Name: _____________________________

Analytic
Geometry Unit Outline:

a. Overview: Terms and Formulas

b. Midpoint and Perpendicular Bisector of a Line
c. Length of a line segment
d. The Equation of a Circle
e. Classifying Geometric Figures
Analytic Geometry: Terms and Formulas
“Analytic Geometry” is using algebra to analyze geometric properties of
shapes. The connection between the algebra and the geometry is through
formulas which use the coordinates of points.

Some Terms
Line Segment – A part of a line between two points. For example

shows line segment 𝐴𝐵

Midpoint – The point in the middle of a line segment

𝑀𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷(𝑥, 𝑦)

Median – A line segment in a triangle from one vertex

to the midpoint of the opposite side

𝐴𝐷 is a median of triangle ABC. D is the midpoint of 𝐵𝐶

Midsegment – A midsegment is a line segment inside a triangle which joins the midpoints of two sides
of the triangle.

If P is the midpoint of 𝐿𝑀, and

Q is the midpoint of 𝑀𝑁, then
𝑃𝑄 is a midsegment of triangle LMN

Note: The slope of 𝑃𝑄 is equal to

the slope of 𝐿𝑁

Perpendicular Bisector – A line which cuts a line segment in half, and

which is also perpendicular to that line segment.

Note that point P is the midpoint of 𝑀𝑁, and that the slope
of line l is the negative reciprocal of the slope of 𝑀𝑁

Altitude – A line segment inside a triangle from one vertex,

and perpendicular to the opposite side

𝐴𝐷is an altitude of triangle ABC

 The slope of 𝐴𝐷 is the negative reciprocal of the
slope of 𝐵𝐶

Formulas

Slope of a line (or line segment) – Given two points on a line 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )and 𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), then

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Equation of a line – To determine the equation of a line you need two pieces of information: you need
a slope and a point (or two points, and then you would calculate the slope using the slope formula). The
equation is:

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 (slope-intercept form), or

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) (slope-point form)

Midpoint – Given a line segment 𝐴𝐵 with endpoints 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )and 𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), then

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
𝑀𝐴𝐵
´ = ( , )
2 2

Length of a line segment (or distance between two points) - Given a line segment 𝐴𝐵 with endpoints
𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )and 𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), then the length of 𝐴𝐵 is given by:

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2

Equation of a Circle (with centre (0,0)) – A circle centered at the origin, and with radius r has the
equation
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2.
2.0 Writing Equations
Determine the equation of the line that:

a) passes through (-1, 7) and (2, 14) b) is Perpendicular to y= − 2x − 3and passes

through (2, -5)

Practice:

c) passes through (3, 4) and (-2, -7)

d) parallel to m = 3 and passes through (1, 3)

e) is perpendicular to y= − 2x − 3and passes (3, 4)

f) is parallel to 2x − 3y = 8and passes through (2, -5)

2.1 Midpoint and Perpendicular Bisector of a Line
Find the Midpoint of a line – The point in the middle of a line segment

Question: If you scored a 70% on a test and then an 82% on the next test, what is the average of
those tests?

𝑥 +𝑥
1 2 𝑦 +𝑦
𝑀𝐴𝐵´ =( , 1 2)Similarly, the coordinates of the midpoint (M) of a line is the midpoint (average)
2 2
of the x-values and the midpoint of the y-values

𝑀𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷(𝑥, 𝑦)

Examples
1) From your text: Pg. 78 #2a
Determine the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment.

2) From your text: Pg. 74 Example 2

Find the equation of a Median
A line segment in a triangle from one vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side.

3) From your text: Pg. 79 #7

Find the Perpendicular Bisector – A line which cuts a line segment in half, and which is also
perpendicular to that line segment. Perpendicular therefore have slopes where m2 is the negative
3 2
reciprocal of m1 m1 = 2 m2 = − 3

From your text: Pg. 80 #13a

Class/Homework: Pg78 – 79 # 2-8, 11, 13

2.2 – Length of a line segment (distance between two
points)
´ with endpoints 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )and
Given a line segment 𝐴𝐵 𝐵 (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), then the length of 𝐴𝐵
is given by:

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 think Pythagorean Theorem

a2 + b2 = c2

Example: Find the length of the line from ( 1, 2 ) to (-5 , 7) 𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
Example (From your Text: Pg. 87 #12a)
Calculate the distance between the line and the point. y = 4x – 2 (-3, 3)

The shortest distance is a line perpendicular to y=4x - 2

Step 1 find m1 and m2

Step 2 find the equation of the perpendicular line
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 (slope-intercept form), or
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) (slope-point form)

Step 3 Find the POI of the two lines. Solve the system by
graphing, substitution or elimination

Step 4 Find the length of the line from the POI to (-3, 3)
𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2

Class/Homework: Pg 86 – 87 #2bc, 3, 5ace, 7 (Calculate two lengths!), 9, 12, 14 Draw Pictures for
the problems that need them
2.3 – The Equation of a Circle centered at  0,0
Analytic Definition of a Circle (i.e. the equation)
A Circle is a set of points which are all the same distance from a central point.

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2

Example 2.3.1
Determine the radius of the circle. Set y
= 0.
x2  y 2  16

Example 2.3.2
 Consider the sketch of a circle. Determine:
a) x intercepts
b) y intercepts
c) the radius of the circle
d) the equation of the circle

Example 2.3.3
2
r 5
Determine the equation of a circle with radius 3.

Example 2.3.4
Sketch the circle with equation
x2  y 2  0.09
Example 2.3.5
Determine the equation of a circle with center at  0, 0  and a diameter of 14 units.

Example 2.3.6
A  4.3, 2.6 
Determine whether the point is inside, outside or on the circle with equation
x 2  y 2  25

What about the point

 3, 4  ?

Example 2.3.7
Determine the equation of a circle with center
 0, 0  which passes through the point
 7, 3 .

1-7,11-15

Class/Homework
Pg. 91 – 93 #1-7
10 (Remember: The Circumference of a circle is given by ), 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 (Optional)
2.4 – Classifying Geometric Figures
There are so many geometric figures that it’s ridiculous. But we now know enough Analytic Geometry
that we can easily do the “classification”. We are really only going to worry about two “classes”:
Triangle and Quadrilaterals

You need to know the following types of Triangles and Quadrilaterals:

Note: When trying to “classify” some geometric figure using analytic geometry, keep in mind
the following three “rules of thumb”:
Example 2.4.1
From your text – Pg. 101 #2

Example 2.4.2
From your text – Pg. 101 #3
Example 2.4.3
From your text – Pg. 101 #4
Classifying Geometric Figures
Shape What are you looking for when trying to classify each geometric shape?
What formulas/calculations would you use to prove it?
Equilateral Triangles

Isosceles Triangle

Scalene Triangles

Right angle Triangles

Parallelogram

Rectangle

Rhombus

Square

Irregular quadrilateral

Trapezoid

Isosceles Trapezoid

Kite

Class/Homework Pg. 102 - 103 #5 – 14, 16 – 18