Analytic Geometry Handouts
Analytic Geometry Handouts
Analytic Geometry Handouts
xL xR yH
Horizontal distance = xR – xL
yL
Vertical distance = yH – yL
y P 2(x 2,y 2)
( x2 − x1 ) 2 + ( y 2 − y1 ) 2
P 1(x 1,y 1)
d=
x
Slope of a Line:
y P 2(x 2,y 2)
y 2 − y1
m = tan α ⇒ m=
y 2 – y1 x 2 − x1
α
P1(x 1,y 1) x2 – x1 The slope, m is positive if the line is inclined
x upwards to the right but is negative if the line is
inclined downwards to the right. For horizontal
lines, m = 0 and for vertical lines, it is undefined,
i.e m = ∞ .
1
For parallel lines, m1 = m2 ; for perpendicular lines, m1 = − .
m2
Midpoint of a Line Segment:
y P 2(x 2,y 2)
Let ( x, y ) be the coordinates of the midpoint of
the line segment P1P2.
M (x, y)
x1 + x 2 y1 + y 2
P1(x 1,y 1) x= y=
x
2 2
y
L2
φ
Angle Between Two Lines:
L1
x
Let φ be the angle measured counterclockwise
from line L1 to line L2.
m − m1
tan φ = 2
1 + m1 m2
x
Then x = x1 + k (x2 – x1)
y = y1 + k (y2 – y1)
y 2 − y1
Two-Point Form: y – y1 = (x – x1) where (x1, y1) & (x2, y2) are given points
x 2 − x1
y
Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + b
p
x y
Intercept Form: + =1 β
a b a x
Note that p can be positive or negative. If p is positive, it means that the line
Ax + By + C = 0 is above (or to the right of) the origin while if p is negative, it
means that the line is below (or to the left of) the origin.
Ax+By+C2=0
d
C 2 − C1
d =
x A2 + B 2
Ax+By+C 1=0
line Ax + By + C = 0 is given by
d
Area of a Triangle:
y P3(x 3,y 3)
For a triangle with given vertices,
x1 y1 1
1
A= x2 y2 1
P1(x 1,y 1) P2(x 2,y 2) 2
x3 y3 1
x
The area formula is sometimes written in the more convenient form shown below.
1 x1 x2 x3 x1 1
A= = [ x1 y 2 + x 2 y 3 + x3 y1 − x1 y 3 − x3 y 2 − x 2 y1 ]
2 y1 y2 y3 y1 2
For a polygon of n sides whose vertices are known,
1 x1 x2 x3 . . . . xn x1
A=
2 y1 y2 y3 . . . . yn y1
Examples:
1. Find the area of the pentagon having vertices at (3. 0), (2, 3), (–1, 2), (–2, –1) and
(0, –2).
Solution:
y
P3(-1,2)
P2(2,3)
Numbering the vertices in the counterclockwise
order, the area is
1 3 2 −1 −2 0 3
P1(3,0) x A=
P4(-2,-1)
2 0 3 2 −1 −2 0
P5(0,-2)
=
1
[9 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 0 − (−6 − 0 − 4 − 3 − 0)]
2
31
= square units
2
2. What is the equation of a line that passes through (4, 0) and is parallel to the line
x – y – 2 = 0?
Solution:
The equation of the required line is x – y + k = 0. To find k, substitute the coordinates
of the given point. Hence, 4 – 0 + k = 0. Hence, k = –4.
∴x – y – 4 = 0
3. Find the equation of the line through (3, 1) that is perpendicular to the line x + 5y + 5
= 0.
Solution:
The equation of the required line can be obtained by interchanging the coefficients of
x and y from the given equation and changing the sign of one of them, i.e.
5x – y + k = 0 ⇒ 5(3) – 1 + k = 0 ⇒ k = –14
∴5x – y –14 = 0
THE CONIC SECTIONS
A conic section is the locus of a point that moves such that its distance from a fixed point
(called focus) is in constant ratio to its distance from a fixed straight line (called directrix).
This constant ratio is called eccentricity. The circle, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola
compose the conic sections (or simply conics) since each of them can be formed by a plane
which is made to intersect a cone.
The Circle:
A circle is the locus of a point in a plane that moves so that it is always equidistant from a
fixed point (called the center). The fixed distance is called the radius.
A circle is produced when the cutting plane is parallel to the base of the cone.
Equations of a Circle:
or x2 + y2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
The Parabola:
A parabola is the locus of a point in a plane that moves such that its distance from a fixed
point (called the focus) equals its distance from a fixed line (called the directrix). It is
formed when the cutting plane is parallel to one of the elements of the cone. Since the
parabola is a symmetrical curve, the line of symmetry is called the axis of the parabola.
Equations of a Parabola:
General equations:
Standard Forms:
If the right side of the equation is positive, the parabola opens upward;
if the right side of the equation is negative, the parabola opens downward.
If the right side of the equation is positive, the parabola opens rightward;
if the right side of the equation is negative, the parabola opens leftward.
y
Latus rectum , LR = 4a
Directrix
2a
V F Axis
a a x
2a
D
P
PF
e=
PD
For a parabola, e = 1.
The Ellipse:
An ellipse is the locus of a point in a plane that moves such that the sum of its distances
from two fixed points (called the foci) is a constant and is equal to the length of the major
axis (2a). It can also be defined as the locus of a point that moves such that the ratio of its
distance from a fixed point (or focus) to its distance from a fixed line (or directrix) is a
constant and is less than one.
The ellipse is the conic section formed if the cutting plane is making an angle (other than
90o) with the axis of the cone.
Equations of an Ellipse:
Standard Forms:
Major axis
Center at (h, k), Major axis horizontal y
( x − h)
+
( y − k) = 1
2 2
x
2
a b2
( x − h) 2 ( y − k )
2
+ =1 x
b2 a2
V2 F2 C F1 V1
a a x
D2
P c
d
Referring to the figure above,
PF2 c
e= = <1
PD 2 a
The Hyperbola:
The hyperbola is the locus of a point in a plane that moves such that the difference of its
distances from two fixed points (called foci) is a positive constant and is equal to the length
of the transverse axis (2a). It can also be defined to be the locus of a point that moves such
that the ratio of its distance from a fixed point (or focus) to its distance from a fixed line (or
directrix) is a constant and is greater than one.
The hyperbola is the conic section formed if the cutting plane is parallel (but not coincident)
to the axis of the cone.
Standard Forms:
x
( x − h) 2 − ( y − k ) 2 =1
a2 b2
Transverse
axis
( y − k) 2
−
( x − h) 2
=1
2
a b2 O x
PF2 c
e= = >1
PD2 a
y
Directrix
d
Latus rectum,
LR = 2b2/a
b
F2 V2 V 1 F1
a C a x
b
P D2
c
Asymptote
Degenerate conic (point circle, one line, two intersecting lines) – the conic formed if the
cutting plane passes through the vertex of the cone.
Examples:
1. Find the value of k for which the equation x2 + y2 + 4x – 2y – k = 0 represents a point
circle.
a. 5 b. 6 c. –6 d. –5
Solution: Reducing the given equation into the standard form
(x2 + 4x + 4) + (y2 – 2y + 1) = k + 4 + 1
(x + 2)2 + (y – 1)2 = k + 5
For a point circle, the radius, a = 0 ⇒ a2 = 0
∴k + 5 = 0 ⇒ k = –5
2. The equation x2 – y2 – 4x – 6y – 5 = 0 represents
a. a circle b. an ellipse c. a hyperbola d. two straight
lines
Solution: Reducing the given equation into the standard form
(x2 – 4x + 4) – (y2 – 6y + 9) = 5 + 4 – 9
(x – 2)2 – (y – 3)2 = 0
[(x – 2) + (y – 3)][(x – 2) – (y – 3)] = 0
(x + y – 5)(x – y + 1) = 0
x+y–5=0 x–y+1=0
Therefore, the given equation represents two straight lines.
This is also the general equation of a conic section: Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
When B ≠ 0, the principal axes of the conic are inclined by an angle θ expressed as
B
tan 2θ =
A −C
In other words, the principal axes are not parallel to the coordinate axes. The curve
can be obtained from the equation given by determining the value of the discriminant
B2 – 4AC.
Examples:
1. Using the discriminant, identify the curve represented by the equation
3x2 + 6xy + 3y2 – 4x + 7y = 12
Solution: For the given equation, A = 3, B = 6 and C = 3.
2. Find the angle of rotation that will eliminate the xy term in the equation
3x2 + 6xy + 3y2 – 4x + 7y = 12
Solution:
B 6 6
tan 2θ = = = = ∞ ⇒ 2θ = tan −1 ∞ = 90 ° ⇒ θ = 45o
A −C 3−3 0
When B = 0, the principal axes of the conic are parallel to the coordinate axes, i.e.
the x- and the y-axes.
In this system, the location of a point in a plane is expressed by the ordered pair (r, θ) where
r (called the radius vector) is the distance of the point from the origin (or the pole) and θ
(called the polar angle) is the angle that the radius vector makes with the Ox(r, axis
θ)
(also
called the polar axis).
r
θ
Polar axis x
Sign Convention:
• r is negative (–) when laid off at the extension of the terminal side of θ in the
opposite
quadrant
Examples:
1. What is the polar equation of a vertical line 5 units to the right of the origin?
Solution:
y
By inspection, the equation of the vertical line in
x =5 rectangular coordinates is
x=5
x
Hence, in polar form, the equation is
r cos θ = 5
y
r = 4a sin θ ⇒ x 2 + y 2 = 4a ⇒ x 2 + y 2 = 4ay
x + y2
2
1. The rectangular coordinate system for a plane is divided into four parts which are known as
a. coordinates b. octants c. quadrants d. axes
3. If the product of the slopes of any two straight lines is negative 1, then the lines are
a. parallel b. askew c. perpendicular d. non-intersecting
6. In finding the distance between two points P1(x1, y) and P2(x2, y2), the most direct procedure
is to use
a. the Law of Cosines b. the slope of the line
c. translation of axes d. the Pythagorean Theorem
6. In the triangle ABC having coordinates of A(-2, 5), B(6, 1) and C(-2, -3), find the length of
the median from the vertex B to the line AC.
a. 8 b. 6 c. 7 d. 5
8. Find the coordinates of the centroid of the triangle ABC with coordinates of A(0. -3), B(3, 0)
and C(0, -6).
a. (2, -2) b. (1, -3) c. (1, -2) d. (2, -3)
10. Find x if the distance between points (x, 4) and (3, 4) is equal to 10.
a. 12, -6 b. 11, -4 c. 14, -7 d. 13, -7
11. The line segment connecting (x, 6) and (9, y) is bisected by the point (7, 3). Find the value of
x and y.
a. 4, 0 b. 5, 2 c. 4, 1 d. 5, 0
12. Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line joining (4, 0) and (-6, 3).
a. 20x + 3y + 28 = 0 b. 10x + 20y + 24 = 0
c. 20x – 6y + 29 = 0 d. 10x + 4y + 24 = 0
13. Find the smallest angle between the lines 2x + y – 8 = 0 and x + 3y + 4 = 0.
a. 60o b. 45o c. 30o d. 40o
14. Find the area of the polygon whose vertices are at (2, -6), (4, 0), (2, 4), (-3, 2) and (-3, -3).
a. 47.5 b. 55.3 c. 45.2 d. 57.4
15. The point B(-4, 1) is three fifths of the distance from one end A(2, -2) of a line segment to the
other end C(x, y). Find end point C(x, y).
a. (-8, 3) b. (-2, 0) c. (-5, 2) d. (-6, 3)
16. Find the equation of a line with slope 3 and y-intercept -2.
a. y = 2x – 3 b. y = 3x – 2 c. y = -3x + 2 d. y = 2x + 3
18. A line passes through (4, 2) and has a slope of 2. Find the equation of the line.
a. 2x – 3y + 10 = 0 b. 3x + 2y – 10 = 0 c. 2x – y – 6 = 0 d. 3x – 2y + 8 = 0
20. Find the equation of a line through (4, 6) perpendicular to the x-axis.
a. y – 6 = 0 b. x – 4 = 0 c. x + y = 0 d. y – 4 = 0
21. Find the equation of the line through (2, 4) and (4, 6).
a. x + y + 4 = 0 b. x – 2y + 2 = 0 c. x – y + 2 = 0 d. 2x – y + 4 = 0
22. A line passes through (2, 4) and perpendicular to the line 3x + 4y – 4 = 0. Find the equation
of
the line.
a. 3x + 4y + 20 = 0 b. 2x + 3y – 18 = 0 c. 3x + 2y – 18 = 0 d. 4x – 3y + 4 = 0
23. Find the equation of a straight line with a slope of 2 and x-intercept of 1.
a. 2xs + y + 2 = 0 b. 2x – y – 2 = 0 c. x – 2y + 2 = 0 d. 2x – y + 2 = 0
24. Find the equation of a line passing through (1, 4) and parallel to the line 3x – 4y = 6.
a. 3x + 4y – 13 = 0 b. 3x – 4y + 13 = 0 c. 4x – 3y + 13 = 0 d. 4x + 3y – 13 = 0
25. Find the distance between the given lines 4x – 3y = 12 and 4x – 3y = -8.
a. 4 b. 10 c. 8 d. 3
27. How far is the intersection of the lines 4x – 5y = 26 and 3x + 7y +2 = 0 from the origin?
a. 3 5 b. 5 c. 4 5 d. 2 5
29. A line passes through (-2, 5) and (k, 1) and has x-intercept of 3. Find k.
a. 2 b. 3 c. 1 d. 4
30. Find the x-intercept of a line which is perpendicular to a line 3x + 4y + 8 = 0 and which
passes
through point (2, 1).
a. 2/3 b. 5/4 c. ¾ d. 1/3
31. The general second degree equation has the form Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0. If B2
–
4AC = 0, the equation describes
a. a circle b. an ellipse c. a hyperbola d. a parabola
32. Find the equation of the circle circumscribing a triangle whose vertices are at (0, 0), (0, 5)
and
(3, 3).
a. x2 + y2 – x – 5y = 0 b. x2 + y2 – x – 4y = 0
2 2
c. x + y – 2x – 3y = 0 d. x2 + y2 – 2x – 6y = 0
33. All circles having the same center but with unequal radii are called
a. tangent circles b. unequal circles c. eccentric circles d. concentric circles
34. Find the equation of the circle tangent to the y-axis and having the center at (5, 3).
a. (x – 3)2 + (y - 3)2 = 25 b. (x – 5)2 + (y - 3)2 = 25
2 2
c. (x – 4) + (y - 5) = 20 d. (x – 5)2 + (y - 5)2 = 25
35. The general second degree equation has the form Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0. If
B2 – 4AC = 0 describes an ellipse if
a. B2 – 4AC = 0 b. B2 – 4AC = 1 c. B2 – 4AC > 0 d. B2 – 4AC < 0
36. Find the equation of the circle whose center is at (1, -3) and which passes through (-3, 5).
a. (x + 1)2 + (y +3)2 = 100 b. (x – 2)2 + (y - 3)2 = 80
2 2
c. (x – 1) + (y +3) = 80 d. (x – 2)2 + (y + 4)2 = 100
37. Find the equation of the circle tangent to the line 3x + 4y = 15 and having its center at (-3, -4).
a. (x + 3) + (y + 4) = 64 b. (x + 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 64
2 2
c. (x + 5) + (y - 4) = 64 d. (x – 3)2 + (y - 4)2 = 64
38. How far is the center of the circle x2 + y2 – 8x + 1 = 0 from the x-axis?
a. 2 b. 0 c. 1 d. 3
39. Compute the ratio of the area of the circle x2 + y2 – 10x – 24y + 25 = 0 and the circle
x2 + y2 – 10x + 4y – 7 = 0.
a. 5 b. 3 c. 6 d. 4
40. Find the distance between the centers of the two circles x2 + y2 – 4x – 4y + 4 = 0 and
x2 + y2 – 4x + 8y + 4 = 0.
a. 4 b. 6 c. 8 d. 10
41. Find the equation of a circle circumscribing the triangle formed by the lines y = 0, y = x and
2x + 3y = 10.
a. x2 + y2 – 5x + y = 0 b. x2 + y2 – 4x + y = 0
2 2
c. x + y – 3x + y = 0 d. x2 + y2 – 6x + y = 0
48. Find the vertex of a parabola having its focus at (7, -4) and its directrix y = 2.
a. (-4, 2) b. (3, -5) c. (7, -1) d. (6, -2)
49. The sum of the distances from the two foci to any point in a/an ________ is a constant.
a. parabola b. any conic c. hyperbola d. ellipse
52. Find the equation of a parabola with axis vertical and passing through (0, 0), (1, 0) and (5,
-20).
a. x2 + x + y2 = 0 b. x2 – x + y = 0 c. x – x2 + y2 = 0 d. x – x2 + y = 0
54. An arch 18 m high has the form of a parabola with vertical axis. The length of a horizontal
beam
placed across the arch 8 m from the top is 64 m. Find the width of the arch at the bottom.
a. 96 m b. 100 m c. 87 m d. 70 m
56. What is the area enclosed by the curve 9x2 + 25y2 – 225 = 0?
a. 188.496 sq. units b. 47.124 sq. units c. 150.796 sq. units d. 73.398 sq. units
x2 y2
57. The semiconjugate axis of the hyperbola − = 1 is
9 4
a. 3 b. -3 c. 2 d. -2
58. The orbit of the earth is an ellipse with the sun at a focus, the semimajor axis is 93 million
miles, the eccentricity is 1/60. Find the greatest and least distance of the earth from the sun
in miles.
a. 94.55, 91.45 b. 90.44, 95.36 c. 92.36, 86.23 d. 96.32, 100.31
2 2
59. Compute the eccentricity of the curve 9x + 4y – 24y – 72x + 144 = 0.
a. 0.62 b. 0.75 c. 0.58 d. 0.84
x2 y2
60. The length of the latus rectum for the ellipse + = 1 is equal to
64 16
a. 3 b. 4 c. 5 d. 6
61. Compute the length of the latus rectum of the hyperbola 9x2 – 4y2 – 90x + 189 = 0
a. 6 b. 7 c. 8 d. 9
62. Find the equation of the asymptotes for the hyperbola (y – 5)2 – (x + 5)2 = 36.
a. y = ±x b. y – 5 = ± (x + 5) c. y – 4 = ± (x – 4) d. y – 5 = ± (x – 5)
63. __________ is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that the difference of its distances
from two fixed points on the plane is constant.
a. Hyperbola b. Ellipse c. Circle d. Parabola
64. In an ellipse, a chord which contains a focus and is perpendicular to the major axis is the
a. focal width b. conjugate axis c. minor axis d. latus rectum
65. The line passing through the focus and perpendicular to the directrix of a parabola is called
a. latus rectum b. axis of the parabola c. tangent line d. secant line
67. The axis of the hyperbola, which is parallel to its directrices, is known as
a. conjugate axis b. transverse axis c. major axis d. minor axis
ANSWER KEY: