THE STRAIGHT

LINE
LINE
1. Gradient
2. Intercept
3. Equation of a straight line
4. Parallel lines
 y
6

A
4

(-2,2)
R 2

Vertical
distance x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

-2
B
Horizontal distance
-4
S (-8,-4)

-6

CARTESAN PLANE
The gradient of a straight line is the ratio of vertical distance
to horizontal distance.

Gradient =
Vertical distance
Horizontal distance

Vertical distance

Horizontal distance
 y
6

A
4

(-2,2)
R 2

6 units
x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

-2
B
4 units
-4
S (-8,-4) Gradient of line AB = vertical distance
horizontal distance
= 6 units
4 units
Gradient of RS= ? -6
=3
2
 y
6

4
Gradient of RS= ?
(-2,2)
R 2
Gradient of RS = Vertical distance
Horizontal distance
x = y2 y1
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 x2 x1

= -4 2
-2 -8 (-2)

= -6
-4 -6
S (-8,-4)
=1

-6
 y
6
Gradient ?

A B
2

P x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

-2

-4 Q

-6

CARTESAN PLANE
 y
6

x -intercept 4 L

2 y -intercept

x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
K
-2

-4

-6
 y
x -intercept 6

The straight line crosses the x axis.

4 y -intercept
The x-intercept is -4. L
The coordinate is (-4,0) The straight line crosses
2 the y axis.

The y- intercept is 2.
The coordinate is (0,2)
x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
K
-2

-4

-6
 y
x -intercept 6

The x-intercept is -4 4 L y -intercept

The coordinate is (-4,0)
2 The y- intercept is 2
The coordinate is (0,2)
x
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
K
-2

-4

-6
From the figure, we can find the gradient of straight line KL.

y2 y1 y int ercept
gradient , m gradient , m
x2 x1 x int ercept
20 2 2
or
0 (4) 4 4
1 2 1

2 4 2
Example 1: y
6

Find the gradient for line PQ.

4
P

x
-2 0 2 4 6 8
Q
-2
y int ercept
Gradient , m
x int ercept
2

6
1

3
Example 2: y
24
R
Find the y-intercept for
line RS if the gradient is -3.

y-intercept

x
-2 0 2 4 6 8

y int ercept S
Gradient , m
x int ercept
y int ercept
3
8
24 ( y int ercept )
24 y int ercept
Example 3:

Find the x-intercept for line AB if the gradient is - and y-intercept is -.

y int ercept
Gradient ,
x int ercept
3
1 4

2 x int ercept
3
x int ercept 4
1

2
3 2
x int ercept ( )
4 1
6 3
x int ercept
4 2
 General form for equation of a straight line,

y-intercept
gradient
Example 1:

Given y = 3x + 5

Gradient: 3
y-intercept: 5
Example 2:

Given y = 2x - 7

Gradient: 2
y-intercept: -7
Example 3:

Given 2y = 10x - 8

Gradient: 5
General form
y-intercept: -4 2 y 10 x 8
10 x 8
y
2 2
y 5x 4
Example 4:

Given -8x 2y + 4=0

Find Try this

Gradient:

y-intercept:

x-intercept:
 Example 5:

P(-2,5)
4

Q (4,-3)
Find the equation of line PQ.

y mx c
5 (3) 4
m
24 3
4
y x4
3
 Example 6:

m =3
(1,2)

L
Find the equation of line KL.
y mx c
y 3x c passing through point (1,2)
2 3(1) c
2 3 c Thus,equation KL,
1 c y= 3x-1