COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Lecture Note on Analytic Geometry and

Mechanics
MAT 141
Department of Mathematics

B. O. ONASANYA

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Outline

1 COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Distance Between Two Points
Dividing a Line in Ratio
The Slope of a Straight Line
Equation of Straight Line
Equation of Lines which are Perpendicular
Perpendicular Distance Between the Origin and a
Straight Line
Perpendicular Distance Between the a Point and a
Straight Line
Angle Between Two Straight Lines
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Distance Between Two Points

Consider two points A and B as in the diagram below.

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Distance Between Two Points

We apply Pythagora’s Thyeorem to find the distance

q
|AB| = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2 .

If point A is at the origin,

q
|AB| = x22 + y22 .
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Dividing a Line in Ratio

Consider the line |AB| to be divided into two somewhere at

point (x, y ) between A and B in the ratio m : n. The coordinate
of the point of divide is
mx2 + nx1
x= ,
m+n

my2 + ny1
y= .
m+n
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Dividing a Line in Ratio

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Dividing a Line in Ratio

If (x, y ) is midway between A and B, then n = m and

m(x2 + x1 ) x2 + x1
x= = ,
2m 2

m(y2 + y1 ) y2 + y1
y= =
2m 2
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Dividing a Line in Ratio

Example
Consider points A(2, −3) and B(3, 4) on a straight line. Find
(1) The length of the line joining the points
(2) The mid-point of the line
(3) Coordinate of the point of divide of the line in ratio 2 : 3
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

The Slope of a Straight Line

Slope is also called gradient and it is equivalent to tangent of

the angle it makes with positive x-axis.

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

The Slope of a Straight Line

Change in Vertical y2 − y1
Slope = tan θ = = .
Change in Horizontal x2 − x1

Example
(1) Find the slope of the line joining A(2, −3) and B(3, 4)
(1) Find the slope of the line joining A(2, 7) and B(3, 5)
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Equation of Straight Line

We can find the equation of a straight line if

(1) two points on the line are given
y2 − y1 y − y1
m= =
x2 − x1 x − x1

(2) a point on the line and the slope of the line is given
y − y1
m=
x − x1
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Equation of Straight Line

The equation of straight line obtained can be expressed as

(1) intercept form
x y
+ =1
a b
(2) linear form

bx + ay + c = 0, where c = −ab

(3) slope-intercept form

b
y = mx + c, where m = − .
a
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Equation of Straight Line

Example
(1) Find the equation of the line joining A(2, −3) and B(3, 4)
(2) Find the equation of the line joining A(2, 7) and B(3, 5)
−1
(3) Find the equation of the line with the slope 3 and the
intercept −3
2
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Equation of Lines which are Perpendicular

Given two lines

y = m1 x + c1
and
y = m2 x + c2 ,
the slopes are related by m1 m2 = −1 so that m1 = − m12

Example
Find the equation of the line passing through (1, 2) and is
perpendicular to the line joining A(2, −3) and B(3, 4)
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Perpendicular Distance Between the Origin and a Straight Line

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Perpendicular Distance Between the Origin and a Straight Line

Consider that the equation of the line |AB| in Fig. 9 is

ax + by + c = 0.

The perpendicular distance between the line and the origin is

c
√ .
a2 + b 2

Example
Find the perpendicular distance between the origin and the line
which is joining A(2, −3) and B(3, 4)
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Perpendicular Distance Between the a Point and a Straight Line

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Perpendicular Distance Between the a Point and a Straight Line

Consider that the equation of the line |AB| in Fig. 10 is

ax + by + c = 0.

The perpendicular distance between the point P(x1 , y1 ) and the

point M on the line is origin is

ax1 + by1 + c
√ .
a2 + b 2

Example
Find the perpendicular distance between the point (1, 2) and
the line which is joining A(2, −3) and B(3, 4)
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Angle Between Two Straight Lines

Let the slopes of the two lines inclined at angles θ1 and θ2 be

m1 and m2 respectively.

Figure:
COORDINATE GEOMETRY OF LINES

Angle Between Two Straight Lines

The angle θ between them can be obtained from

m2 − m1
tan θ = .
1 + m1 m2

Example
Find the angle between the lines |AB| and |AC| for coordinates
A(4, 4), B(3, 2) and C(9, 5).