UNIT 17.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY
17.1 DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS
In order to find the distance between two points with known coordinates, we can make use of
Pythagoras theorem.
𝑦

𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )

x
𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) N

𝐴𝐵 2 = 𝐴𝑁 2 + 𝐵𝑁 2
𝐴𝐵 2 = (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 + (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2

𝐴𝐵 = √(𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 + (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2
The distance between two points (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) is given by

𝒅 = √(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒙𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐
Example 17.1
Find the distance between the points 𝐴(−2,5) and 𝐵(1, −1)
Solution
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) = (−2,5) and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) = (1, −1)

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2

𝑑 = √(1 + 2)2 + (−1 − 5)2

𝑑 = √(3)2 + (−6)2

𝑑 = √45

𝑑 = √9 √5 =3√5
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17.2 MID - POINT OF A LINE

𝑄(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 )
●

●M

● 𝑃(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
If M is half way between P and Q, then the coordinates are:
𝒙𝟏 +𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟏 +𝒚𝟐
M=( , )
𝟐 𝟐

Example 17.2

Find the midpoint of (3,4)and (−11,2)

Solution
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2
Midpoint = ( , )
2 2

3 − 11 4 + 2
=( , )
2 2
−8 6
=( , )
2 2

= (−4 , 3)

Example 17.3

If (−2,1) is the mid-point of AB, where 𝐴 is (−3,2). Find the co-ordinates of B.

Solution
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2
Midpoint = ( , )
2 2

−3 + 𝑥2 2 + 𝑦2
(−2,1) = ( , )
2 2
−3 + 𝑥2 2 + 𝑦2
= −2 , =1
2 2
W.SAKALA MA110 LECTURE NOTES SMNS CBU 2022/2023 TERM 2
 𝑥2 = −1 𝑦2 = 0

𝐵 (−1,0)

17.3 DIVIDING OF A LINE IN ANY RATIO

If the point T divides PQ in the ratio 𝑚: 𝑛 then the coordinates of T are given by
𝑚 𝑥2 + 𝑛 𝑥1 𝑚 𝑦2 + 𝑛 𝑦1
𝑇=( , )
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

●
𝑄(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 )
n
T ●

●
𝑃(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
Example 17.3
𝑃𝑋 3
A point 𝑋, lies on the line joining 𝑃(4, −1)and 𝑄(3,7). If = 2 , find the coordinates of 𝑋.
𝑋𝑄

Solution
𝑄(3,7)
2
X ●
3
𝑃(4, −1)
A ratio is often expressed as a fraction so 𝑃𝑋: 𝑋𝑄 = 3: 2
(4, −1) = (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) and (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) = (3,7) then 𝑚 = 3 and 𝑛 = 2
𝑚 𝑥2 + 𝑛 𝑥1 𝑚 𝑦2 + 𝑛 𝑦1
𝑇=( , )
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

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 3(4) + 2(3) 3(−1) + 2(7)
𝑇=( , )
3+2 3+2
18 11
𝑇=( , )
5 5
3 1
𝑇 = (3 ,2 )
5 5
3 1
Hence X is given by (3 5 , 2 5)

Example 17.4
Find the coordinate of the point 𝑝(𝑥, 𝑦) that divides the line joining 𝐴(−2,5) and 𝐵(4,2)
In the ratio 2:1 if
a) it is done internally
b) it is done externally
Solution
𝑚 𝑥2 +𝑛 𝑥1 𝑚 𝑦2 +𝑛 𝑦1
( , ) Internally.
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

𝑚 𝑥2 −𝑛 𝑥1 𝑚 𝑦2 −𝑛 𝑦1
( , ) Externally.
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

17.4 AREA OF A TRIANGLE

The area of a triangle is given by the formula;
𝟏
Area=|𝟐 [𝒙𝟏 (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟑 ) + 𝒙𝟐 (𝒚𝟑 − 𝒚𝟏 ) + 𝒙𝟑 (𝒚𝟏 − 𝒚𝟐 )]|

The modulus sign ensures that you get a positive answer.

Example 17.4
Find the area of a triangle given by the points (1,3) , (2, −1) and (4,6)
Solution
It doesn’t matter in which order you letter the points so if (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) = (1,3) , (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) = (2, −1)
,(𝑥3 , 𝑦3 ) = (4,6). Then
1
A=|2 [𝑥1 (𝑦2 − 𝑦3 ) + 𝑥2 (𝑦3 − 𝑦1 ) + 𝑥3 (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 ]|
1
=|2 [ 1(−1 − 6) + 2( 6 − 3) + 4(3 − (−1)]|
1
=|2 [(−7) + 2( 3) + 4(4)]|

W.SAKALA MA110 LECTURE NOTES SMNS CBU 2022/2023 TERM 2

 1
= |2 [(−7) + 6 + 16]|
15
=| 2 |

= 7.5 square units.

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17.5 THE PERPENDICULAR DISTANCE OF A POINT FROM A STRAIGHT LINE

If the given equation of a straight line is written in the form 𝒂𝒙 + 𝒃𝒚 + 𝒄 = 𝟎, then the
perpendicular distance of a point 𝒑(𝒉, 𝒌) from this line is given by

𝑎ℎ + 𝑏𝑘 + 𝑐
⊥ 𝑑 = || ||
√𝑎2 + 𝑏2

and the distance between two parallel lines 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐1 and 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐2 is given by

|𝒄𝟐 − 𝒄𝟏 |
⊥𝑑=
√𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐

where m is the gradient and c is the y-intercept.

NOTE; That parallel lines have equal gradient.
Example 17.5
Find the perpendicular distance 𝑑 from the point 𝑝(2, −5) to the line 4𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 7
Solution
4𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 7
−3𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 7 = 0
𝑎 = −3 , 𝑏 = 4 , 𝑐 = −7
𝑝(ℎ, 𝑘) = 𝑝(2, −5)

W.SAKALA MA110 LECTURE NOTES SMNS CBU 2022/2023 TERM 2

 |𝑎ℎ + 𝑏𝑘 + 𝑐|
⊥𝑑=
√𝑎2 + 𝑏2

| − 3(2) + 4(−5) + (−7)|

=
√(−3)2 + 42

−𝟑𝟑 𝟑𝟑
=| |= units
√𝟐𝟓 𝟓

Example 17.6
Find the perpendicular distance between two parallel lines 3𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 5 = 0 and
3𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 7 = 0
Solution
3
𝑚= , 𝑐 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐2 = 7
4 1
|𝑐2 − 𝑐1 |
⊥𝑑=
2
√1 + (3)
4

|5 − 7|
⊥𝑑=
9
√1 + ( )
16

| − 2|
⊥𝑑=
25
√( )
16

2
⊥𝑑= 5
(4)

2
⊥𝑑=
5

W.SAKALA MA110 LECTURE NOTES SMNS CBU 2022/2023 TERM 2