Change of Axes

The co ordinates of a point or the equation of a curve is always determined with respect to a
particular system of axes and a particular origin. If the system of axes is changed (which is
generally done to simplify the given problem) the coordinates of the point or the equation of
the curve also changes.

The system of axes can be altered in following three ways:

(a) By shifting the origin but the new axes remaining parallel to the original axes.
(b) By rotating the axes through some angle but origin remaining fixed.
(c) By shifting the origin as well as rotating the axes.

Shifting of Origin:

y Y P (x,y)

(X,Y)

X
O' N'
(h ,k)

O K N x

Let O be the initial origin and Ox and Oy be the original axes. Let the coordinates of a point

P referred to this system be (x,y). From P draw PN ┴ Ox. Then ON=x and PN=y.

Let the origin now be shifted to a point O' whose co ordinates referred to original axes are
(h,k). From O' draw O'K||Oy. Then OK=h, O'K=k.

Through O' draw O'X|| Ox and O'Y|| OY respectively. Let the coordinates of P be (X,Y)
referred to O'X and O'Y as co ordinates axes. Then O'N'=X, PN'=Y.

From the above figure, it is evident that

x = ON = OK + KN = OK + O'N' = h + X
y = PN = PN' + NN' = PN' + O'K = Y + k

Hence the relation between original and new coordinates of the point P are given by
x = X + h, y = Y + k

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Rotation of axes:
Find the relation between the coordinates of a point when the axes are rotated through some
angle, the origin being remaining fixed.

y P (x,y)
Y (X,Y)
θ X

M
K θ

θ
O N L x

Let O be the initial origin and Ox and Oy be the original axes. Let the coordinates of a point

P referred to this system be (x,y). From P draw PN ┴ Ox. Then ON=x and PN=y.

Let the axes be turned through an angle θ, the origin being fixed. Let the new axes be OX and

OY. Draw PM ┴ OX, MK ┴ PN, ML ┴ Ox. Let the co ordinates of P referred to new axes
be (X,Y). Then OM= X, PM=Y.

Since KM || Ox and OM interceptor, ∟MOL = ∟KMO = θ [alternate angle]

∟KMO + ∟PMK = ∟PMO = 90o
∟MPK + ∟PMK = 90o
∟KMO + ∟PMK = ∟MPK + ∟PMK
∟KMO = ∟MPK = θ

Now, x = ON = OL – NL ∆OML, OL / OM = Cos θ

=OL – KM ∆KPM, KM / PM = Sin θ
= OM Cos θ – PM Sin θ
= XCos θ – Y Sin θ

Now, y = PN = PK + KN ∆OML, ML / OM = Sin θ

= PK + ML ∆KPM, PK / PM = Cos θ
= PM Cos θ + OM Sin θ
= Y Cos θ + X Sin θ

These are the relation between the original and new coordinates of the point P.

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By transforming the parallel axes through a properly chosen point (h, k) prove that the
equation 12x2 -10xy + 2y2 + 11x -5y +2 = 0 can be reduced to one containing only terms
of the second degree.

Let the origin be shifted to (h,k), then referred to parallel axes through (h,k), the given
equation transformed into
12(x'+h)2 -10 (x' +h) (y' + k) + 2 (y'+ k)2 + 11(x'+h) -5(y'+k) +2 = 0
Or, 12x'2 + 2y'2 -10x'y' + x' (24h-10k+11) +y' (-10h+4k-5)+ 12h2-10hk+ 2k2+ 11h -5k +2 = 0
… … (1)
If (1) is to be reduced to one containing only terms of the second degree/ If (1) is a
homogeneous equation of second degree, then the co efficient of x, co efficient of y and the
constant term should be separately zero. i.e.
24h-10k+11 = 0 … … (2)
-10h+4k-5 = 0 … … (3)
12h2-10hk+ 2k2+ 11h -5k +2 = 0 … … (4)

Solving (2) and (3)

h = -3/2 ; k= -5/2
Substituting h = -3/2 ; k= -5/2 in L.H.S. of (4)
L.H.S.=
=0
i.e. the value of h and k satisfies equation (4).
Hence, the given equation can be reduced to one containing only terms of the second degree.

Through what angle should the axes be rotated to remove the term containing xy in 11x2
+ 4xy+14y2 = 5

Let the axes be turned through an angle θ, then by putting

x = x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ
y = x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ
the given expression reduces to
11(x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ)2 + 4(x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ)(x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ)+14(x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ)2 = 5
11(x'2Cos2 θ- 2 x' y' Sinθ Cosθ + y'2Sin2 θ) + 4(x'2Cos θ Sin θ + x'y'Cos2 θ - x'y'Sin2 θ - y'2
Sinθ Cosθ) + 14(x'2Sin2 θ + 2 x' y' Sinθ Cosθ + y'2Cos2 θ) = 5

If the term xy is to be absent, then equating the co efficient of xy to zero, we have,

-22 Sinθ Cosθ + 4 Cos2 θ - 4Sin2 θ + 28 Sinθ Cosθ = 0
4 Cos 2θ + 6 Sinθ Cosθ = 0
4 Cos 2θ + 3 Sin2θ = 0
4 + 3 tan2θ = 0
tan2θ = - 4/3

θ = ½ tan-1(-4/3) , which is the required angle.

Find the angle through which the axes must be turned so that the expression ax2 + 2hxy
+ by2 become an expression in which the term xy is absent.

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Let the axes be turned through an angle θ, then by putting
x = x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ
y = x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ
the given expression reduces to

a (x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ)2 + 2h (x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ) (x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ) + b (x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ)2
= (aCos2 θ + 2hSin θ Cos θ + bSin 2 θ)x'2 + 2 x'y' (-a Sin θ Cos θ + hCos2 θ – hSin2 θ + b Sin
θ Cos θ) + (aSin2 θ - 2hSin θ Cos θ + bCos 2 θ)y'2

If the term xy is to be absent, then equating the co efficient of xy to zero, we have,

-a Sin θ Cos θ + hCos2 θ – hSin2 θ + b Sin θ Cos θ = 0

Or, h Cos2 θ = ( ½) (a - b) Sin2 θ

Or, tan 2 θ = {2h/ (a-b)}

Or, θ = (1/2) tan-1 {2h/ (a-b)}, which is the required angle.

5. Transform the equation 11 x 2 + 24 xy + 4 y 2 − 20 x − 40 y − 5 = 0 to rectangular axes

( )
through the point (2 , − 1) and inclined at an angle tan −1 − 4 .
3

Given equation, 11x2+ 24xy+4y2 - 20x - 40y - 5 = 0

For the first transformation, we have x = x1+2 ; y = y1- 1

Therefore, the given equation becomes,
11(x1+2)2+ 24(x1+2) (y1- 1)+4 (y1- 1)2 – 20 (x1+2) – 40 (y1- 1) - 5 = 0
11(x12+4x1+4)+ 24(x1y1-x1 +2y1- 2) +4 (y12- 2y1+ 1)2 – 20 (x1+2) – 40 (y1- 1) - 5 = 0
11x12 + 24x1y1 + 4 y12 – 5=0

Removing subscript, we get

11x2 + 24xy + 4 y2 – 5=0 … … … … … … … … (1)

For the second transformation, we have

tanθ = -4/3, therefore, Sinθ= - 4/5, Cosθ = 3/5

Now, x = x1Cosθ – y1 Sinθ = (3/5)x1 + (4/5) y1

y = x1 Sinθ + y1 Cosθ = (- 4/5)x1 + (3/5) y1

Using these, equation (1) becomes,

11{(3/5)x1 + (4/5) y1}2 + 24{(3/5)x1 + (4/5) y1}{(- 4/5)x1 + (3/5) y1} + 4{(- 4/5)x1 + (3/5)
y1}2 – 5=0
99/25x12 + 176/25y12 +264/25x1y1 +24{ -12/25x12 + 9/25x1y1 -16/25x1y1 +12/25y12}+
64/25x12 + 36/25y12 - 96/25x1y1 -5 = 0
99x12 + 176y12 +264x1y1 -288x12 -168x1y1 +288y12 + 64x12 + 36y12 - 96x1y1 -125 = 0
-125x12 + 500y12 -125 = 0
x12 - 4y12 + 1 = 0

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Removing subscript, we get
x2 - 4y2 + 1 = 0

For the second transformation, we have

tanθ = -4/3, therefore, Sinθ= 4/5, Cosθ = -3/5
Now, x = x1Cosθ – y1 Sinθ = (-3/5)x1 - (4/5) y1
y = x1 Sinθ + y1 Cosθ = (4/5)x1 - (3/5) y1
Using these, equation (1) becomes,
11{(-3/5)x1 - (4/5) y1}2 + 24{(-3/5)x1 - (4/5) y1}{(4/5)x1 - (3/5) y1} + 4{(4/5)x1 - (3/5) y1}2 –
5=0
99/25x12 + 176/25y12 +264/25x1y1 +24{ - 12/25x12 + 9/25x1y1 -16/25x1y1 +12/25y12}+
64/25x12 + 36/25y12 - 96/25x1y1 -5 = 0
99x12 + 176y12 +264x1y1 - 288x12 -168x1y1 +288y12 + 64x12 + 36y12 - 96x1y1 -125 = 0
-125x12 + 500y12 -125 = 0
x12 - 4y12 + 1 = 0

Removing subscript, we get

x2 - 4y2 + 1 = 0

Art 35. If by the rotation of the rectangular coordinates axes about the origin, the
expression ax 2 + 2h xy + by 2 changes to ax2 + 2h xy + by 2 then show that
a + b = a + b and ab − h = ab − h .
2 2

Let (x,y) be the coordinates of a point P referred to a set of rectangular axes. If the axes are
rotated through an angle θ about the origin, let the coordinates of the same point P be (x',y')
referred to the new system of rectangular axes. Then we have,
x = x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ
y = x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ

By using the above transformation, the expression ax2 + 2hxy + by2 becomes,

a(x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ)2 + 2h(x' Cos θ - y' Sin θ) (x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ) + b(x' Sin θ + y' Cos θ)2

= (aCos2 θ + 2hSin θ Cos θ + bSin 2 θ)x'2 + 2 x'y' (-a Sin θ Cos θ + hCos2 θ – hSin2 θ + b Sin
θ Cos θ) + (aSin2 θ - 2hSin θ Cos θ + bCos 2 θ)y'2

= a' x'2 + 2h'x'y' + b'y'2

where a' = aCos2 θ + 2hSin θ Cos θ + bSin 2 θ
b' = aSin2 θ - 2hSin θ Cos θ + bCos 2 θ
h' = -a Sin θ Cos θ + hCos2 θ – hSin2 θ + b Sin θ Cos θ

Now, a' + b' = a (Cos2 θ + Sin2 θ) + b (Sin 2θ +Cos 2θ) = a + b

Again, 2a' = 2aCos2 θ + 4hSin θ Cos θ + 2bSin 2 θ
= a (1 + Cos 2 θ) + 2h Sin 2 θ + b (1-Cos 2 θ)
= (a + b) + { 2h Sin2 θ + (a-b) Cos 2 θ }

Similarly, 2b' = (a + b) - { 2h Sin2 θ + (a-b) Cos 2 θ }

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Now, 4 (a'b' – h'2 ) = (a + b)2 - { 2h Sin2 θ + (a-b) Cos 2 θ }2 – { 2h Cos 2θ – (a - b) Sin2 θ}2
= (a + b)2 - 4h2 - (a-b)2
= 4 ab – 4 h2
Or, a'b' – h' = ab – h2
2

The two quantities a+b and ab –h2 for the expression ax2 + 2hxy + by2 are called invariants
of transformation from one system of rectangular axes because their values remain
unchanged by the y\transformation.

Through what angle should the axes be turned so that the equation 9 x2 − 2 3 xy + 7 y 2 =10
may be changed to 3x2 + 5y2 = 5.

Shift the origin from (0 , 0) to a new point, to remove the first degree terms in
4 x 2 −12 xy + 5 y 2 + 10 y + 14 = 0 .

To what point must be the origin be transferred so as to remove the terms of the first
degree in x + xy + 2 y − 7 x − 5 y +12 = 0 ;
2 2

3x 2 + 4 y 2 −12 x + 4 y +13 = 0 .

Determine the equation of the curve 4 xy − 3x 2 =1 after rotation of axes through

 2 
sin −1  − .
 5

Determine whether the value of a + b in the equation ax 2 + 2h xy + by 2 + 2 g x + 2 f y + c = 0

is effected or not, by orthogonal transformation without change of origin.

Determine the angle through which the axes must be rotated to remove the xy term in the
equation 7x2 -6√3xy+13y2 = 16.

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