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Coordinate geometry: Formulas & techniques

Formulas

Distance between two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$:

$ AB $ = $ \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} $


Gradient of line passing through two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$:

$ \text{Gradient of } AB $ = $ {y_2 - y_1 \over x_2 - x_1} $


Midpoint of two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$:

$ \text{Midpoint of } AB $ = $ \left( {x_1 + x_2 \over 2}, {y_1 + y_2 \over 2} \right) $


Working backwards from midpoint

Example

Given that the point $M(2.5, 2.5)$ is the midpoint of the points $C(1, 4)$ and $D$, find the coordinates of point $D$.

Answer: $ D(4, 1) $

Solutions


Equation of straight line

Equation of a non-vertical straight line:

$ \text{Equation: } $$ y = mx + c $

$ m \text{ represents the } $$ \text{gradient of the straight line} $

$ c \text{ represents the } $$ y\text{-intercept of the straight line} $


Equation of a horizontal line:

$ \text{Equation of horizontal line passing though } (a, b) \text{:} $$ \phantom{.} y = b $

$ \text{Gradient of line} $ = $ \phantom{0} 0 \phantom{0} $


Equation of a vertical line:

$ \text{Equation of vertical line passing though } (a, b) \text{:} $$ \phantom{.} x = a $

$ \text{Gradient of line is} $ $ \text{ undefined } $


Example

The diagram below shows two points, $A(2, 3)$ and $B(1, 1)$.

diagram

(i) State the equation of the horizontal line $l_1$.

Answer: $ y = 3 $

(ii) State the equation of the vertical line $l_2$.

Answer: $ x = 2 $

(iii) Form the equation of the straight line that passes through points $A$ and $B$.

Answer: $ y = 2x - 1 $

Solutions


Find angle between line and axes

Example

Line $l$ has gradient of $-2$ and $y$-intercept $2$.

(i) Find the acute angle between line $l$ and the $y$-axis.

Answer: $ 26.6^\circ $

Solutions

(ii) Find the obtuse angle between line $l$ and the $x$-axis.

Answer: $ 116.6^\circ $

Solutions


Collinear points

If two or more points are collinear, then they lie on the same straight line. Thus,

  • Gradient between any two points is the same
  • The coordinate of each point must satisfy the equation of the straight line

Example: Prove that points are collinear

Prove that the points $E(1, 2)$, $F(2.5, 3)$ and $G(4, 4)$ are collinear.

Solutions (by finding gradient)

Solutions (by equation of line)


Example: Find the coordinates of collinear point

diagram

The points $A$ and $B$ have coordinates $(-2, 1)$ and $(0, 2)$ respectively. The line $AB$ is produced to point $C$, such that $AB:AC = 1:3$. Find the coordinates of point $C$.

Answer: $ (4, 4) $

Solutions (by column vectors)

Solutions (by similar triangles)


Relationship between two lines

Parallel lines:

diagram
  • If two lines are parallel, they have the same gradient, i.e. $m_1 = m_2$
  • If two lines are parallel and do not have the same $y$-intercept, they will not intersect

Non-parallel lines:

diagram

Since the lines are not parallel, the lines will meet at a point. The coordinates of the point of intersection can be found by solving simultaneous equations using the equation of each line.


Perpendicular lines:

diagram

The gradients of both lines are related by, $m_1 \times m_2 = $ $ - 1 $


Example

(i) Form the equation of the straight line that is parallel to the line $2y - 3x = 5$ and passes through the point $(3, 3)$.

Answer: $ y = {3 \over 2}x - {3 \over 2} $

Solutions

(ii) Form the equation of the straight line that is perpendicular to the line $2y - 3x = 5$ and passes through the point $(3, 3)$.

Answer: $ y = -{2 \over 3}x + 5 $

Solutions

Form equation of perpendicular bisector

Example

The points $A$ and $B$ have coordinates $(1, 4)$ and $(5, 2)$ respectively. Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of line segment $AB$.

Answer: $ y = 2x - 3 $

Solutions


Find area by 'shoelace' method

Formula & steps:

$ \text{Area of figure} $ = $ {1 \over 2} \left| \begin{matrix} x_1 & x_2 & ... & x_n & x_1 \\ y_1 & y_2 & ... & y_n & y_1 \end{matrix} \right| $

Steps:

  1. Select the points in anti-clockwise order
  2. Repeat the first point chosen
  3. When calculating the area, go ↘ , then go ↗

Example

diagram

Find the area of the quadrilateral $ABCD$.

Answer: $ 28.5 \text{ units}^2 $

Solutions


Past year O level questions

Year & paper Comments
2023 P1 Question 13 Perpendicular bisector
4049 Specimen P1 Question 1 Find the values of constants a and b (involves y = mx + c and distance between two points)
2013 P1 Question 10 Long question
2006 P2 Question 12 Or Long question (Link - Subscription required)
2004 P1 Question 11 Long question (Link - Subscription required)


Logarithms Coordinate geometry: Geometry problems
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