Copyright 2004, Rick Bowman

Conquering Coordinate Geometry

Part One
plot points on an x-y coordinate (also called
Cartesian) system
calculate the gradient (slope) of a line connecting 2 points
calculate the distance between two points
determine the midpoint of two points
In this section you will learn how to
Part 1
Plotting and
Naming Points
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
Look at this x-y system at
right
The centre is the
ORIGIN O
O
Positive directions are:
RIGHT
+
UP
+
Negative directions are:
LEFT
DOWN


This line is called the
x-axis
This line is called the
y-axis
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
How do we name points
anywhere on the graph?
All points are identified by two
COORDINATES, an x-coordinate
and a y-coordinate in the format (x,y)
E.g. consider the point
(+3, 4)
Begin first at O
O
The +3 tells you to go 3
units in the positive x-
direction (right)
From where you are now,
the -4 tells you to go 4
units in the negative y-
direction (down)
(3, 4)
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
Here is a portion of an x-y system
Lets graph some points. Each
time, start at O (the origin)
(3, 2)
(3, 2)
( 1, 4)
( 1, 4)
(0, 1)
(0, 1)
(3, 2)
(3, 2)
Note that the first number (x) in each
ordered pair tells you left/right.
O
Move right 3 then up 2
Move left 1 then up 4
Move right/left 0 then up 1
Move right 3 then down 2
and the second number (y) in each
ordered pair tells you up/down
(4, 2 )
Move left 4 then down 2
(4, 2)
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
If a point is situated on the x-
axis, then its 2
nd
number (the y-
coordinate) is ZERO
This is because there is no
upward or downward
movement needed to get
to the point from the
origin (where you start
from)
KEY FACT !

Do you know why?
KEY FACT !

x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
If a point is situated on the y-
axis, then its 1
st
number (the x-
coordinate) is ZERO
This is because there is no
right or left movement
needed to get to the point
from the origin
Now try
Worksheet #1
Part 2
Gradient (slope) of a
line joining 2 points
Gradient (slope)
measures the steepness of a line
is positive if the line leans to the right
is negative if the line leans to the left
is zero if the line is horizontal
is not defined if the line is vertical
m > 0
m < 0
m = 0
m not defined
KEY FACTS!

is defined as
Run Horizontal
Rise Vertical
m =
RISE
RUN
Here are some examples. Study them closely!!
4 cm
2 cm
2
2
4
= = m
1
3
3
1
= m
Run
Rise
m =
8
8
1
8
8
= = m
2
3
3
2
= m
m =0
5 km
3 km
3
5
= m
Leans left, so
m is negative!
NOTE!! Sometimes Rise and Run will have units (cm, m, km) but
the Gradient never has units.
Comparing gradient
The gradients of the following 7 lines are + , +2, +1,
0, 1, 2, (not in order) . Can you match the
correct line with its gradient? (answers next slide).
(a) (b)
(c)
(d)
(e) (f)
(g)
Remember the larger the size of the gradients value (ignoring the
+/- sign), the steeper the line! A line with gradient of 3 is steeper
than one of +2 which in turn is steeper than one of 1 or 1. The
sign just tells you which way it leans.
Did you match correctly?
(a) (b)
(c)
(d)
(e) (f)
(g)
m = +2 m = 2
m = 0
m = 1
m = +
m =
m = + 1
Did you remember to make the gradient negative if the
line leans backwards? (Like in (b), (d) and (f)) ??
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
A(4,3)


B(1, 3)
On the graph we have
two points A(4,3) and
B(1, 3)
Our aim is to find the
rise, run and gradient of
the line joining them.
First, join AB and
extend line both ways
Now make a triangle ABC
using A & B as vertices
C
This must be a right-angled triangle and
the line in question (AB in this case)
should be the hypotenuse.
Finding gradient between points

x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
B(1, 3)

A(4,3)
C
To determine the RUN,
measure the horizontal
distance BC
Run = 3 units
3
To determine the RISE,
measure the vertical
distance CA.
6
Rise = 6 units
To determine the
GRADIENT work out
RISE RUN.
Gradient = 6 3 = 2
Finally, the blue line leans RIGHT so gradient is +2.
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
A(4,3)
B(1,3)
Note that you could have drawn
the triangle differently, with C in
the opposite position to where it
was before.
newC
oldC
Regardless of which position
you choose for C (either above
or below the blue line),
the rise and run will still be
the same
Rise BC will still be 6 and run
CA will still be 3.
3
6
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
Example....Find the gradient
of the line joining A( 3, 2)
to B(4, 3)
Step 1 Plot and join A, B.
A( 3,2)
B(4, 3)
Step 2 Make AABC. You
can put C in either of 2
positions (marked with ).
Lets pick the top right.


C
Step 3 Measure rise & run
Rise is 5
5
Run is 7
7
Step 4 Determine which way the line leans. Since it leans
LEFT, the gradient will be NEGATIVE, so m = 5/7
Key point: Its easier not to bother introducing negatives until right at the end
when you consider which way the line leans.
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
To work out the gradient of a line,
it doesnt matter which 2 points
you use, as long as they both lie on
the line.
To illustrate this idea, plot
the points A(1, 3), B(0,1)
and C(2, 3)
A(1, 3)
B(0, 1)
C(2, 3)
They all lie on the same line
KEY FACT !

Lets choose A and C as our 2 points.
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
A(1, 3)
C(2, 3)
Make a triangle and work out
rise, run and gradient:
m =
Run
Rise
3
6
= = 2
3
6
Now suppose instead we chose B and
C as our 2 points.
Make a triangle and work out
rise, run and gradient:
m =
Run
Rise
2
4
=
= 2 !
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
B(0, 1)
C(2, 3)
2
4
......and what do you think would
happen if we chose A and B as
another option?
A(1, 3)
This time
Run
Rise
1
2
=
= 2 !
2
1
Now try
Worksheet #2
You can also calculate the gradient
without drawing a graph.
Suppose we graph two points A(1, 2) and B(3, 6). (Not to scale!)
x
y
A(1,2)
B(3,6)
Did you know the x and y
coordinates tell you the height and
distance of each point relative to
the axes?
1
3
2
6
It is now just a matter of
subtracting these to get the rise
and run...........
(3 1 )
(
6

2

)

RUN
Rise = 6 2 = 4
So m =
Run
Rise
2
4
=
= 2
Run = 3 1 = 2
2
4
This can be extended to any two points.
So we use algebra to generalise.
Suppose we have two points A(x
1
, y
1
) and B(x
2
, y
2
).
x
y
A(x
1
,y
1
)
B(x
2
,y
2
)
As on the previous slide, the x and
y coordinates tell you the height
and distance of each point relative
to the axes.
x
1

x
2

y
1

y
2

It is now just a matter of
subtracting these to get the rise
and run...........
(x
2
x
1
)
(
y
2

y
1
)

RUN
Rise = y
2
y
1
Run = x
2
x
1

So the gradient, m is given by
1 2
1 2
x x
y y
m

=
Run
Rise
m =
or, using the fact that the RISE is (y
2
y
1
)

and the RUN
is (x
2
x
1
) as shown on the previous slide..........
The Gradient formula.....
Run (x
2
x
1
)
R
i
s
e

(
y
2

y
1
)

KEY FACT !

Example..
Find the gradient of the
line joining (3, 5) to (1, 1 )
Step 1 Call x
1
= 3, y
1
= 5 and x
2
= 1, y
2
= 1.
You could have labelled these the other way had
you preferred, i.e. x
2
= 3, y
2
= 5 and x
1
= 1, y
1
= 1
just as long as you dont mix them up!
Step 2 Write out the gradient formula
1 2
1 2
x x
y y
m

=
Step 3 Replace the letters in the formula with the
values you gave them in Step 1
1 2
1 2
x x
y y
m

=
3 1
5 1

=
2
6

=
= 3
We could have done this using a graph
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
Step 1 Plot & join A(3, 5)
to B(1, 1)
(3,5)
(1, 1)
Step 2
Make the triangle as
shown on Slide 14
Step 3
Visually measure
rise and run
Rise = 6
6
Run = 2
2
Step 4
Apply rule
Run
Rise
m =
i.e. m= +3
and remembering line leans right
means gradient is positive
2
6
+ = m
Now try
Worksheet #3
Distance between two
points
Part 3
Essential previous knowledge
PYTHAGORASS THEOREM
In any right angled triangle
ABC, whose side lengths are
a, b and c
a
b
c
The hypotenuse, c is given by
c
2
= a
2
+ b
2
, or..
2 2
b a c + =
This is Pythagorass
Theorem and is the basis
for the Distance Formula
to come on the next slide
b
a
c
In previous slides we
called side lengths a
and b by the names
run and rise.
rise
run
d
So we can change
Pythagorass theorem from
to
d =
2 2
) ( ) ( rise run +
Now from Slide 23,
Rise = (y
2
y
1
)

& Run = (x
2
x
1
)
2 2
b a c + =
(x
2
x
1
)
(y
2
y
1
)
so d =
2
1 2
2
1 2
) ( ) ( y y x x +
This is called the DISTANCE FORMULA
Developing the DISTANCE FORMULA
Remember this??
KEY FACT !

Example..
Find the distance between the points ( 3, 2) and (3, 6)
using ALGEBRA
Step 1 Call x
1
= 3, y
1
= 2 and x
2
= 3, y
2
= 6
REMEMBER you could have interchanged these and called x
2
= -3,
y
2
= 2 and x
1
= 3, y
1
= -6. But youre NOT ALLOWED to mix them!!
Step 2 substitute x
1
= 3, y
1
= 2, x
2
= 3, y
2
= 6 into
2
1 2
2
1 2
) ( ) ( y y x x d + =
2 2
) 2 6 ( ) 3 3 ( + = d
i.e.
2 2
) 8 ( ) 6 ( + = d
100 64 36 = + = d
i.e.
to get
d = 10
Example..
Find the distance between the points ( 3, 2) and (3, 6)
using A GRAPH
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
Step 1
Plot points, join and
make triangle
(3, 6)
(3, 2)
Step 2 Find values of rise
and run from the
graph. Label 6 and 8
6
8
Step 3 Use Pythagoras.
d
d
2
= 6
2
+ 8
2

d
2
= 36 + 64
d
2
= 100
d = 10
10
Now try
Worksheet #4
Part 4
The Midpoint of two
points
Background..
Consider the two numbers 6 and 10.
The number exactly halfway between them ,
in other words, their MIDPOINT, is 8.
In this case, the midpoint can easily be worked
out by counting inwards from 6 and 10, but you
need to know the midpoint can also be found by
averaging the two numbers.
KEY FACT !

8
2
10 6
=
+
This averaging is a really useful process when the
numbers are not as easy to work with as 6 and 10
Example
Find the midpoint of 7 and 12.
Counting inwards is fairly tedious and
time consuming. Its quicker and easier to
work out their average.
2
12 7 +
= M
2
1
2 =
This concept can now be used to find the midpoint of
two points on an x-y graph.
Example. Find the midpoint of ( 3, 4) and (1, 2)
The trick here is to use our averaging method, first on the 3 and 1
(the two x values) and then on the 4 and 2 (the two y values)
x
y
-5.0
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5.0
-5.0 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5.0
(3,4)
(1,2)
Step 1 Average the xs
1
2
1 3
=
+
Step 2 Average the ys
1
2
2 4
=
+
Step 3
M = (1,1)
(1,1)
We can now come up with a general formula that
finds the midpoint of any two points (x
1
,y
1
) and
(x
2
,y
2
)
Remembering that to get the midpoint we
average the xs then average the ys, our
formula is
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
=
2
,
2
2 1 2 1
y y x x
M
A word of caution! The midpoint is a POINT and so
should be written as a point, ie with brackets, and two
numbers inside, separated by a comma !!
KEY FACT !

Now try
Worksheet #5
Part 5
The Equation of a line
But first, an essential background skill
Changing the subject of a formula
Suppose you begin with an equation like 2x + y = 5
or 4x 5y = 7,
You need to be able to rearrange this so that it
begins with y = , in other words, with y as the
subject
Example 1
Make y the subject of 2x + y = 5.
We need to get rid of the 2x so y will be left on its own.
As 2x is linked to the y by a + sign, we UNDO this by
subtracting 2x from both sides.
2x + y 2x = 5 2x
Simplify the left side, and the 2x disappears as planned.
y = 5 2x or y = 2x +5
Example 2
Make y the subject of 3y = x 2.
We need to get rid of the 3 so y will be left on its own.
As 3 is linked to the y by a sign, we UNDO this by
dividing both sides by 3.
3
2
3
3
=
x y
Simplify the left side, and the 3 disappears as planned.
3
2
=
x
y
The right hand side needs to be changed as follows..
3
2
=
x
y
SPLIT
3
2
3
=
x
y
REWRITE
3
2
3
1
= x y
It is better to get
the x alone, with
a number in
front.
Example 3
Make y the subject of 4y +8x = 2.
First we need to get rid of the 8x so 4y will be left on
its own. As 8x is linked to the 4y by a + sign, we UNDO
this by subtracting 8x from both sides
4y + 8x 8x = 2 8x
Simplify the left side, and the 8x disappears as planned.
4y = 2 8x
Second we need to get rid of the 4 so y will be left on
its own. As 4 is linked to the y by a sign, we UNDO
this by dividing both sides by 4
4
8 2
4
4 x y
=
Simplify the left side, and the 4 disappears as planned.
4
8 2 x
y

=
SPLIT
4
8
4
2 x
y =
x y 2
2
1
=
2
1
2 + = x y
Now try
Worksheet #6