4.

ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY
Gradient Formula
Angle of Inclination
Collinear Points
Equations of Straight Lines
Distance Formula
Midpoint Formula
1
GRADIENT FORMULA
x
y
A
A
=
A(x
2
;y
2
)
B(x
1
;y
1
)
1 2
1 2
x x
y y

=
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
2
Example
Calculate the gradient of AB.
A(6;4)
B(-7;-1)
1 2
1 2
x x
y y

=
) 7 ( 6
) 1 ( 4


=
13
5
=
m(AB)
Calculating the Gradient
3
Example:
If the gradient of the line joining A(-3;-2) and
B(4 ;y) is 6, calculate y.
1 2
1 2
x x
y y
m

=
) 3 ( 4
) 2 (
6


=
y
7
2
6
+
=
y
-42 = y + 2
y = - 44
Solving for y
so need an equation
4
ANGLE OF INCLINATION
A(2;1)
B(-2;5)
1 2
1 2
x x
y y

=
) 2 ( 2
) 1 ( 5


=
m(AB)
m = tan
= - 1
tan = - 1
Q 2 , 4
Ref Z = 45
0

= 135
0

WHY ?

Practising Angle of Inclination
5
6
7
COLLINEAR POINTS
Show that the line through the points A(4;3),
B(-5;6) and C(22;-3) are collinear.
1 2
1 2
x x
y y

=
m (AB)
1 2
1 2
x x
y y

=
) 5 ( 4
6 3

=
3
1
=
3
1
=
m(CA)
) 4 ( 22
3 3

=
m(AB) = m(AC) and point A is common
A , B and C are collinear.
Collinear Points
8
EQUATIONS OF STRAIGHT LINES
In order to find the equation of a line, two facts
are required:

i) the gradient which can be found by:
- 2 points on the line
- equation of a line that is parallel or
perpendicular to another line
- the angle of inclination

Recap: Properties of a Straight Line
9
In order to find the equation of a line, two facts
are required
ii) the co-ordinates of a point on the line.

Find the Equations of Straight Lines
Determining whether Straight Lines are Parallel or
Perpendicular
10
Example:
Find the equation of the line perpendicular to
2y + 3x = 2 and passing through ( 2;-1).
m( ) =
3
2

3
1
2
3
2
3
1
2
) 2 (
3
2
1
) 1 ; 2 .(
3
2
=
=
+ =

+ =
x y
c
c
Subst
c x y
Finding the Equation of Perpendicular Lines
Finding the Equation of Parallel Lines
11
Example:
Find the equation of the line joining the points
A( 1; -2) and B(-3; 4).
) (
2
3
) 2 ; 1 (
1 1
x x y y = e
1 3
) 2 ( 4


= m
2
3
4
6
=

= m
1. Find gradient 2. Substitute the gradient
and one point
) 1 (
2
3
) 2 ( = x y
) 1 ( 3 ) 2 ( 2 = + x y
3 3 4 2 + = + x y
1 2
1 2
x x
y y
m

=
12
DISTANCE FORMULA
AB
2
= BC
2
+ AC
2
(pythag)
= ( x
2
x
1
)
2
+ ( y
2
y
1
)
2

A(x
2
;y
2
)
B(x
1
;y
1
)
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
C
( ) ( )
2
1 2
2
1 2
y y x x AB + =
13
Example:
Determine the length of the line joining the
points X( 6;4) and Y( -2;1).

( ) ( )
2 2
1 4 ) 2 ( 6 + =
AB =
( ) ( )
2
1 2
2
1 2
y y x x +
( ) ( )
2 2
3 8 + =
73 =
Equidistant Problem
14
Example:
Determine x if the length of line joining A(x;1)
and B( -1;3) is 2 .
( ) ( )
2 2
3 1 ) 1 ( 2 2 + = x
AB =
( ) ( )
2
1 2
2
1 2
y y x x +
( ) ( )
2 2
2 1 2 2 + + = x
8 = x
2
+2 x + 5
x
2
+2x 3 = 0
SQUARE
both sides
8 = x
2
+ 2x + 1 + 4
2
( x + 3 )(x 1 ) = 0
x 3 or x = 1
15
MIDPOINT FORMULA
2
1 2
x x +
A(x
2
;y
2
)
B(x
1
;y
1
)
M( ; )
2
1 2
x x +
2
1 2
y y +
C
2
1 2
y y +
16
Example:
Calculate the co-ordinates of the midpoint M of
the line joining the points A(-2;3) and B(4; -3).
2
1 2
x x +
M( ; )
2
3 3+
2
1 2
y y +
2
4 2 +
M( ; )
M( 1 ; 0)
Midpoint Calculator
17
Example:
Given M(1; 0) is the midpoint of the line joining
the points A(-2;3) and B(p; q), determine p and q.
2
1 2
x x
x
m
+
=
3 0 + = q
2
1 2
y y
y
m
+
=
2
) 2 (
1

=
p
2 2 + = p
0 = p
2
3
0
+
=
q
3 = q
GeoGebra: Analytical Geometry Tool
18