coordinate geometry
regents geometry
study guide!!
overview
1. geometry and algebra
a. formulas
b. line segments
2. lines & coordinate geo. proofs
a. equations
b. organizing proofs
3. practice questions
y
slope
x
y=mx+b
topic one:
geometry & algebra
quick review!
y
origin: point O
axes: x-axis and y-axis
II I
x
O
quadrants: regions I, II, III, IV III IV
coordinate plane: the plane of the x-axis and y-axis
to find the distance between 2 points that lie on a
horizontal line or on a vertical line, use:
y-coordinate = | y2 - y1 |
x-coordinate = | x2 - x1 |
distance formula
the distance d between points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is:
d = √(x2 - x1)2 + (y2 - y1)2
example! (-4, 2)
find the distance between points 3 d
(-4,2) and (2,-1)
6 (2, -1)
solution 1: draw a rt, Δ. the legs have lengths 6 and 3
solution 1: d2 = 62 + 32 = 36 +9 = 45
solution 1: d = √45 = √9 · √5 = 3√5
solution 2: use the distance formula
solution 2: d = √(2 - (-4))2 + ((-1) - 2)2
solution 2: d = √(62+(-3)2 = √36 + 9 = √45 = 3√5
circle equation
an equation of the circle with center (a,b) and radius r
is
example! (x - a)2 + (y - b)2 = r2
find the center and the radius of
O
the circle with equation
(1, -2)
(x - 1)2 + (y + 2)2 = 9.
sketch the graph
solution 1:
(x-1)2 + (y-(-2))2 = 32
the center is point (1,-2) and the radius is 3
slope of a line
denoted by m, is the nonvertical lines through the points
(x1,y1) and (x2,y2)
(x2, y2)
slope m = y2 - y1 y
x2 - x1 y2 - y1
(x1,
= change in y y1)
x2 - x1
change in x x
O
slope of a horizontal line is 0 slope of a vertical line is undefined
since y1 = y2, since x1 = x2,
(x1,y1)
slope 0
= y2- y1 = y2- y1
(x1,y1) (x2,y2) = x2 - x1 = x2 - x1
no slope
= 0 = y2- y1
x2- x1 01
(x2,y2) = undefined
= 0
parallel & perpendicular lines
theorem 1: 2 nonvertical lines are parallel if and only if
their slopes are equal
theorem 2: 2 nonvertical lines are perpendicular if and
only if the product of their slopes is -1
m1 · m2 = -1, or m1 = -1/m2
example: given points S(5,-1) and T(-3,3), find the slope of
every line (a) || to ST and (b) ⊥ to ST
solution: slope of ST = 3 - (-1) = 4 = - 1
solution: slope of ST = -3 - 5 -8 = - 2
a. any line || to ST has slope -½
1
b. any line ⊥ to ST has slope --½ = -1 · (-2) = 2
midpoint formula
the midpoint of the segment that joins points (x1,y1) and
x +x , y +y
(x2,y2) is the point ( 1
2 2
2
) 1 2
example!
find the midpoint of the segment that joins (-11 , 3)
and (8 , -7)
solution: the x-coordinate of the midpoint is
x1+ x2 = -11 + 8 = -3
2 2 2
solution: the y-coordinate of the midpoint is
y1+ y2 = 3 - 7 = -4 = 2
2 2 2
solution: the midpoint is (-3/2, -2)
topic two:
lines & coordinate
geometry proofs
linear equations
equation form equation advantage
when you set x=0,
you can find the y
intercept
standard form Ax + By = C when you set y=0,
you can find the x
intercepts
slope-intercept slope = m
y = mx + b y-intercept = b
form
slope = m
a point on the line
point slope form y - y1 = m(x - x1) (that is not the
y-intercept)
prove: the midpoint of the
hypotenuse of a rt. Δ is
equidistant from the 3 vertices
proof:
R (0, 2b)
let OP and OR be the x-axis
and y-axis M (a, b)
let P and R have the coordinates
shown O P (2a, 0)
then, the coordinates of M are (a,b)
MO = √(a-0)2 + (b-0)2 = √a2 + b2
MP = √(a-2a)2 + (b-0)2 = √a2 + b2
thus, MO=MP. by the definition of midpoint, MP=MR.
hence, MO = MP = MR
organizing coordinate proofs
- if you have a rt. Δ, such as the one from before,
the most convenient place to put the x-axis and
y-axis is usually along the legs of the triangle
- if the triangle is not a right triangle, the 2 most
convenient ways to place your axes are shown below
y y
(0,b) (d,e)
x x
(a,0) (c,0) O (f,0)
ΔCOD is isosceles ΔEFG is isosceles
C (a,b) E (0,b)
O D (2a,0) F G (a, 0)
HOJK is a rectangle MONP is a parallelogram
H (0,b) K M (b,c) P
O J(a,0)
O N (a,0)
ROST is a trapezoid UOVW is an isosceles
trapezoid
S (b,c) T V (b,c) W
O R (a,0) O U (a,0)
topic three:
practice questions
including questions from
past regents!
coordinate geometry
regents questions
includes answers at the end!
- triangles in the coordinate plane
- quadrilaterals in the coordinate plane 1a
- quadrilaterals in the coordinate plane 1b
- quadrilaterals in the coordinate plane 2
- circles in the coordinate plane
- practice-triangles in the coordinate plane
- practice-quadrilaterals in the coordinate plane 1
- practice-quadrilaterals in the coordinate plane 2
- practice-circles in the coordinate plane
