CHAPTER 6: COORDINATE GEOMETRY

6.1 Distance between Two Points

A (x1, y1) and C (x2, y2) are two points on a coordinate plane as shown below. BC is
parallel to the x-axis and AB is parallel to the y-axis. Thus, ABC = 90.
y
A (x1, y1)

y2 - y1

C (x2, y2)

B
x2 - x1

Distance between point A and C

(

Example 1
Find the distance between the points P (2, -2) and Q (-4, -5).

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6.2 Division of a Line Segment

Midpoints of a line segment

y
A (x2, y2)

B (x1, y1)
0

The midpoint, M of A (x1, y1) and B (x2, y2) is

(

Example 2
Given B (m 4, 3) is the midpoint of the straight line joining A (-1, n) and C (5, 8).
Find the values of m and n.

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Point that divides a line segment in the ratio m:n

y
A (x2, y2)
m
P
n

B (x1, y1)

For the point P that lies on AB such that AP:PB = m:n is

(

Example 3
The coordinate of R (2, -1) divide internally the line of AB with the ratio 3:2. If
coordinate of A is (-1, 2), find the coordinate of B.

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6.3 Areas of Polygons

Area of triangle
y
A (x1, y1)

B (x2, y2)

C (x3, y3)
x

|
|(

|
(

)|

Example 4
Calculate the area of ABC with the vertices A (-5, 5), B (-2, -4), and C (4, -1).

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Area of quadrilateral
y
D (x4, y4)

A (x1, y1)

C (x3, y3)

B (x2, y2)
x

|
|(

|
(

)|

If the points A, B and C are collinear, then the area of ABC is 0.

Example 5
Find the values of k if the points P (2, 1), Q (6, k) and R (3k, 4.5) are collinear.

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6.4 Equations of Straight Lines

Gradient of a straight line

Gradient of the line joining (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)

Gradient of the line with knowing x-intercept and y-intercept

(

Gradient of the straight line joining P and Q is equal to the tangent of angle,
where is the angle made by the straight line PQ and the positive direction of
the x-axis.
y
B (x2, y2)

(y2 - y1)
A (x1, y1)

(x2 - x1)
x

Example 6
The gradient of the line passing through point (k, 1 k) and point (-3k, -3) is 5. Find
the value of k.

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Example 7
Based on the diagram below, find the gradient of the line.
y

(10, 0)

(0, -5)

Collinear points
Gradient of a straight line is always constant.
y
C
B
A

mAB = mBC = mAC

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Equations of straight lines

Case 1:
1. The gradient and coordinates of a point are given.
2. The equation of a straight line with gradient m passes through the point
(x1, y1)
y y1 = m(x x1)
Example 8
A straight line with gradient of -3 passes through the point (-1, 5). Find the
equation of this line.

Case 2:
1. The coordinates of two points are given.
2. The equation of a straight line joining the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)

Example 9
Find the equation of the straight line joining the points (2, 4) and (5, 6).

Case 3:
1. The equation of a straight line with x-intercept, a and y-intercept, b

Example 10
Find the equation of the straight line joining the points (5, 0) and (0, -6).

Expression of gradient and the intercepts of a straight line

Gradient form
y = mx + c

General form
ax + by + c = 0

Intercept form

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6.5 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Parallel lines

If two straight lines are parallel, they have same gradient.

y

L2

L1

m1 = m2

The equation of the straight line passing through point P (x1, y1) and parallel to
the line y = mx + c
y y1 = m(x x1)
Example 11
Given that the equation of a straight line parallel to x + 8y = 40 and passes
through the point A (2, 3k) and B (-6, 4k), find the values of k.

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Perpendicular lines

If two lines are perpendicular to each other, the product of their gradients is -1.
y

L1

0
L2

m1 m2 = -1

The equation of the straight line passing through point P (x1, y1) and
perpendicular to the line y = mx + c
(

Example 12
Given that points P (-2, 4), Q (4, 2), R (-1, -3) and S (2, 6); show that PQ is
perpendicular to RS

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6.6 Locus

Equation of locus

The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a

constant distance, r from a fixed point (x1, y1)
(x x1)2 + (y y1)2 = r2
Example 13
Find the equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a
distance of 5 units from a fixed point Q (2, 4).

The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always at a

constant distance from two fixed points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) with a constant
ratio
(
(

) (
) (

)
)

Example 13
Find the equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always
equidistant from points A (-2, 3) and B (4, -1).

The equation of the locus of a moving point P (x, y) which is always

equidistant from two fixed points A and B is the perpendicular bisector of the
straight line AB.
Example 14
A (2, 0) and B (0, -2) are two fixed points. Point P moves with a ratio so that
AP:PB = 1:2. Find the equation of the locus of point P.

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