The Increments

in x and y

ELECTIVE 10
What do we mean by increment?
The amount or degree by which
something changes.
The amount of positive or negative
change in the value of one or
more of a set.
Something gained or added
 When a particle moves
from one point to another
in the Cartesian plane,
there are changes in its
INCREMENTS
OF THE
coordinates.
COORDINATES
These net changes are
called the increments of
the coordinates.
Increments of the Coordinates
They are determined by subtracting the
coordinates of the starting point (initial point)
from the corresponding coordinates of the
point where the particle stops (final point).
Increments of the Coordinates
When a particle moves
from P1 (x1, y1) to
P2 (x2, y2), the
increment in x is

x = x2 – x1 and the
increment in y is
y = y2 – y1.

is the Greek letter

delta (difference).
Horizontal or Vertical Segments
The increments in the coordinates may
be:

POSITIVE ZERO NEGATIVE

THE SIGN TELLS THE DIRECTION OF THE
MOVEMENT OF THE PARTICLE.
x>0 is directed to the right;
x<0 is directed to the left
y>0 is directed upward;
y<0 is directed downward
0 increment means no change with
respect to the coordinate.
Example 1:
Find the increments in the x- and y-
coordinates as a particle moves from P(3, 8)
to Q (5, 8).
Given : P (3, 8) (x1, y1) = (3, 8)
Q (5, 8) (x2, y2) = (5, 8)

The increment in x,
x = x2 – x1 = (5) – (3) = 2

The increment in y,
y = y2 – y1 = 8 – (8) = 0
Example 2:
Find the increments in the x- and y-
coordinates as a particle moves from P(5, -4)
to Q (5, 6).
Given : P (5, -4) (x1, y1) = (5, -4)
Q (5, 6) (x2, y2) = (5, 6)

The increment in x,
x = x2 – x1 = (5) – (5) = 0

The increment in y,
y = y2 – y1 = 6 – (-4) = 6 + 4 = 10
Example 3:
Find the increments in the x- and y-
coordinates as a particle moves from S (3,
-2) to T (-1, 5).
Given : S (3, -2) (x1, y1) = (3, -2)
T (-1, 5) (x2, y2) = (-1, 5)

The increment in x,
x = x2 – x1 = (-1) – (3) = -4

The increment in y,
y = y2 – y1 = 5 – (-2) = 5 + 2 = 7