578 Straight Line

Chapter

15
Straight Line

n
(6) Slope of two parallel lines are equal.
Definition
.i(7) If m1 and m 2 be the slopes of two perpendicular
al
The straight line is a curve such that every point on lines, then m1.m2  1 .
the line segment joining any two points on it lies on it.
(8) m can be defined as tan  for 0     and
The simplest locus of a point in a plane is a straight
n

line. A line is determined uniquely by any one of the   .
following: 2
ur

(1) Two different points (because we know the

Equations of straight line in different forms
axiom that one and only one straight line passes
o

through two given points). (1) Slope form : Equation of a line through the
(2) A point and a given direction. origin and having slope m is y = mx.
uj

Slope (Gradient) of a line (2) One point form or Point slope form : Equation
of a line through the point (x1, y1 ) and having slope m is
The trigonometrical tangent of the angle that a line
Ed

makes with the positive direction of the x-axis in y  y1  m (x  x1 ) .

anticlockwise sense is called the slope or gradient of (3) Slope intercept form : Equation of a line (non-
the line. The slope of a line is generally denoted by m. vertical) with slope m and cutting off an intercept c on
Thus, m = tan  . the y-axis is y  mx  c .
Y
Y Y
B

B
B c

  X' X
X X X A O
A O X
O A
Y Y'
Y

(1) Slope of line parallel to x – axis is m  tan 0 o  0 . The equation of a line with slope m and the x-
(2) Slope of line parallel to y – axis is intercept d is y  m(x  d ) .
m  tan 90 o   . (4) Intercept form : If a straight line cuts x-axis at
(3) Slope of the line equally inclined with the axes A and the y-axis at B then OA and OB are known as the
is 1 or – 1. intercepts of the line on x- Y
(4) Slope of the line through the points A(x1 , y1 ) and axis and y-axis respectively.
y 2  y1 Then, equation of a B
B(x 2 , y 2 ) is taken in the same order.
x 2  x1 straight line cutting off b
a intercepts a and b on x–axis A
(5) Slope of the line ax  by  c  0, b  0 is  . X'
O a
X
b
Y'
 Straight Line 579
x y The value of  in both cases is obtained with the
and y–axis respectively is  1.
a b help of additional information given in the problem.
(3) If the equation of line be a sin   b cos   c , then
If given line is parallel to X axis, then X-intercept is
line
undefined.
(i) Parallel to it, a sin   b cos   d
If given line is parallel to Y axis, then Y-intercept is
   
undefined. (ii) Perpendicular to it, a sin     b cos      d .
 2   2 
(5) Two point form: Equation of the line through
the points A (x1, y1 ) and B(x 2 , y2 ) is, General equation of a straight line and its
y 2  y1 transformation in standard forms
(y  y1 )  (x  x1 ) .
x 2  x1 General form of equation of a line is ax  by  c  0 ,
In the determinant form it is gives Y
as its
L
a c
x y 1 B (1) Slope intercept form: y x , slope
(x2, b b
x1 y1 1 = 0
y2) a c
x2 y2 1 m and intercept on y-axis is, C   .
b b
is the equation of line. X x y
O
A (2) Intercept form :   1 , x intercept is
(x1,y1 c/a c/b
)
 c  c

n
(6) Normal or perpendicular form : The equation =    and y intercept is =   .
of the straight line upon which the length of the  a  b
perpendicular from the origin is p and this
perpendicular makes an Y angle  with x-axis is .i
(3) Normal form : To change the general form of a
al
line into normal form, first take c to right hand side
x cos   y sin   p . and make it positive, then divide the whole equation by
a 2  b 2 like
n
B
p P ax by c
   
ur

X' X
,
O A a b
2 2
a b
2 2
a  b2
2

a
Y' where cos    ,
o

a  b2
2
uj

b c
(7) Symmetrical or parametric or distance form sin    ,p
of the line : Equation of a line passing through (x1, y1 ) a b
2 2
a  b2
2

and making an angle  with the positive direction of x-

Ed

x  x1 y  y1 Point of intersection of two lines

axis is   r , where r is the distance
cos  sin  Point of intersection of two lines a1 x  b1y  c1 =0 and
between the point P (x, y)Y and A(x1 , y1 ) . a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 is given by
(x1,y1r
) A 
P(x,  b1 b2 c1 c2 
y)  
 b1c2  b2c1 c1a2  c2 a1   c1 c2 a1 a2 
(x , y )   ,  
 , 
  a1b2  a2b1 a1b2  a2b1   a1 a2 a1 a2
X' X 
O  b1 b2 b1 b2 
 
Y'
General equation of lines through the intersection
The co-ordinates of any point on this line may be of two given lines
taken as (x 1  r cos  , y1  r sin  ) , known as parametric co-
If equation of two lines P  a1 x  b1y  c1  0 and
ordinates. ‘r’ is called the parameter.
Q  a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 , then the equation of the lines
Equation of parallel and perpendicular lines to a passing through the point of intersection of these lines
given line is P   Q  0 or a1 x  b1 y  c1  (a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2 )  0 . Value
(1) Equation of a line which is parallel to of  is obtained with the help of the additional
ax  by  c  0 is ax  by    0 . information given in the problem.
(2) Equation of a line which is perpendicular to Angle between two non-parallel lines
ax  by  c  0 is bx  ay    0 .
 580 Straight Line
If  be the angle between the lines y  m 1 x  c1 and The bisector of the angle containing the origin
means the bisector of the angle between the lines
m1  m 2
y  m2 x  c2 and intersecting at A. Then,   tan 1 . which contains the origin within it.
1  m1m 2
(1) To find the acute and obtuse angle bisectors :
If  is angle between two lines, then    is also the angle Let  be the angle between one of the lines and one of
between them. the bisectors given by (i). Find tan  . If | tan  |  1 , then
(1) Angle between two straight lines when their this bisector is the bisector of acute angle and the other
equations are given : The angle  between the lines one is the bisector of the obtuse angle.
a1 x  b1y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 is given by,
If | tan  | > 1, then this bisector is the bisector of
a2b1  a1b 2
tan   . obtuse angle and other one is the bisector of the acute
a1a2  b1b 2 angle.
(2) Conditions for two lines to be coincident, (2) Method to find acute angle bisector and
parallel, perpendicular and intersecting : Two lines obtuse angle bisector
a1 x  b1y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are, (i) Make the constant term positive, if not.
a1 b1 c1 (ii) Now determine the sign of the expression
(a) Coincident, if  
a2 b2 c2 a1a2  b1b2 .
a1 b1 c1 (iii) If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the bisector
(b) Parallel, if  
a2 b2 c2 corresponding to “+” sign gives the obtuse angle
bisector and the bisector corresponding to “–” sign is

n
a1 b
(c) Intersecting, if  1 the bisector of acute angle
a2 b 2
(d) Perpendicular, if a1a2  b1b2  0
.i
between the lines.
(iv) If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then
L1
al
the bisector corresponding to Acute
Equation of straight line through a given point bisector
“+” and “–” sign given the
n
making a given angle with a given line acute and obtuse angle
bisectors respectively.
ur

The equation of the straight lines which pass

L2
through a given point (x1, y1 ) and make a given angle  Bisectors are
Obtuse
with given straight line y  mx  c are, perpendicular to each other. bisector
o

m  tan  If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the origin lies in obtuse

y  y1  (x  x1 ) .
1  m tan 
uj

angle and if a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the origin lies in acute

Equations of the bisectors of the angles between angle.
Ed

two straight lines Length of perpendicular

The equation of the bisectors of the angles between (1) Distance of a point from a line : The length p
the lines a1 x  b1y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are given of the perpendicular from the point (x1 , y1 ) to the line
by, | ax 1  by 1  c |
ax  by  c  0 is given by p  .
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2 a2  b 2
 .....(i)
a12  b12 a22  b 22  Length of perpendicular from origin to the line
c
Algorithm to find the bisector of the angle ax  by  c  0 is .
containing the origin : Let the equations of the two a  b2
2

lines a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 . To find the

 Length of perpendicular from the point (x1 , y1 )
bisector of the angle containing the origin, we proceed
to the line x cos   y sin   p is | x 1 cos   y1 sin  p | .
as follows:
Step I : See whether the constant terms c 1 and c 2 (2) Distance between two parallel lines : Let the
two parallel lines be ax  by  c1  0 and ax  by  c2  0 .
in the equations of two lines positive or not. If not,
then multiply both the sides of the equation by –1 to First Method: The distance between the lines is
make the constant term positive. | c1  c2 |
d . ax + by + c1 = 0
Step II : Now obtain the bisector corresponding to (a 2  b 2 )
a x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2
the positive sign i.e., 1  . d
a12  b12 a22  b 22

This is the required bisector of the angle containing

ax + by + c2 = 0
the origin.
 Straight Line 581
Second method : The three lines a1 x  b1y  c1  0 ,
Second Method: The distance between the lines is a2 x  b2y  c2  0 and a3 x  b3 y  c3  0 are concurrent if,

d , ax + by + c1 = 0 a1 b1 c1
(a  b 2 )
2
a2 b2 c2  0 .
a3 b3 c3
ax + by + c2 = 0 Third method : The condition for the lines P  0 ,
Q  0 and R  0 to be concurrent is that three constants
O (0, 0)
a, b, c (not all zero at the same time) can be obtained
where (i)  | c1  c2 | , if they be on the same side of such that aP  bQ  cR  0 .
origin. Reflection on the surface
(ii)  | c1 |  | c2 | , if the origin O lies between
Here, IP = Incident Ray I N R
them.

Norma
Third method : Find the coordinates of any point PN = Normal to the surface

l
on one of the given line, preferably putting x  0 or PR = Reflected Ray
y  0 . Then the perpendicular

ax + by + c1 = 0
distance of this point from the Then, IPN  NPR 
Tangen
other line is the required .O (0, 0) P t
distance between the lines. Surfac
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection e
Distance between two

n
ax + by + c2 = 0
parallel lines Image of a point in different cases
c
c1  2
k .i
(1) The image of a point with respect to the line
al
ax  by  c1  0 , kax  kby  c2  0 is . Distance mirror The image of A(x1 , y1 ) with respect to the line
a  b2
2
A (x1,by,
mirror ax  by  c  0 be B (h, k) is given y1)
between two non parallel lines is always zero. ax+by+c =
n
h  x1 k  y1 2(ax1  by 1  c) 0
Position of a point with respect to a line  
a b a2  b 2
ur

Let the given line be ax  by  c  0 and observing

point is (x1 , y1 ) , then
o

B(h,k
(i) If the same sign is found by putting in equation ) :
uj

(2) The image of a point with respect to x-axis

of line x  x1, y  y1 and x  0 , y  0 then the point Let P(x , y ) be any point and P (x , y) its image after
(x1 , y1 ) is situated on the same side of origin. reflection in the x-axis, then x  = x
Ed

(ii) If the opposite sign is found by putting in y  = – y, (  O is the mid point of P and P )
equation of line x  x 1 , y  y1 and x  0 , y  0 then the Y
point (x1 , y1 ) is situated opposite side to origin.

Position of two points with respect to a line P(x,

y)
Two points (x 1 , y 1 ) and (x 2 , y 2 ) are on the same side
or on the opposite side of the straight line ax  by  c  0 X
O O
according as the values of ax1  by1  c and ax 2  by 2  c
are of the same sign or opposite sign. (3) The image of a point withP(x, respect to y-axis :
Let P(x, y) be any point and Py) (x , y) its image after
Concurrent lines reflection in the y-axis, then x  x
Three or more lines are said to be concurrent lines y  y , (  O is the mid point of P and
if they meet at a point. P ) Y
First method : Find the point of intersection of any
two lines by solving them simultaneously. If the point
satisfies the third equation also, then the given lines P(x,
P (x,y)
are concurrent. y)
O

X X
O

Y
 582 Straight Line
 If three points A, B, C are collinear, then

(4) The image of a point with respect to the Slope of AB = Slope of BC = Slope of AC.
origin : Let P(x , y ) be any point and P(x , y) be its
 Equation of x-axis  y = 0.
image after reflection through the origin, then x  x
Equation a line parallel to x-axis (or
y    y ,(  O is the mid point of perpendicular to y-axis) at a distance ‘b’ from it
P, P ).  y b.
Y
 Equation of y-axis  x = 0
P(x, y)
Equation of a line parallel to y-axis (or
perpendicular to x-axis) at a distance ‘a’ from it
X N
O M X  x a.

 Area of the triangle formed by the lines

P(x, y)
1 (c  c 2 )2
y  m1 x  c1 , y  m 2 x  c 2 , y  m 3 x  c3 is  1 .
Y 2 m1  m 2

(5) The image of a point with respect to the line  Area of the triangle made
the line by
y = x : Let P(x, y) be any point and P(x , y) be its image
c2

n
after reflection in the line y  x , then x   y ax  by  c  0 with the co-ordinate axes is .
2 | ab |

and P ).
y   x , (  O is the mid point of P

.iArea of the rhombus formed by the lines
al
Y 2c 2
ax  by  c  0 is .
P(x, ab
n
y)
y=x O
 Area of the parallelogram formed by the lines
ur

45º P(x, y)

X X a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 ; a2 x  b 2 y  c 2  0 , a1 x  b1 y  d1 and
O
(d 1  c1 )(d 2  c 2 )
a2 x  b 2 y  d 2  0 is
o

.
a1 b 2  a 2 b1
uj

Y  The foot of the perpendicular (h, k ) from (x1 , y1 ) to

the line ax  by  c  0 is given by
Ed

(6) The image of a point with respect to the line

y = x tan  : Let P(x, y) be any point and P(x , y) be its h  x 1 k  y 1 (ax 1  by 1  c)
  . Hence, the coordinates
image after reflection in the line y  x tan  , then a b a2  b 2
of the foot of perpendicular is
x   x cos 2  y sin 2
 b 2 x 1  aby 1  ac a 2 y 1  abx 1  bc 
y   x sin 2  y cos 2 , ( O is the mid point of P  , .
 a2  b 2 a2  b 2 
 
and P )
Y p1 p 2
 Area of parallelogram A  , where p1 and
P(x, sin 
y)
O p2 are the distances between parallel sides and  is
y=x tan 
 P(x, the angle between two adjacent sides.
X y) X
O
 The equation of a line whose mid-point is (x 1 , y1 )
x y
in between the axes is  2.
x 1 y1
Y
 The equation of a straight line which makes a
triangle with the axes of centroid (x 1 , y1 ) is
x y
 1 .
3 x 1 3 y1
 Straight Line 583
(c) x  y  1  0 (d) x  y  2  0

Slope of line, Equation of line in different forms

1. Slope of a line which cuts intercepts of equal

lengths on the axes is [MP PET 1986]
(a) – 1 (b) 0
(c) 2 (d) 3
2. If the coordinates of the points A and B be (3, 3)
and (7, 6), then the length of the portion of the
line AB intercepted between the axes is
5 10
(a) (b)
4 4
13
(c) (d) None of these
3
3. If the line 2 x  3 y  5 and y  mx  c be parallel,

n
then
(a) m = 2/3, c = 5
(b) m = – 2/3, c = 5
.i
al
(c) m = – 2/3, c = any real number
(d) None of these
4. The line (3 x  y  5)  (2 x  3 y  4 )  0 will be
n
parallel to y-axis, if  =
ur

1 1
(a) (b)
3 3
3
o

3
(c) (d)
2 2
uj

5. If the transversal y = mr x; r = 1, 2, 3 cut off equal

intercepts on the transversal x  y  1, then
Ed

1  m1 , 1  m 2 , 1  m 3 are in
(a) A. P. (b) G. P.
(c) H. P. (d) None of these
6. The gradient of the line joining the points on the
curve y  x 2  2 x whose abscissa are 1 and 3, is
[MP PET 1997]
(a) 6 (b) 5
(c) 4 (d) 3
7. The parallelism condition for two straight lines
one of which is specified by the equation
ax  by  c  0 the other being represented
parametrically by x   t   , y   t   is given by
[AMU 2000]
(a)   b   0 ,     c  0
(b) a  b   0 ,     0
(c) a  b   0
(d) a  b   0
8. The equation of the straight line which passes
through the point (1, – 2) and cuts off equal
intercepts from axes, is
[MNR 1978]
(a) x  y  1 (b) x  y  1