Chapter 2: Graphs

2.1 The Cartesian Coordinate System

2.2 Circles
2.3 Equation of a Line

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 2.1: The Cartesian Coordinate System
Definition:
The Cartesian coordinates in the plane are specified in terms of
the x-coordinates axis and the y-coordinate axis, as illustrated in the
figure below. The origin is the intersection of the x and y-axes. The
Cartesian coordinates of a point in the plane are written as(x,y). The
first number x is called the x-coordinate (or x-component), as it is the
signed distance from the origin in the direction along the x-axis.
The x-coordinate specifies the distance to the right (if x is positive) or to
the left (if x is negative) of the y-axis.

Similarly, the second number y is called the y-coordinate (or y-

component), as it is the signed distance from the origin in the direction
along the y-axis, The y-coordinate specifies the distance above (if y is
positive) or below (if y is negative) the x-axis.

X and Y Axis:

𝑥 The left-right (horizontal) direction is commonly called X-axis.

𝑦 The up-down (vertical) direction is commonly called Y-axis.

The coordinate plane:

origin

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Graphing an Equation using Point-by-Point Plotting:

We can plot a set of points to represent an equation. When such an

equation contains both x variable and a y variable, it is called
an equation in two variables. Its graph is called a graph in two
variables. Any graph on a two-dimensional plane is a graph in two
variables.

NOW;
HOW TO GRAPH AN EQUATION BY PLOTTING POINTS.
1. Make a table with one column labeled x, a second column labeled
with the equation, and a third column listing the ordered pairs.
2. The x-values listed in the first column using positive and negative
values.
3. By using the equation, we will get y-values.
4. Plot the ordered pairs.
5. Connect the points if they form a line.

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 Example 1 :
Sketch a graph of 𝑦 = x ! + 1
By using the ordered pairs of real numbers we make a table which
satisfy the given equation.

𝑥 1 2 3 0 -1 -2 -3
𝑦 2 5 10 1 2 5 10
(𝑥, 𝑦)

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 Example 2 :
Sketch a graph of the line y = 4x – 3.
By using the ordered pairs of real numbers we make a table which
satisfy the given equation.

𝑥 1 2 3 0 -1 -2 -3
𝑦 2 5 10 1 2 5 10
(𝑥, 𝑦)

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 2.2: Circles
Standard Form of the Equation of a Circle:

Definition:
A circle is the set of all Points in a plane equidistanant from a fixed
point. The fixed distance is called the radius, and the fixed point is
called the center.

The formula: (𝑥 − ℎ)! + (𝑦 − 𝑘)! = 𝑟 ! is an equation in which ℎ, 𝑘 are

the x, and y coordinates of the center of the circle, and r is the radius.

For example:
The formula: (𝑥 − 3)! + (𝑦 − 4)! = 25! is a circle centered at (3, 4)
with a raduius of 5.

Definition:

The standard form of a Circle with radius 𝒓 and center at (ℎ, 𝑘) is:
(𝑥 − ℎ)! + (𝑦 − 𝑘)! = 𝑟 ! , 𝑟>0

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Example 1 :
a. Find an equation of the circle with radius 3 and center
(2, − 5).

b. Write an equation for the set of all points that are 6 units
from the origion. 𝐶 = (ℎ, 𝑘) = (2, −5) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 = 3
(𝑥 − ℎ)! + (𝑦 − 𝑘)! = 𝑟 !

!
(𝑥 − 2)! + C𝑦 − (−5)D = 3!
Example2:
Identify the center and raduis of the circle:
a. (x − 1)! + (y + 2)! = 9 .

b. 𝑥 ! + 𝑦 ! − 4𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 23
Center : (1, −2)
Raduis = √9 = 3

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 Distance in the Plane:

1. The Distance Formula:

The relation between three sides on the right triangle can be written by
Pythagorean Theorem; 𝑃𝑄! = 𝑃𝑅! + 𝑄𝑅!
Now, substitute lengths of the all three sides;
𝑑! = (𝑥! − 𝑥" )! + (𝑦! − 𝑦" )! “Take the square root for both sides”
⟹ 𝑑 = ±J(𝑥! − 𝑥" )! + (𝑦! − 𝑦" )! “Since the distance always positive”
∴ 𝑑 = J(𝑥! − 𝑥" )! + (𝑦! − 𝑦" )!

Definition:

The distance between 𝑃 = (𝑥" , 𝑦" )and 𝑄 = (𝑥! , 𝑦! ) is:

𝑑(𝑃 , 𝑄) = J(𝑥! − 𝑥" )! + (𝑦! − 𝑦" )!

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Example 3:
a. Find the distance between the points (−2, −3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−4,4)

b. Find the distance between the points (1,2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (13,4)

c. Find the distance between the points (0,3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (1,0)

𝒅 = J(−4 − (−2))! + (4 − (−3))!

𝒅 = J(−4 + 2)! + (4 + 3)!
𝒅 = J(−2)! + (7)!
𝒅 = √4 + 49 𝒅 = √53

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2. Midpoint of a Line Segment:

Midpoint Formula
The midpoint of the line segment joining;
𝑃" = (𝑥" , 𝑦" )and 𝑃! = (𝑥! , 𝑦! ) is

𝑥"$ 𝑥! 𝑦" + 𝑦!
𝑀 =R , S
2 2
The point 𝑀 is the unique point satisfying
1
𝑑(𝑃" , 𝑀) = 𝑑(𝑀, 𝑃! ) = 𝑑(𝑃" , 𝑃! )
2

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Example 4 :
a. Find the midpoint M of the line segment joining ;
𝐴 = (1, −3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 = (4, 5).
"
b. Verify that: 𝑑(𝐴, 𝑀) = 𝑑(𝑀, 𝐵) = ! 𝑑(𝐴, 𝐵).

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
𝑀 =R , S
2 2
1 + 4 −3 + 5
𝑀 =R , S
2 2
5 2
𝑀 =R , S
2 2
= (2.5, 1)

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 2.3: Equation of a Line
1. Standard equation of a line:

If A, B, and C are constants, where A and B non zero integers, and x,

and y are variables, then the graph of the equation,

𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶 is a line.

Remark:

1. The y intercept is the y coordinate of the point where the graph

crosses the y axis.

To find the y intercept: Let x=0, and solve the equation for y.

2. The x intercept is the x coordinate of the point where the graph

crosses the x axis.

To find the x intercept: Let y =0, and solve the equation for x.

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Example1:
Graph the equation 3𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 12.
By using the ordered pairs of real numbers we make a table which
satisfy the given equation.

𝑥 0 4 8
𝑦 -3 0 3

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 Difintion: Slope of a line
Slope of a line passes through two distinct points
𝑃" = (𝑥" , 𝑦" ) and 𝑃! = (𝑥! , 𝑦! )
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )
Is given by the formula;
𝒚𝟐 &𝒚𝟏
𝒎= , where x" ≠ x! (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )
𝒙𝟐 &𝒙𝟏

Example 2:
Find the slope of each line with pair of points:

a. (2,1), (3,5)

b. (−2,3), (2, −3)

c. (3,1), (−1,1) h

orizontal lin
e
d. (2,3), (2,5)

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 2.Slope-Intercept Form:

An equation of the line slope m and y intercept b is :

𝒚 = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃
Where m is slope and b is y-intercept

Example 3:
!
a. Write the slope-intercepts form of a line with slope
"
and 𝑦-intercept −3 .

2
𝑚= 𝑎𝑛𝑑
7

!
Then the line equation is : 𝑦 = 𝑥−3
(
#
b. Find the slope and 𝑦-intercept, and graph 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1
!
)
Slope 𝑚 = and 𝑦-intercept is (0, −1)
!

(0, −1)

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 3.point- Slope Form:
An equation of the line with slope 𝒎 that passes through (𝑥" , 𝑦" ) is:

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒎(𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 )

is called the point-slope form.

Example 4:
a) Find an equation for the line that has slope 𝟒 and passes
through the point (−𝟐, 𝟑), write the answer in the standard
form .

b) Find an equation for the line that passes through the two
points (𝟒, −𝟏) and (𝟏, 𝟑) , write the answer in the slop-
intercept form.

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 + ")
3𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 13 (now divide by 3)𝑦 = − 𝑥 +
) )
Graphing Horizonal and Vertical Lines :

Examples:
The line; x=5 is a horizontal line.

The line; y=3 is a vertical line.

Example 5:
Graph the line 𝑥 = −3 and the line 𝑦 = 2 .

𝑥=−

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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines :

Given two nonvertical line 𝑳𝟏 and 𝑳𝟐 with slopes 𝒎𝟏 and 𝒎𝟐 ,

respectively, then:
𝑳𝟏 ∥ 𝑳𝟐 if and only if 𝒎𝟏 = 𝒎𝟐
𝑳𝟏 ⊥ 𝑳𝟐 if and only if 𝒎𝟏 𝒎𝟐 = −𝟏
&"
Or 𝒎𝟏 =
𝒎𝟐
&"
Or 𝒎𝟐 =
𝒎𝟏

Example 6:
Given the line 𝐿: 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 5 and the point 𝑝 = (2, −4),
Find an equation of a line through 𝑝 that is:
1) Parallel to 𝐿 .
2) Perpendicular to 𝐿.
Write the final answer in the slope-intercept form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏.
,-.-,/ 01 &! ) 2
Solution: 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 5 → −2𝑦 = −3𝑥 + 5 b⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯d 𝑦 = 𝑥 −
! !
)
the slope of the line =
!

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