MAT406

CHAPTER 5: COORDINATE GEOMETRY

5.1 Cartesian Coordinates

CHAPTER 5
COORDINATE GEOMETRY

5.1 Cartesian Coordinates

The Cartesian coordinates also known as Rectangular coordinates system consists of the
x−axis (horizontal line) and the y−axis (vertical line) that intersect at the origin (0,0). The
ordered pair of (a , b) is a point in the system with a on the x-axis and b on the y-axis.

5.1.1 Slope/Gradient
of a line P(a,b)

Definition: If x P1 (x 1 , y 1) and
P2 (x 2 , y 2 ) are any points on a line, then
the slope/gradient of the line passing
through P1 and P2 is given by

y 2− y 1
m= ,x ≠x
x 2−x 1 2 1

Types of slope/gradient:

Example 1: Find the gradient of the straight line joining the following points.

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a) b)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

c) d)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

e) f)
.
SOLUTION SOLUTION

g) h)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

Example 2:

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(Answer: h=-3)

Example 3:

2 3
(Answer: a ¿ ,b¿ )
3 5

Example 4:

(Answer: A(4,0))

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5.1.2 The distance between two points

Example 1:
Find the distance between each of the following pairs of points.
a) b)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

c) d)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

e) f)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

g) h)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

Answer: b) 15 c) 3.162 d) 9.055 e) 8.485 f) 7 g) 7.616 h) 15

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5.1 Cartesian Coordinates

Exercise:

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5.1.3 Midpoint

1) Midpoints of two point

Example 1:
a) b)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

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5.1 Cartesian Coordinates
c) d)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

e) f)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

g) h)
SOLUTION SOLUTION

Answer:

Example 2: Find the midpoint of the two given points:

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5.1 Cartesian Coordinates
Example 3:
The coordinates of points R and S are (-4,3) and (x,y) respectively. Point P(-1,2) is the
midpoint of RS. Find the values of x and y.

Solution:

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