Introduction

• This Chapter focuses on coordinate

geometry, mainly involving straight line
graphs

• We will be looking at working out

equations of graphs based on various
sets of information
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane
y
Equation of a straight line
y-intercept gradient
The equation of a straight line is
usually written in one of 2 forms. 1
One you will have seen before;
x
y  mx  c
Where m is the gradient and c is
the y-intercept.

Or, the general form:

ax  by  c  0
Where a, b and c are integers.

5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Equation of a straight line Example 1

Write down the gradient and y-
The equation of a straight line is intercept of the following graphs
usually written in one of 2 forms.
One you will have seen before;
a) y  3x  2
 Gradient = -3
y  mx  c  y-intercept = (0,2)

Where m is the gradient and c is

the y-intercept. b) 4x  2 y  5  0 Rearrange to
get ‘y’ on one
4x  5  2 y side
Or, the general form:
5 Divide by 2
ax  by  c  0 2x   y
2
Where a, b and c are integers.  Gradient = 2
 y-intercept = (0, 5/2)
5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Equation of a straight line Example 2

Write each equation in the form
The equation of a straight line is ax + by + c = 0
usually written in one of 2 forms.
One you will have seen before;
a) y  4x  3 -y
0  4x  3  y Correct
y  mx  c form
4x  y  3  0
Where m is the gradient and c is
the y-intercept.
1
b) y   x5
2 +1/2x and
1 -5
Or, the general form: y x 5  0 x2 (to
2 remove
ax  by  c  0 fraction)
2 y  x  10  0 Correct
Where a, b and c are integers.
form
x  2 y  10  0
5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Equation of a straight line Example 3

A line is parallel to the line y = 3x + 2
The equation of a straight line is and passes through (0,-1). Write the
equation of the line.
usually written in one of 2 forms.
One you will have seen before;
y  mx  c y  3x  2 Parallel so the
gradient will be
the same
Where m is the gradient and c is
y  3x  c
the y-intercept. Crosses through
(0,-1), which is on
the y-axis
Or, the general form: y  3x  1
ax  by  c  0
2
Where a, b and c are integers.
-1

5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Equation of a straight line Example 4

A line is parallel to the line 6x + 3y – 2 = 0
The equation of a straight line is and passes through (0,3). Write the
equation of the line.
usually written in one of 2 forms.
One you will have seen before;
y  mx  c 6x  3y  2  0
Rearrange to the
form y = mx + c
Where m is the gradient and c is
the y-intercept. 3 y  6 x  2
Divide by 3
Or, the general form: 2
y  2 x  The new line has
3 the same
ax  by  c  0 gradient, but
intercepts the y-
Where a, b and c are integers. y  2 x  3 axis at 3

5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Equation of a straight line Example 5

The line y = 4x + 8 crosses the y-axis
The equation of a straight line is at 8. It crosses the x-axis at P. Work
out the coordinates of P.
usually written in one of 2 forms.
One you will have seen before;
y  mx  c y  4x  8
Crosses the x-
axis where y=0
Where m is the gradient and c is 0  4x  8
the y-intercept.
-8
8  4x
Or, the general form:
Divide by 4
ax  by  c  0 2  x
Where a, b and c are integers. So the line crosses the x-axis at (-2,0)

5A
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

The gradient of a line

y (x2,y2)
You can work out the gradient of
a line if you know 2 points on it. (x1,y1) y 2 - y1

x2 - x1
Let the first point be (x1,y1) and
the second be (x2,y2). The x
following formula gives the
gradient:

y2  y1
m
x2  x1

‘The change in the y values,

divided by the change in the x
values’

5B
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

The gradient of a line Example 1

Calculate the gradient of the line
You can work out the gradient of which passes through (2,3) and (5,7)
a line if you know 2 points on it.
(x1, y1) = (2, 3)

Let the first point be (x1,y1) and (x2, y2) = (5, 7)

the second be (x2,y2). The
following formula gives the
y2  y1
m
gradient: x2  x1 Substitute
numbers in
y2  y1
m
x2  x1
• 
Work out
or leave as
‘The change in the y values, 4 a fraction
divided by the change in the x m
values’ 3

5B
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

The gradient of a line Example 2

Calculate the gradient of the line
You can work out the gradient of which passes through (-2,7) and (4,5)
a line if you know 2 points on it.
(x1, y1) = (-2, 7)

Let the first point be (x1,y1) and (x2, y2) = (4, 5)

the second be (x2,y2). The y2  y1
following formula gives the m
gradient: x2  x1 Substitute
numbers in
y y 57
m 2 1 m
x2  x1 4  (2)
Work out
or leave as
‘The change in the y values, 2 a fraction
m
divided by the change in the x 6
values’ Simplify if
possible
1
m
3 5B
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

The gradient of a line Example 3

Calculate the gradient of the line which
You can work out the gradient of passes through (2d,-5d) and (6d,3d)
a line if you know 2 points on it.
(x1, y1) = (2d, -5d)

Let the first point be (x1,y1) and (x2, y2) = (6d, 3d)
the second be (x2,y2). The y2  y1
following formula gives the m
gradient: x2  x1 Substitute
numbers in
y2  y1 3d  (5d )
m m
x2  x1 6d  2 d Work out
or leave as
8d a fraction
‘The change in the y values, m
divided by the change in the x 4d Simplify if
values’ possible
(the d’s
cancel out)
m2
5B
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

The gradient of a line Example 4

The line joining (2, -5) to (4, a) has a
You can work out the gradient of gradient of -1. Calculate the value of a.
a line if you know 2 points on it.
(x1, y1) = (2, -5)

Let the first point be (x1,y1) and (x2, y2) = (4, a)

the second be (x2,y2). The y2  y1
following formula gives the m
gradient: x2  x1 Substitute
numbers in
y y a  (5)
m 2 1 1 
x2  x1 42
Simplify
a5
‘The change in the y values,
1 
2 Multiply by
divided by the change in the x 2
values’ 2  a  5
Subtract 5
7  a 5B
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 1

You can find the equation of the
line with gradient m, and
coordinate (x1, y1) by using the
following formula:
Find the equation of the line with gradient
5 that passes through the point (3,2)
(x1, y1) = (3, 2)
m=5

y  y1  m( x  x1 ) y  y1  m( x  x1 ) Substitute the
numbers in
y  2  5( x  3)
Expand the
bracket
y  2  5 x  15
Add 2
y  5 x  13

5C
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 2

You can find the equation of the
line with gradient m, and
coordinate (x1, y1) by using the
following formula:
Find the equation of the line with gradient
-1/2 that passes through the point (4,-6)
(x1, y1) = (4, -6)
m = -1/2

y  y1  m( x  x1 ) y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Substitute the
numbers in
1
y  (6)   ( x  4)
2 Expand the
brackets
1
y6   x2
2 Subtract 6
1
y   x4
2
5C
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 3

The line y = 3x – 9 crosses the x-axis at
You can find the equation of the coordinate A. Find the equation of the line
line with gradient m, and with gradient 2/3 that passes through A.
coordinate (x1, y1) by using the Give your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0
following formula: where a, b and c are integers.
y  3x  9
y  y1  m( x  x1 ) At point A, y = 0
0  3x  9
Subtract 9
Thought Process 9  3x
‘To find the equation of the line, I Divide by 3
need point A’ 3 x
‘Point A is on the x-axis, so will have a
y-coordinate of 0’
‘As the equation I have already, A = (3,0)
crosses A as well, I can put y=0 into it
to find out the x value at A’

5C
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 3 A = (3,0)

You can find the equation of the
line with gradient m, and
coordinate (x1, y1) by using the
following formula:
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
The line y = 3x – 9 crosses the x-axis at
coordinate A. Find the equation of the line
with gradient 2/3 that passes through A.
Give your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0
where a, b and c are integers.
(x1, y1) = (3, 0)
m = 2/3

y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Thought Process Substitute in
‘To find the equation of the line, I 2 values
need point A’
y  0  ( x  3)
3 Multiply out
‘Point A is on the x-axis, so will have a bracket
y-coordinate of 0’ 2
y  x2
‘As the equation I have already, 3
crosses A as well, I can put y=0 into it Subtract y
to find out the x value at A’ 2
0 x y2
3 Multiply by 3
5C
0  2x  3y  6
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 1

Work out the equation of the line that goes
You can find the equation of a through points (3,-1) and (5, 7). Give your
answer in the form y = mx + c.
line from 2 points by using the
following formula: (x1, y1) = (3, -1)
(x2, y2) = (5, 7)
y  y1 x  x1 y  y1 x  x1
 
y2  y1 x2  x1 y2  y1 x2  x1
Substitute in
values
y  (1) x  3

7  (1) 5  3 Work out any
sums
y 1 x  3

8 2 Multiply the right
side by 4 to make
y  1 4 x  12 fractions the same

8 8
Multiply by 8
y  1  4 x  12
Subtract 1
y  4 x  13 5D
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 1

The lines y = 4x – 7 and 2x + 3y – 21 = 0
You can find the equation of a intersect at point A. Point B has co-
line from 2 points by using the ordinates (-2, 8). Find the equation of the
following formula: line that passes through A and B

y  y1 x  x1 y  4x  7 2 x  3 y  21  0

y2  y1 x2  x1 2 x  3 y  21  0
Replace y with
Thought Process ‘4x - 7’
2 x  3(4 x  7)  21  0
‘We need to find point A’ Expand the
‘If the equations intersect at A, bracket
2 x  12 x  21  21  0 Group x’s and
they have the same value for y
add 42
(and x)’ 14 x  42
If I can write one of the Divide by 14
equations in terms of y, I can x3 Sub x into one
replace the y in the second A = (3,5)
of the first
equation and solve it’ y5 equations to get
y
5D
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Equation of a line Example 1 A = (3,5)

The lines y = 4x – 7 and 2x + 3y – 21 = 0
You can find the equation of a intersect at point A. Point B has co-
line from 2 points by using the ordinates (-2, 8). Find the equation of the
following formula: line that passes through A and B
(x1, y1) = (3, 5) (x2, y2) = (-2, 8)
y  y1 x  x1
 y  y1

x  x1
y2  y1 x2  x1 y2  y1 x2  x1 Substitute in
values
y 5 x 3
Thought Process 
8  5 2  3 Work out the
‘We need to find point A’ denominators
y 5 x 3
‘If the equations intersect at A,  Multiply all of left by -5
they have the same value for y 3 5 and all of right by 3
(and x)’ 5 y  25 3 x  9 (makes denominators
equal)

If I can write one of the 15 15
equations in terms of y, I can Multiply by -15
5 y  25  3x  9
replace the y in the second Rearrange, keeping
equation and solve it’ x positive
3 x  5 y  34  0
5D
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Perpendicular to a line Example 1

Work out the gradient of the line that is
You need to be able to work out the perpendicular to the lines with the
gradient of a line which is following gradients.
Perpendicular to another.
 Perpendicular means ‘intersects at
a right angle… Line gradient Perpendicular
These lines are
perpendicular 3 -1/3
1
/2 -2
-2/5 5
/2
 If a line has a gradient of m, the -1/2x
2x
line perpendicular has gradient -1/m

 Two perpendicular lines have

gradients that multiply to give -1

5E
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Perpendicular to a line Example 2

Is the line y = 3x + 4 perpendicular to the
You need to be able to work out the line x + 3y – 3 = 0?
gradient of a line which is
Perpendicular to another.
 Perpendicular means ‘intersects at
y  3x  4 x  3y  3  0
a right angle… Gradient = 3 3y  3  x
These lines are
perpendicular
x
y  1
3
 If a line has a gradient of m, the Gradient = -1/3
line perpendicular has gradient -1/m
The lines are perpendicular since their
 Two perpendicular lines have gradients multiply to give -1
gradients that multiply to give -1

5E
 Coordinate Geometry in the (x,y) plane

Finding the Perpendicular to a line Example 3

Find an equation for the line that passes
You need to be able to work out the through (3,-1) and is perpendicular to the
gradient of a line which is line y = 2x - 4
Perpendicular to another. y  2x  4
 Perpendicular means ‘intersects at Gradient = 2
a right angle…
These lines are Gradient of the perpendicular = -1/2
perpendicular
(x1, y1) = (3, -1) m = -1/2

y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Substitute in
 If a line has a gradient of m, the 1 values
line perpendicular has gradient -1/m
y  (1)   ( x  3)
2 Expand brackets
1
 Two perpendicular lines have y  1   x  1.5
gradients that multiply to give -1 2 Subtract 1
1 1
y   x
2 2 5E
 Summary
• We have learnt how to write equations
of a line in 2 different forms

• We have done this from varying sets of

information

• We have also looked at the link between

parallel and perpendicular lines