GCSE: Coordinate geometry

COORDINATE GEOMETRY SKILL CHECK

Skill I am able to …  
1. Identify the coordinates of a point as a coordinate pair (x, y) and plot
points correctly on a coordinate grid.
2. Calculate the midpoint of a straight line from the coordinates of its
end points.
3. Calculate the length of a straight line from the coordinates of its end
points.
4. Find the gradient of a straight line as
5. Calculate the gradient of a straight line from the coordinates of two
points.
6. Interpret and obtain the equation of a straight line graph.
7. Determine the equation of a straight line parallel to a given line.
8. Determine the equation of a straight line perpendicular to a point.
Points and lines

What is a point? How can we define its position

in two dimensions or three dimensions?

P (x, y)= (3, 2)? P (x, y, z)= (2, 3, 1)

?

𝑃
STARTER – Coordinates in two dimensions
Length of a line given by two points /
Distance between points
(Greek letter ‘delta’) means “change in”
How could we find the
(5 , 9) distance between these two
points?
?
5 ?
Hint: Pythagoras

Δ 𝑦 =3? Form a right-angled triangle

using the change in and
? use
change in , then
Pythagoras.
(1 , 6) Δ 𝑥 =4?
2 2 2
𝑐 =4 +3
𝑐= √ 4 2+ 32
𝑐=5

! Distance between two points:

Length of a line segment – practice questions
Find the length of lines given by these points. Give your answer as an exact value.

a) and ?
b) and ?
and
?
d) and ?
e) and
and
?
?

𝑃𝑄=√ 𝟖𝟐 +𝟒𝟐 =𝟖
? .𝟗𝟒
Midpoint of a line segment
1 2
𝐹
𝐵
𝑀 𝐶
𝐸
𝐴
A point is on the line segment such
If and , find the midpoint of . that Find the coordinate of .

Just find the mean of values and mean ==2

of values.
The -coordinates midpoint= = 4 ==0
The -coordinates midpoint= = 5.5
? C?
Lines
Line is a collection of points Horizontal and vertical
lines are called constant
Plot these poits and join them to draw lines
a straight line.

a) (-5, 3), (-4, 3), (-2, 3), (-1, 3), (0, 3),
(2, 3) y = 3
b) (-7, -5), (-4, -5), (-2, -5), (-1, -5),
(0, -5), (2, -5) y = -5
c) (-5, 0), (-4, 0), (-3, 0), (-1, 0), (0, 0),
(2, 0) y = 0 The x-axis
d) (-3, -6), (-3, -3), (-3, 0), (-3, 2), (-3, 3),
(-3, 5) x = -3
e) (0, -6), (0, -3), (0, 0), (0, 2), (0, 3),
(0, 5) x = 0 The y-axis
Vertical and horizontal lines
𝑦 =2 𝑥 =2 𝑦 =0

True / True / True /

False False False

𝑦 =2 𝑥=4 𝑥 =0

True / True / True /

False False False

𝑥 =2 𝑦 =1 𝑥 =0

True / True / True /

False False False
𝑦 =2 𝑥 =2 𝑦 =0

True / True / True /

False False False

𝑦 =2 𝑥=4 𝑥 =0

True / True / True /

False False False

𝑥 =2 𝑦 =1 𝑥 =0

True / True / True /

False False False
Diagonal lines
What points make the a) green line b) blue line?
What is the relationship between the x and y
coordinates of the points making the same line?
y=x
Draw a line y = 2x
x
y

Draw a line y = -3x +1

x
y

y=-x
More straight line graphs

Draw a line y = x +2 Draw a line x - 2y = 6

x x
y y

* Change it to the form

y = mx + c first.
y = x -3

Complete the worksheet

Exam-style question

Take a
picture
and work
it out.
Gradient of a line
The gradient of a line is the steepness: how much changes as
increases by 1.
There are 3 ways in which we can calculate the gradient:

a. Counting Squares b. Using the equation c. Using two points

+2
( 1 , 4 ) , ( 4 , 13 )
a) Gradient of a line by counting squares

gradient
3
? gradient ?
5
?

? gradient
?

?
 y
Quickfire Gradient – 4

What is the gradient of D A

each line? 3

F
C
2

B
1

G E
x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

H
-2

A: 1? B: -1? C: 1? -3
D: 2? E: ? F: 3 ?
G: H: -4
? ?
 y
Suppose we just had two 4 ( 𝟑 , 𝟒)
points on the line and
3
wanted to determine the
gradient, but didn’t want 2 has increased
to draw a grid. by 6.
1

x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

( −𝟏 , −𝟐 ) -2

has increased by 4.
-3

So what -4does change by for 𝟔

𝒎= =𝟏
? .𝟓
each unit increase in ? 𝟒
b) Gradient using coordinates of two points

! Given two points on a line, the gradient is:

( 1 , 4 ) (3 , 10 ) 𝑚=3
?

( 5 , 7 ) ( 8 , 1) 𝑚=−
? 2

( 2 , 2 ) (− 1 , 10) 𝑚=−? 8
3
Gradient of a line

? ?

Use the graphs above to decide whether these statements are

True or False.
• Line with a gradient 2 is steeper than a line with gradient 3. X
• Line with a negative gradients is going down.
• A horizontal line has a gradient =1. X it is 0
• The gradient of a vertical line is not defined.
 b. Gradient using the Equation
We can get the gradient of a line using 𝑦 =𝒎 𝑥 + 𝒄
just its equation.
is the gradient, or is the -intercept, or
the slope of the where the graph
graph cuts the -axis
Examples
Find the gradient of a straight line from its equation:

1 m=2
?

2 m=1
?

3 m=
?

4 m=8
?
5 m=-3
?
 Gradient using the Equation
Before you use the eqution of a line make sure you rearrange into the form (i.e.
make the subject; the gradient is .

Examples Test Your Understanding

1
?
? 2

?
3

? ?

4 ?
Gradient from aan equation and from points
2 Determine the gradient of the line which goes
1 By rearranging the equations into the
form , determine the gradient of each through the following points.
line. Point 1 Point 2 Gradient
Equation Gradient
?
? ?
? ?
? ?
? ?
? ?
?
? ?
? ?
? ?
?
? ?
 Which is Steepest?

Compare the following pairs of equations to decide which of each pair has
the steepest graph:

1. or

2. or

3. or

4. or

5. or
Equation of a line
From earlier:

gradient y-intercept
 y
Examples E 4 B A

2
F
1

A: ?
B: ?
xC: -5 ? -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
D:
E: ? -1 C
F: ?
? -2

-3

Determine the full equation

D -4
of each line.
 y
Your Turn 4

D A
3

F
C
2

B
1

G E
x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1
H
-2

-3

-4
Getting equation of line using gradient and point
A line with gradient 3 goes through the point . Determine the
equation of the line in the form
.

= 3
𝑚

( 2 , 5)

Using gradient, write

the formula so far.
? -intercept is not yet
known.

? Point is on the line,

so it must satisfy the
equation. Use to find

? .
Equation of a line from gradient and a point
A line has a point and has gradient 2. What is the equation of the line in the
form ?

𝑦=2𝑥+𝑐
Mental Tip: If you know the formula starts with ,
find what this is for your value, then think what you
? have to ‘adjust’ by to get this to . In this case, is 8, so
we can see we have to +1 to get to 9.

Quickfire Questions:
(using the mental trick)

Gradient of 2. Goes through  ?

Gradient of 4. Goes through  ?
Gradient of 1. Goes through  ?
Gradient of -3. Goes through  ?
Gradient of . Goes through 
?
Equation of a line from two points
A line passes through and . What is A line passes through and . Determine the
the equation of the line? equation of the line and determine the
coordinate of the point where the line crosses
the -axis.

1 When :

?
𝑚=− ?
3
Exercise 3
1 Find the equation of the line with the 2 Find the equation of the line that goes
specified gradient which goes through the
through the following points, leaving
specified point, leaving your answer in the
form . your equation in the form .
a ?
b ? a ?
c ? b ?
d ? c ?
e ?
f ? d ?
3 4 𝑦 Determine the
The line passes through the points and and equation of this
intercepts the -axis at the point . The line line.
passes through and . Determine the 4 ?
equation of the line in the form .

? 9
𝑥
Points on a line
Complete the table of values for .

? ? ? ?

If just sub it into the

equation:
Points on a line

?6 ?
1.5 ?0

Click to Reveal
Points on a line
We can substitute the values of a coordinate into our equation whenever we
know the point lies on the line.

The point lies on the line with equation . Determine the value of .

Substituting in and value:

?

Find the coordinate of the point where the line cuts the -axis.

On the -axis, . Substituting:

?
Test Your Understanding
1 A point lies on the line with equation . The -value of the point is 6. What would
the value have to be?

𝑦 =5 ( 6 )?− 2= 28

2 The point lies on the line with equation . Determine the value of .

8 =20 ?− 4 𝑘
3 Draw coordinate axis in your book with going from 0 to 6 and going from 0 to 6.
Draw the line with equation .

4 A line has equation . Determine the coordinate of the point it intercepts the -axis.

3 𝑥+ 4= 0 ?
Points on a line practice questions
5 Put a tick or cross to 6 For the given equation of a line and
point, indicate whether the point is
determine whether each above the line, on the line or below
of the following points are the line. (Hint: Find out what is on
on the line with the given the line for the given )
equation. Belo On Abov
w e
 ?
? ?

?
? ? 
?
 
? ?
 ?
 
? ?
Exercise 1 – Question N2

What is the area of the region enclosed between the line with
equation , the axis, and the axis?

We can set to find where the lines cuts the axis:

Similarly when :

We have a triangle between the points .

Area is .
?
Intersection of lines
The diagram shows two lines with
𝑦 equations and , which intersect at
the point . The line passes through
𝑦 =3 𝑥 the origin.

a) Determine the coordinates of .

𝑃
Just solve two equations
simultaneously.
𝑥+ 2 𝑦= 4
?
𝑥
𝑂 𝑄 b) The line intersects the -axis at the
point . Determine the area of the
triangle .
When
Area

?
Further Example
𝑦
Determine the length of .
2 𝑦 = 𝑥+ 4

When

𝑃
Distance :
𝑄
𝑥+ 𝑦 =8 ?

𝑥
𝑂
Test Your Understanding
𝑦
a) Determine the coordinate of .
𝑄2 𝑦 + 𝑥=12 𝑦 =𝑥 − 3
?
b) Determine the area of .
𝑃
c) Determine the length .
?

𝑂 𝑥
?
𝑅
 Exercise 4
1 Find the coordinate of the point of 3 Find the distance between the two points where
intersection between these lines: crosses the coordinate axes.
a ? ?
b ?
c ? 4 Line passes through and . Another line passes
d ? through and . Determine the coordinate of the
e ? point at which they intersect.

2 Find the distance: (giving exact values)

𝑦 ?
Line has the equation and has the equation .
The two lines intersect at point and line
𝐵(6 ,5) 5 intersects the and -axis at and respectively, as
𝐸(−3,3) 𝐴(2,4) indicated. Find the area of:
a) (where is the origin)
𝐶(5 ,0)
𝑥 b)

?
𝐷(0,−12) ?
a ? b ?
c ? d ?
e ?
Exercise 4
6 [AQA IGCSEFM Jan 2013 Paper 1 Q16]
and are points on the line
.
is a straight line.

Work out the ratio:

Give your answer in its simplest form.

Again using ratios provided:

Area of
Area of ?
Ratio:
Another intercept example
Determine where the line crosses the:

a) -axis: Let .
?
b) -axis: Let

What mistakes do you think it’s easy to make?

• Mixing up x/y: Putting answer as rather than .
• Setting to find the -intercept, or to?find the -intercept.
 y

Draw 4

x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

-2
It also gives us a way to plot lines quickly: We
can just pick any two values of or-3, and see
what would have to be to ‘join the club’.
When : ? -4

When : ?
 y
Draw the graph of a
4
line given as:
𝑥 + 𝑦 =4 3

x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

-2

-3

-4
Warm up:

a) What’s the gradient of the line?

b) What’s the y-intercept of this
line?
c) Write the equation of the line.
d) Write the points where the line
intercepts the x-axis and y-axis
 y

1 3
𝑚= ?
2 𝑚=3
2 ?

x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1 𝑚=3?
1
𝑚= ?
2 -2

Find the gradients of

-3 each pair of parallel
lines. What do you
-4 notice?
 y

?
m = 1/2 3 ?
m = -1/3

m=3?
x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

m = -2?
-2

Find the gradients of

-3 each pair of
perpendicular lines.
-4 What do you notice?
Perpendicular Lines
The gradients of parallel lines are equal.
! If two lines are perpendicular, then the gradient of one is the negative
reciprocal of the other.

To show that two lines are perpendicular:

Gradient Gradient of Perpendicular Line

?
-4 ?
?
?
?
?
Example Problems
1 Are the following lines parallel, perpendicular, or neither?

Neither. Gradients are and . But , not -1, so not perpendicular.

?
A line goes through the point (9,10) and is perpendicular to another line with
equation . What is the equation of the line?
2

? line is perpendicular to and

A line goes through the points and . A second
passes through point B. Where does cross the x-axis?
3

?
 Parallel and perpendicular lines - practice questions (
1 Are the following lines parallel, perpendicular 4
or neither? Find the equation of the line which
Parallel ? passes through B, and is perpendicular to
Neither
Perpendicular
? the line passing through both A and B.

? ?
A line is parallel to and goes through the Line has the equation . Line goes
2 point . What is its equation? through the points and . Are the lines
5
parallel, perpendicular, or neither?
?
A line goes through the indicated point and is so perpendicular.
3 perpendicular to another line . Determine the
equation of in each case. ?
? Extension
6
?
𝑙

+5
?

3𝑥
𝑦=
?
𝑥
? Determine the equation of the line .
?
Exercise 5
𝑦 9 [AQA IGCSEFM June 2012 Paper 1 Q11]
7
is a kite.
𝑦=
−
2𝑥 𝑙
+4

𝑥
Determine the equation of the line .
Known point on :

So equation of : ?

a) Work out the equation of .

8
Find the equation of the line passing
through and is perpendicular to the ? of .
b) Work out the coordinates
line passing through and , giving Intersection of and
your answer in the form , where are
integers.

?
?
Exercise 5
N Suppose is the origin, and .
Prove that is a kite.
(Hint: you need to prove two things as part of this.)

a) Prove that is perpendicular to :

perpendicular.

b) Prove that where is the point of intersection of the two ‘diagonals’

and , i.e. the quadrilateral has a line of symmetry.

Equation of :
Equation of
?
and thus the kite has a line of symmetry.
Mixed Exercises (On provided sheet)

1 Line passes through the points and . 4 a) Find the gradient of the line with
Line has the equation . Do the lines equation .
intersect?
but . Since , the lines are not parallel ?
and thus must intersect. b) Prove that and
? are perpendicular.
is the point and is the point .
a) Find the coordinates of the midpoint
2 of . ?
A line passes through the points and .
Find the equation of the line in the form:
b) Find the distance to 2 dp. 5 a)
b) where are integers.
?
Line has the equation and line the ?
?
equation . Find the coordinates of the Find the coordinates of the points where
point at which they intersect. crosses:
3 c) The -axis.
d) The -axis. ?
6

? ?
?
Mixed Exercises
7 [Edexcel] 8 𝑦

𝑥
4

Determine the equation of this line,

putting your answer in the form ,
is a square. and are points on the -axis. is where are integers.
a point on the -axis. is a straight line. The
equation of the line that passes through
the points and is . Find the length of ?
Point : . Point :
Equation of :
Therefore

?
Mixed Exercises (On provided sheet)

9 A triangle consists of the points , and . is a right angle.

Determine the equation of the line passing through
and , leaving your answer in the form , where are
integers.

Gradient of line passing through :

Equation of :

Therefore:

Equation of :
?