Straight Line Graph Formulas

The distance between two points (x

1
, y
1
) and
(x
2
, y
2
) is given by:
d = (x
2
! x
1
)
2
+ (y
2
! y
1
)
2
Midpoint of two points (x
1
, y
1
) and (x
2
, y
2
) is
given by:
P = (
x
1
+ x
2
2
,
y
1
+ y
2
2
)
The gradient of the line between (x
1
, y
1
) and
(x
2
, y
2
) is given by:
m =
y
2
! y
1
x
2
! x
1
Gradient can also be found when the angle the line
makes with its run is given:
m =
rise
run
=
opposite
adjacent
= tan!
Finding the angle between two lines is found by:
tan! =
m
1
" m
2
1+ (m
1
)(m
2
)
To find the equation of the line passing through
(x
1
, y
1
) and gradient m:
y ! y
1
= m(x ! x
1
)
To find the equation of the line passing through (x
1
, y
1
)
and (x
2
, y
2
) :
y ! y
1
x ! x
1
=
y
2
! y
1
x
2
! x
1
To find the equation of the line passing through
(x
1
, y
1
) and parallel to line ax + by + c = 0:
a(x ! x
1
) + b(y ! y
1
) = 0
To find the equation of a line passing through (x
1
, y
1
)
and with perpendicular to line ax + by + c = 0:
a(y ! y
1
) ! b(x ! x
1
) = 0
Perpendicular lines gradients share the relationship:
m
1
m
2
= !1
To find the equation of the line passing through
(x
1
, y
1
) and the intersection of ax + by + c = 0 and
dx + ey + f = 0:
(ax
1
+ by
1
+ c) + k(dx
1
+ by
1
+ c) = 0
Find k then resub it into
(ax + by + c) + k(dx + by + c) = 0
To find the intersection point of two lines solve both
line equations simultaneously.
To find the perpendicular distance from (x
1
, y
1
) to
the line ax + by + c = 0:
d =
ax
1
+ by
1
+ c
a
2
+ b
2
Coordinates of point P that divides the interval
between points (x
1
, y
1
) and (x
2
, y
2
) in the ratio
m : n :
Internally: x =
mx
2
+ nx
1
m+ n
, y =
my
2
+ ny
1
m+ n
Externally: x =
mx
2
! nx
1
m! n
, y =
my
2
! ny
1
m! n