel and perpendicular lines.
• To graph and write equations of circles and ellipse.

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Cartesian coordinates
The coordinate plane
The points on a line can be referenced if we
choose an origin and a unit of distance on the
axis and give each point an identity on the
corresponding number line. We can also give
each point in a plane an identity using an
ordered pair of real numbers called Cartesian
coordinates.
We choose an origin O for our plane and draw
a pair of perpendicular number lines
intersecting at O which we call axes. The axes
is horizontal called the x-axis and the vertical Any point P in the plane labeled with an ordered pair of
numbers P(a, b) where the point a cuts the x axis is the
axis called the y-axis. This divides the plane x-coordinate and the point b cuts the y axis is the y-
into four quadrants, labelled I − IV as shown coordinate of P respectively.
here. 2
Distance Formula
The distance between two point in the
plane using Pythagoras’ theorem which
shows in the figure is the distance
between the points A and B, denoted
d(A, B) with the formula given by

where A = (x1, y1) and B = (x2, y2).

Example:
Find the distance between the points
(a) P(4, 6) and Q(6, 8) (b) P(6, 4) and Q(−5, −3)

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The mid-point of a line
In general, the coordinates of the mid-point of the line segment joining (x1, y1)
and (x2, y2) are

Example:
M is the mid-point of the line segment joining A(1, -2) and B(3, 5).
a) Find the coordinates of M.

b) M is also the mid-point of the line segment CD where C(1, 4). Find the
coordinates of D.

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Lines on the Cartesian Plane
Horizontal Lines
• parallel to the x-axis.
Figure shows
• the horizontal line which cuts the
y-axis at 2 has equation y = 2.
• the horizontal line that cuts the y-
axis at −1 has equation y = −1,
and so on.

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Vertical Lines
• parallel to the y-axis.
Figure shows
• the horizontal line which cuts the
x-axis at 2 has equation x = 2.
• the horizontal line that cuts the x-
axis at −3 has equation x = −3,
and so on.

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The gradient of a straight line
The gradient of a line is a measure of its slope or steepness.
Hence, the gradient as follows:

Positive and negative gradient

Example:
Calculate the gradient for
(a) (b) A = (1, 2), B = (3, 6)

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The form of a straight line
Consider any line which passes through the known point
A(x1, y1) and let P(x, y) be any other point on the line.

If m is the gradient of the line AP, then

The equation of the straight line which passes through the point (x1, y1) and
has gradient m is

Example:
Find the equation of a straight line with gradient 4 and passes through the
point (3, 2).

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The equation of a straight line
The equation of the straight line which passes through
the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is
or

Example:
Find a Cartesian equation of the straight line which passes
through the points (2, 3) and (1, 0).

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Parallel Lines Perpendicular Lines
Parallel lines have the same slope / The product of the gradients of
gradient. perpendicular lines is equal to −1

Example:
Work out whether these pairs of lines are parallel, perpendicular or neither.
a) b)
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Example:
Find the equation of the line using the information given. Write answers in
slope-intercept form.
a) perpendicular to 2x - 5y = 10, through the point (1, 2)
b) parallel to 5y - 3x = 9, through the point (-2, 3)

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 The coordinates of the point of
intersection of two lines
To find the coordinates of the point of Example:
intersection of the two lines with Find the coordinates of the point of
equations ax + by = 0 and Ax + By = 0, intersection of the straight
you solve the two linear equations lines with equations y = x + 2 and
simultaneously. y = 4x - 1.

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Example:
The straight lines with equations 5x + 3y = 7 and 3x - 7y = 13 intersect at the
point R. Find the coordinates of R.

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Geometry of a circle
Circles with the Center at the Origin
A circle having its center C(0, 0)at the origin passing through
a point P(x, y) and having a radius r. The r has the formula of

Example:
Graph

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Circles with the Center Not at the Origin
A circle having a center C(h, k) and passing through a point
P(x, y)

Example:
Sketch the graph for

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Writing Equations of Circles
If we can determine the center and radius of a circle, we can use the center–
radius form to write an equation of the circle.

Example:
Write an equation of each circle, given the following information:
a) Center at the origin and radius 7
b) Center at (-1, 3) and radius 4
c) Center at (3, 1) and passing through the point (5, 4)

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Geometry of an ellipse
An ellipse is the set of points in a plane such that the sum of the distances
from each point to two fixed points is constant. Each of the two fixed points is
called a focus (plural, foci). The line containing the foci intersects the ellipse
at points called vertices (singular, vertex). The line segment between the
vertices is called the major axis, and its midpoint is the center of the ellipse. A
line perpendicular to the major axis through the center intersects the ellipse
at points called the co-vertices, and the line segment between the co-vertices
is called the minor axis.

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Ellipses with the Center at the Origin
Suppose the center C(0, 0) of an ellipse is the origin, or the x-intercepts (a, 0)
are and (-a, 0), and the y-intercepts are (0, b) and (0, -b) We can use this
information along with the definition of an ellipse to write an equation of an
ellipse with its center at the origin.

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Example:
Sketch the graph
a) b)

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Ellipses with Centers Not at the Origin
An equation of an ellipse with its center C(h, k) not at the origin can also be
derived.

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Example:
Sketch the graph of the given equation.
a) b)

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Writing Equations of Ellipses
If we can determine the center, the direction of the major axis, the distance
between the center and one of the vertices, and the distance between the
center and one of the co-vertices, we can write an equation of a given ellipse.

Example:
a) Write an equation of an ellipse whose major axis is vertical, with the center
located at the distance between the center and one of the covertices equal
to 4, and the distance between the center and one of the vertices equal to 6.

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b) Write an equation of an ellipse with its center (-2, 1) at one vertex at (1, 1)
and one co-vertex at (-2, -1).

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