COORDINATE GEOMETRY

In this chapter we will be learning to:

o Find the equation of a line from geometrical

information

o Find the general equation of a line using points and

gradients

o Determine if two lines are parallel or perpendicular

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PRE-KNOWLEDGE

Before starting this chapter you should be able

to:
o Recognise a linear equation
o Plot a straight line graph
o Identify the gradient and the y-intercept
from the equation of a straight line.
o Find the points of intersection of a line and
the co-ordinate axes.
 COORDINATE GEOMETRY
Week Commencing Monday 26th October

Learning Intention:
1. To be able to find the equation of a line given the
gradient and the y-intercept
2. To be able to find the gradient of a line given two
points on the line.

Contents:
1. Equations of Straight Lines
2. Finding the Gradient of a Line Given 2 Points on the
Line
3. Assignment 1

4. Pre-Knowledge Revision
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STRAIGHT LINES

The equation of a straight line generally takes two

forms:

(i) ax + by + c = 0 where a, b and c are integers

or

(ii) y = mx + c where m is the gradient and

c is the y-intercept
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STRAIGHT LINES

If an equation is written in the form ax + by + c = 0 it can

be rearranged into the form y = mx + c so that the gradient
and the y-intercept can be easily read.

Example:
Write 2x + 3y + 5 = 0 in the form y = mx + c and state the
gradient and y-intercept of the line.

Solution:
Taking the x term and the number to the RHS gives:
3y  2x  5
2 5
y x by dividing across by 3
3 3
Gradient = -2/3 and y-intercept = -5/3
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STRAIGHT LINES

If we know the gradient of a line and its y-intercept we can

write the equation of the line.

Example:
A line is parallel to the line y = 1/3x – 4 and crosses the y-
axis at the point (0, 6). Write down the equation of the
line.

Solution:
As the line is parallel to y = 1/3x – 4 the gradient we need
is 1/3.

As the point (0, 6) is on the y-axis the y-intercept = 6.

So, equation of the required line is: y = 1/3x + 6

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STRAIGHT LINES
Example:
A line is parallel to the line 3x + 5y + 1 = 0 and it passes
through the point (0, 4). Work out the equation of the line.
Solution:
To find the equation of the line we need the gradient and
the y-intercept. We have the y-intercept from the point:
4.
To find the gradient we need to re-arrange the equation of
the given line. This gives:
5y = -3x – 1
y = -3/5x – 1/5 therefore required gradient = -3/5

Equation of required line is: y = -3/5x + 4

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FINDING THE GRADIENT WHEN GIVEN 2 POINTS

If given two points on a line, (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), we

can find the gradient of the line using the formula:

y2  y1
m
x2  x1
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FINDING THE GRADIENT WHEN GIVEN 2 POINTS

Example:
Work out the gradient of the line joining the points (3, 4)
and (5, 6).

Solution:
y y
We can use the formula m  2 1
x2  x1
(3, 4) gives x1 = 3 y1 = 4
(5, 6) gives x2 = 5 y2 = 6

Substituting into the formula we get:

64
m
53
2
m  1
2
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FINDING THE GRADIENT WHEN GIVEN 2 POINTS

Example:
The line joining (2, -5) to (4, a) has gradient -1. Work out
the value of a.
Solution:
Substituting into the formula for the gradient we get:
a  5
 1
4 2

a5
 1 --  
2

a  5  2 multiplyin g across by 2

a  2  5  - 7
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Assignment 1

Follow the link for Assignment 1 in the Moodle Course

Area underneath Coordinate Geometry. This is a
Yacapaca Activity.

Assignment must be completed by 5:00pm on

Wednesday 4th November 2009
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PRE-KNOWLEDGE REVISION
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Linear Equations

A linear equation is an equation that DOES NOT

contain any powers higher than 1.

Example:
3x + 2y = 1 is a linear equation

3x2 + 2y = 1 is NOT a linear equation as it contains x2

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Plotting a Straight Line Graph

To plot a straight line graph:

1. Make a table of values for at least three values

of x.

2. Find the corresponding values of y

3. Plot the points found

4. Join points with a straight line

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Identifying Gradient and y-intercept

If the equation of a line is given as y = mx + c,

the coefficient of x is the gradient

c is the y-intercept (the point where it crosses the y-axis)

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Points of Intersection of Lines and Coordinate Axes

To find where a line cuts the x-axis let the equation

equal 0.

To find where a line cuts the y-axis let x equal 0 in

the equation.