Geometry

Change of Axes

Consider a set of axes in a plane

y
P(x,y)

1 Q(2,1)

o 2
x

Fig1

Consider now two sets of axes in a plane

y
(3,2) P(x,y)
(X,Y)
(1,1)
Q
(2,1)1
1
1 (0,0) X
O 1
o 2 x

Fig2

A point has one set of coordinates (x,y) for one set of axes
A point has two sets of coordinates (x,y)and (X,Y) for two sets of
axes
A point has three sets of coordinates (x,y), (X,Y) and ( x  , y  ), for
three sets of axes and so on.
Again suppose that we have a set of axes in a plane
 y

(x-2)2+(y-1)2=1
C(2,1)
1

o x
2

Fig3

Suppose that we have two sets of axes in a plane

(x-3)2+(y-2)2=1
Y (X-1)2+(Y-1)2=1
y
(3,2) P(x,y)
(1,1) (X,Y)
C
(2,1) 1
1 (0,0) O X
1
o x
2
(x-2)2+(y-1)2=1
X2+Y2=1

Fig4

A curve has one equation for one set of axes

A curve has two equations for two sets of axes
A curve has three equations for three sets of axes and so on

We see that there is a relation between two systems of coordinates

i.e. (x,y) and (X,Y) system x=X+2, y=Y+1

We shall now derive a general formula which will give the

relation between (x,y) and (X,Y)

2
Transformation of coordinates
The process of changing the coordinate of a point or the equation
of a curve is called transformation of coordinates. This
transformation is performed through change of axes. There are
three types of transformations.

1.Translation of axes (origin changed but the direction of axes

x
unchanged)
2.Rotation of axes (origin not changed but the direction of axes
changed)
3.Translation and rotation of axes (both the origin and the direction
of axes changed)

1. Translation of axes

Y
y
P(x,y)
(X,Y)
Y
( ,  ) y
(0,0) O X
X

o  x
x
Fig5

If we transfer the origin at the point (  ,  ) the equations of

transformation are
x=X+  , y=Y+ 

2. Rotation of axes
(x,y)
P (X,Y)
3
 Y
y Y
X
M1 N1
X
y

O x x
M N
Fig6

x=OM=ON-MN=ON- M N  =Xcos  -Ysin 

y=PM= MM   PM   NN   PM  = Xsin  +Ycos 
If we rotate the axes through an angle  the equations of
transformations are
x=Xcos  -Ysin 
y= Xsin  +Ycos 

3. Translation and rotation of axes

y1 P(x,y)
Y (X,Y)
(x1,y1) x1
y

( ,  ) 
(0,0) O X

o x

Fig7

x=X+  =  + x  cos  - y  sin 

y=Y+  =  + x  sin  + y  Ycos 

Simplification of equation of curves by transformation of

coordinates

4
The general equation of second degree in x and y
is ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0
2 2

We can simplify the equation by transformation of the coordinates

x and y term can be removed by translation of axes xy term can be
removed by rotation of axes

Removal of x and y term from ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0

2 2

Let us transfer the origin to the point (  ,  ) with a new set of axes
then the equations of transformation are x=X+  , y=Y+ 
The equation becomes
a(X+  )2+2h (X+  )(Y+  )+b(Y+  )2+2g (X+  )+2f(Y+  )+c=0
ax2+2hXY+bY2+2(a  +h  +g)X+2(h  +b  +f)Y+
a 2  2h  b 2  2 g  2 f  c  0

To remove x and y term put

a  +h  +g=0
h  +b  +f=0
  1
 
hf  bg hg  af ab  h 2

hf  bg hg  af
 , 
ab  h 2 ab  h 2

now the equation becomes

aX2+2hXY+bY2+ a  2h  b  2 g  2 f  c  0
2 2

aX2+2hXY+bY2+  (a  +h  +g)+  (h  +b  +f)+g  +f  +c=0

aX2+2hXY+bY2+g  +f  +c=0

If we transfer the origin at ( ,  ) the equation

ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0
2 2

becomes aX2+2hXY+bY2+g  +f  +c=0

Example: Transform the equation 3x  2 xy  3 y 2 2

 18 x  22 y  50  0 to
one in which there is no term involving x and y
a=3, b=3, c=50, f=-11, g=-9, h=1

5
 hf  bg hg  af
  2,  =3
ab  h 2 ab  h 2
Now let us transfer the origin at (2,3) then the equations of
transformations are
x=X+2, y=Y+3
therefore the equation becomes
3(X+2)2+2 (X+2)(Y+3)+3(Y+3)2-18 (X+2)-22(Y+3)+50=0
………………………………….
3X2+2XY+3Y2 -1=0

therefore the equation becomes

3X2+2XY+3Y2 + g  +f  +c=0
3X2+2XY+3Y2 -1=0

Invariants of transformation
Suppose the equation is ax  2hxy  by  c
2 2

If we rotate the axes through an angle  the equations of

transformations are
x=Xcos  -Ysin 
y= Xsin  +Ycos 
Now
a (Xcos  -Ysin  )2+2h (Xcos  -Ysin  )( Xsin  +Ycos  )+b (Xsin
 +Ycos  )2 = c
(acos2  +2hsin  cos  +bsin2  )X2 +2(h(cos2  -sin2  )-(a-b) sin 
cos  ))XY+(asin2  -2hsin  cos  +bcos2  )Y2 =c
a  X2+2 h  XY+ b  Y2=c
where
a  = acos2  +2hsin  cos  +bsin2 
b  = asin2  -2hsin  cos  +bcos2 
h  = h(cos2  -sin2  )-(a-b) sin  cos 
a  + b  =a+b

2 a  = 2acos2  +4hsin  cos  +2bsin2 

6
 =a(1+cos2  ) +2hsin2  +b(1-cos2  )
=(a+b)+(2hsin2  +(a-b)cos2  )

2 b = (a+b)-(2hsin2  +(a-b)cos2  )

2 h  = 2hcos2  -(a-b) sin2 

4a b   4h  2 =(a+b)2-(2hsin2  +(a-b)cos2  )2-(2hcos2  -(a-b) sin2 
)2
=(a+b)2-4h 2 -(a-b)2
=4ab-4h 2
a b   h  2 =ab-h 2

Invariants of transformation are a  + b  =a+b, a b   h  2 =ab-h 2

Removal of xy term
h = 0
h(cos2  -sin2  )-(a-b) sin  cos  =0
2hcos2  -(a-b) sin2  =0
2h 1 2h
tan2  = a  b or,  = 2 tan a  b 1

Ex. Remove the xy term from the equation 7x2-6 3 xy+13y2=16

and find the equations of transformations
2h 2 tan 
tan2  = a  b or, 1  tan 2 
= 7 6 133 or, 3 tan2  +2tan  - 3 =0
2 4  12 1
tan  = 2 3
or, 3
,  3

1 
tan  = 3
,  =6
  2
tan  =  3 = - tan 3
= tan (   3 ) or,  = 3

1 2h 1 1 1  
 = 2 tan 1
= tan 1  6 3 = 2 tan 1
3 =2 =6
ab 2 7  13 3


For  =6

7
 3 1 1
x=Xcos  -Ysin  =X 2
-Y 2 = 2 ( 3 X-Y)
1
y= Xsin  +Ycos  = 2 (X+ 3 Y)

2
For,  = 3
1
x=Xcos  -Ysin  = - 2 (X+ 3 Y)
1
y= Xsin  +Ycos  = 2 ( 3 X-Y)

7x2-6 3 xy+13y2=16
7 6 3 13
( 3 X-Y)2- ( 3 X-Y) (X+ 3 Y)+ (X+ 3 Y)2=16
4 4 4
X2+4Y2=4 ellipse
Similarly
4X2+Y2=4 ellipse

The equations of transformations are

1
x= 2 ( 3 X-Y)
1
y= 2 (X+ 3 Y)
and
1
x= - 2 (X+ 3 Y)
1
y= 2 ( 3 X-Y)

Y y

X X

  120

8
 2   30
1 x
2 o 1 ellipse

Y
Fig8

Alternative method

2h 2 tan 
tan2  = a  b or, 1  tan 2 
= 7 6 133 or, 3 tan2  +2tan  - 3 =0
2 4  12 1
tan  = 2 3
or, 3
,  3

1 
tan  = 3
,  =6
  2
tan  =  3 = - tan 3
= tan (   3 ) or,  = 3

1 2h 1 1 1  
 = 2 tan 1
= tan 1  6 3 = 2 tan 1
3 =2 =6
ab 2 7  13 3


For  =6

3 1 1
x=Xcos  -Ysin  =X 2
-Y 2 = 2 ( 3 X-Y)
1
y= Xsin  +Ycos  = 2 (X+ 3 Y)
2
For,  = 3
1
x=Xcos  -Ysin  = - 2 (X+ 3 Y)
1
y= Xsin  +Ycos  = 2 ( 3 X-Y)

The equation is a  X2+ b  Y2=16 where

9
a  + b  =a+b =7+13 =20, a b  =ab-h 2 =91-27=64

( a  - b  )2=( a  + b  )2-4 a b  =144 a  b =  12

taking + sign a   16 b  4 taking - sign a  4
b   16
16X2+4Y2=16 or, 4X2+Y2=4 ellipse
4X2+16Y2=16 or, X2+4Y2=4 ellipse

The equations of transformations are

1
x= 2 ( 3 X-Y)
1
y= 2 (X+ 3 Y)
and
1
x= - 2 (X+ 3 Y)
1
y= 2 ( 3 X-Y)

Ex. Remove x, y and xy term from the following equation

17 x  18 xy  7 y  16 x  32 y  18  0 . Also find the equations of
2 2

transformations.

a=17, b=-7, c=-18, f=-16, g=-8, h=9

hf  bg hg  af
  1,  =-1
ab  h 2 ab  h 2
Now let us transfer the origin at (1,-1) then the equations of
transformations are
x=X+1, y=Y-1
therefore the equation becomes
17X2+18XY-7Y2 + g  +f  +c=0
17X2+18XY-7Y2 -10=0
2h 2 tan  3
tan2  = a  b or, 1  tan 2 
=4 or, 3tan2  +8tan  -3=0
1
tan  =  8  64  36
6
or, 3
, 3

10
 1 1 3
tan  = 3 sin  = 10
, cos  = 10
,
1
X= x cos  - y  sin  = ( 3 x  - y )
10
1
Y= x  sin  + y  cos  = ( x + 3 y )
10

3 1
tan  =-3 sin  = 10
, cos  = 
10
, ,
1
X= x  cos  - y  sin  = - 10
( x  +3 y )
1
Y= x  sin  + y cos  = 10 (3 x  - y )
The equation becomes a  x  2+ b  y 2=10 where

a  + b  =a+b =10, a b  =ab-h 2 = -200

( a  - b  )2=( a  + b  )2-4 a b  =900 a   b  =  30

taking + sign a   20 b   10 taking - sign a   10
b   20

20 x  2-10 y 2=10 or, 2 x  2- y 2= 1 hyperbola

-10 x  2+20 y 2=10 or, x  2-2 y 2= -1 hyperbola

The equations of transformations are

1
x=X+1= ( 3 x  - y  )+1
10

1
y=Y-1= 10 ( x  + 3 y )-1
and
1
x=X+1= - 10 ( x  +3 y )+1

1
y=Y-1= 10
(3 x  - y )-1

11
 y
y1 Y

x1 x1

  108.43
x
o   18.43
X
O(1,-1)

y1 hyperbola

Fig9

Pair of straight lines

Suppose x+y=0 and x-y=0 are two straight lines

Then (x+y)(x-y)=0 or, x2-y2=0 is a pair of straight lines
Again x+2y+3=0 and 2x+3y +1=0 are two straight lines
Then (x+2y+3)(2x+3y+1)=0
or, 2x2+7xy+6y2+7x+11y+3=0=0 is a pair of straight lines

Theorem: Find the condition for which the general equation of

second degree ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0 represents a pair of
2 2

straight lines.

ax2+2(hy+g)x+by2+2fy+c=0 ……..(1)

 2(hy  g )  4(hy  g ) 2  4a(by 2  2 fy  c)

x= 2a
 (hy  g )  (hy  g ) 2  a (by 2  2 fy  c)
= a
 (hy  g )  (h  ab) y 2  2(hg  af ) y  g 2  ac)
2

= a
For the equation (1) to represent a pair of straight lines

12
the quantity under the square root must be a perfect square,
therefore
4(hg-af)2 = 4(h2-ab)(g2-ac)
abc+2fgh-af2-bg2-ch2=0
a(bc-f2)-h(hc-fg)+g(hf-bg)=0
a h g
h b f =0.
g f c

 =0
a h g
where = h b f
g f c

Ex. Show that the equation 6 x  5 xy  6 y  14 x  5 y  4  0 represents a

2 2

pair of straight lines. Find the separate equations of the straight

lines.
a h g
First show that = h b f =0
g f c

Now 6x2-(5y-14)x-6y2+5y+4=0

5 y  14  (5 y  14) 2  4.6(6 y 2  5 y  4)
x= 12
5 y  14  169 y  260 y  100)
2

= 12
18 y  24  8y  4
= 12
, 12

12x-18y+24=0 or, 2x-3y+4=0

12x+8y+4=0 or, 3x+2y+1=0

Ex. Find the value of k for which the equation

kx  4 xy  y
2 2
 4 x  2 y  3  0 represents a pair of straight lines

Different conditions for which ax 2  2hxy  by 2  2 gx  2 fy  c  0

represents different conics/curves

13
 a h g
Suppose = h b f
g f c

The equation ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0 represents

2 2

1. a pair of straight lines if  =0

2. a circle if   0, a=b and h=0
3. a parabola if   0 and h2=ab
4. an ellipse if   0 and h2 < ab
5. a hyperbola if   0 and h2 > ab

Parabola
Ex. Identify the curve 16 x  24 xy  9 y  104 x  172 y  44  0 .Reduce it
2 2

to standard form and give a rough sketch of the curve.

2
  0 and h =ab 16.9=(-12)2 a parabola
16 x  24 xy  9 y  104 x  172 y  44  0 .
2 2

(4x-3y)2= 104x+172y-44
The lines 4x-3y=0 and 104x+172y-44=0 are not at right angles
hence let us introduce a constant k
(4x-3y+k)2= 104x+172y-44+2k(4x-3y)+k2
= (104+8k)x+(172-6k)y+ k2-4

The lines 4x-3y+k=0 and

(104+8k)x+(172-6k)y+ k2-4=0
are at right angles if a1a2+b1b2=0
or, 4(104+8k)+(-3)(172-6k)=0
k=2
Now
(4x-3y+2)2= 120+160y-40
(4x-3y+2)2= 40(3x+4y-1)
2
 4x  3y  2   3x  4 y  1 


 25
 = 40.5  2 

 3 4 
2
 4 2  32 
2
 4x  3y  2   3x  4 y  1 


4 2  32 

 = 8  3 2  4 2 
  
4x  3y  2 3x  4 y  1
Y2=8X where Y = 4 2  32
, X= 32  4 2
X axis Y=0, 4x  3y  2 =0

14
 Y axis X=0, 3x  4 y  1 =0
Vertex (0,0) X=0, Y=0

3x  4 y  1 =0
 1 2
4x  3y  2 =0  , 
 5 5
Focus (A,0) X=A, Y=0
3x  4 y  1
32  4 2
=2 or, 3x+4y-11=0
4x  3y  2
4 2  32
=0 or, 4x-3y+2=0 (1,2)
A=2 (distance between vertex and focus)
semi latus rectum=2A=4
Parabola cuts on the x-axis where 16 x 2  104 x  44  0 , x=0.455,
6.045.
Parabola cuts on the y-axis where 9 y  172 y  44  0 , y=0.26, 18.85.
2

(0, 18.85)

Y X
4 X-axis, Y=0
4x-3y+2=0
3
Y-axis, X=0 2 (1,2)
3x+4y-1=0 (0, 0.26)
1
(0.455,0)
15
 (1/5, 2/5) (6.045, 0)
O x
-1 o 1 2 3 4 5 6

Fig10

Problems to be done
1. Remove x, y and xy term from the following equations. Also
find the equations of transformations.

2. Identify the curve and reduce it to standard form.

3. Show that the following equations represent a pair of straight

lines. Find the separate equation of straight lines.

7x2-6 3 xy+13y2=16
17 x 2  18 xy  7 y 2  16  32 y  18  0
4 x 2  4 y 2  16 x  16 y  7  0
3 x 2  2 xy  3 y 2  18 x  22 y  50  0
5 x 2  4 xy  2 y 2  2 x  4 y  4  0
xy  2 x  y  6  0
9 x 2  16 y 2  108 x  128 y  256  0
36 x 2  24 xy  29 y 2  72 x  126 y  81  0
5 x 2  24 xy  5 y 2  4 x  58 y  59  0
19 x 2  5 xy  7 y 2  13
3 x 2  2 xy  3 y 2  2
6 x 2  5 xy  6 y 2  14 x  5 y  4  0
3x 2  8 xy  3 y 2  29 x  3 y  18  0
4 x 2  4 xy  y 2  8 x  y  6  0
x 2  2 xy  y 2  2 x  1  0

End

16