Mathematics

Title: Equations of Straight Line

y

x
O
Student Name: Ma Lai Har
Student I.D. No.: 98041880
Course Code: EDD 5161F
Lecturer: Dr. Lee Fong Lok
Dr. Leung Chi Hong
 Introduction
The target audience of this package is
Form Three Students whose level is
intermediate (Band 3). The package is
used in the classroom for lecturing or self-
learning. After the simple introduction of
each form of equation of straight line, an
example is given. Therefore, students can
have a deeper understanding with the
topic..
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 Two-Point Form
y B  x2 , y 2 
Given a straight line which passes x
through the points A and B, then

y 2  y1 x
P  x, y 
Slope of AB =
x2  x1 x
A x1 , y1 
If P(x, y) is any point on the line
AB, then
x
y  y1 O
Slope of PA =
x  x1
 Since PA and AB are parts of the same
straight line, then

Slope of PA = Slope of AB
y  y1 y 2  y1
i.e. =
x  x1 x2  x1
This equation is known as the Two-Point
Form of the straight line. (Go to Example 1)
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 Point-Slope Form
y
Given a straight line which x
passes through the point A and Slope = m
has m as its slope. P  x, y 

If P(x, y) is any point on the line ,

x
then
A x1 , y1 
Slope of PA =
y  y1
x
x  x1 O
 Since slope of PA equals to the slope of the
straight line, then

y  y1
= m
x  x1

i.e y  y  m x  x
1 1

.
This equation is known as the Point-Slope
Form of the straight line. (Go to Example 2)
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 Slope-Intercept Form
Given a straight line which cuts the y
y-axis at A and with slope m . x
P(x, y)
(Note: c is called the y-intercept of
the straight line.) A(0, c)
x
c
If P is any point on the line, then
x
yc O
Slope = m
Slope of PA =
x0
 Since slope of PA is equal to the slope
of the line, then by Point-Slope Form

(y - c) = m(x – 0)

i.e. y = mx + c

This equation is known as the Slope-Intercept

Form of the straight line. (Go to Example 3)
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 Intercept Form
Given a straight line which cuts y
the x-axis at A and y-axis at B.
(Note: a is called the x-intercept
of the straight line.)
B(0, b)
b0 x
Slope of AB =
0a
b xP(x, y)
= b A(a,
a 0)x x
O a
If P is any point on the line, then
y0
Slope of PA =
xa
 Since the slope of PA equals to the slope of
AB, then
y0 b
xa = a
bx + ay = ab
Dividing both sides by ab, we have

x y
 1
a b
This equation is known as the Intercept For
m of the straight line. (Go to Example 4)
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 General Form

It should be noted that all the different standard forms of

the equation of a straight line can be reduced to the form

Ax + By + C = 0

where A, B and C are constants with A and B not both zero.

This equation is known as the General

Form of a straight line.
Standard Forms of A Straight Line
A. Two-Point Form
B. Point-Slope Form
C. Slope-Intercept Form
D. Intercept Form
E. General Form
 Mathematics
Title: Equations of Straight Line
y

x
O
 Example 1 (Two-Point Form)
Find the equation of the straight y B(5, 6)
line. x
The required equation:
y3 6 3
 x
P  x, y 
x 1 5 1 x
A(1, 3)
4(y – 3) = 3(x – 1)
x
O
i.e. 3x – 4y + 9 = 0
(Note: The answer is in General Form)
 Example 2 (Point-Slope Form)
Find the equation of the straight y
line.
x
Slope = 2 P(x, y)
The required equation:

y – 3 = 2(x – 1) x
A(1, 3)
i.e. 2x – y + 1 = 0
x
O

(Note: The answer is in General Form)

 Example 3 (Slope-Intercept Form)
Find the equation of the straight y P(x, y)
line. x

The required equation:

A(0, 4) x
y = 2x + 4
x
i.e. 2x – y + 4 = 0 O
Slope = 2

(Note: The answer is in General Form)

 Example 4 (Intercept Form)
Find the equation of the straight y
line.
The required equation:
x y
 1 x
B(0, 5)
7 5
5x + 7y = 35 x P(x, y)
A(7,
0)x x
i.e. 5x + 7y – 35 = 0 O

(Note: The answer is in General Form)