CHAPTER 6: COORDINATE GEOMETRY
6.1 Distance between Two Points
A (x1, y1) and C (x2, y2) are two points on a coordinate plane as shown below. BC is
parallel to the x-axis and AB is parallel to the y-axis. Thus, ABC = 90.
y
A (x1, y1)
y2 - y1
C (x2, y2)
B
x2 - x1
Distance between point A and C
(
Example 1
Find the distance between the points P (2, -2) and Q (-4, -5).
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6.2 Division of a Line Segment
Midpoints of a line segment
y
A (x2, y2)
B (x1, y1)
0
The midpoint, M of A (x1, y1) and B (x2, y2) is
(
Example 2
Given B (m 4, 3) is the midpoint of the straight line joining A (-1, n) and C (5, 8).
Find the values of m and n.
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Point that divides a line segment in the ratio m:n
y
A (x2, y2)
m
P
n
B (x1, y1)
For the point P that lies on AB such that AP:PB = m:n is
(
Example 3
The coordinate of R (2, -1) divide internally the line of AB with the ratio 3:2. If
coordinate of A is (-1, 2), find the coordinate of B.
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6.3 Areas of Polygons
Area of triangle
y
A (x1, y1)
B (x2, y2)
C (x3, y3)
x
|
|(
|
(
)|
Example 4
Calculate the area of ABC with the vertices A (-5, 5), B (-2, -4), and C (4, -1).
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Area of quadrilateral
y
D (x4, y4)
A (x1, y1)
C (x3, y3)
B (x2, y2)
x
|
|(
|
(
)|
If the points A, B and C are collinear, then the area of ABC is 0.
Example 5
Find the values of k if the points P (2, 1), Q (6, k) and R (3k, 4.5) are collinear.
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6.4 Equations of Straight Lines
Gradient of a straight line
Gradient of the line joining (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)
Gradient of the line with knowing x-intercept and y-intercept
(
Gradient of the straight line joining P and Q is equal to the tangent of angle,
where is the angle made by the straight line PQ and the positive direction of
the x-axis.
y
B (x2, y2)
(y2 - y1)
A (x1, y1)
(x2 - x1)
x
Example 6
The gradient of the line passing through point (k, 1 k) and point (-3k, -3) is 5. Find
the value of k.
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Example 7
Based on the diagram below, find the gradient of the line.
y
(10, 0)
(0, -5)
Collinear points
Gradient of a straight line is always constant.
y
C
B
A
mAB = mBC = mAC
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Equations of straight lines
Case 1:
1. The gradient and coordinates of a point are given.
2. The equation of a straight line with gradient m passes through the point
(x1, y1)
y y1 = m(x x1)
Example 8
A straight line with gradient of -3 passes through the point (-1, 5). Find the
equation of this line.
Case 2:
1. The coordinates of two points are given.
2. The equation of a straight line joining the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)
Example 9
Find the equation of the straight line joining the points (2, 4) and (5, 6).
Case 3:
1. The equation of a straight line with x-intercept, a and y-intercept, b
Example 10
Find the equation of the straight line joining the points (5, 0) and (0, -6).
Expression of gradient and the intercepts of a straight line
Gradient form
y = mx + c
General form
ax + by + c = 0
Intercept form
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6.5 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Parallel lines
If two straight lines are parallel, they have same gradient.
y
L2
L1
m1 = m2
The equation of the straight line passing through point P (x1, y1) and parallel to
the line y = mx + c
y y1 = m(x x1)
Example 11
Given that the equation of a straight line parallel to x + 8y = 40 and passes
through the point A (2, 3k) and B (-6, 4k), find the values of k.
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Perpendicular lines
If two lines are perpendicular to each other, the product of their gradients is -1.
y
L1
0
L2
m1 m2 = -1
The equation of the straight line passing through point P (x1, y1) and
perpendicular to the line y = mx + c
(
Example 12
Given that points P (-2, 4), Q (4, 2), R (-1, -3) and S (2, 6); show that PQ is
perpendicular to RS
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6.6 Locus
Equation of locus
The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a
constant distance, r from a fixed point (x1, y1)
(x x1)2 + (y y1)2 = r2
Example 13
Find the equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a
distance of 5 units from a fixed point Q (2, 4).
The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a
constant distance from two fixed points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) with a constant
ratio
(
(
) (
) (
)
)
Example 13
Find the equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always
equidistant from points A (-2, 3) and B (4, -1).
The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always
equidistant from two fixed points A and B is the perpendicular bisector of the
straight line AB.
Example 14
A (2, 0) and B (0, -2) are two fixed points. Point P moves with a ratio so that
AP:PB = 1:2. Find the equation of the locus of point P.
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