Week # 3
Week # 3
Week # 3
The slope of a nonvertical line is a measure of the number of units the line rises (or falls)
vertically for each unit of horizontal change from left to right. Consider the two points
through (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) on the line in Figure. As you move from left to right along
this line, a vertical change of
∆𝑦 = 𝑦 − 𝑦
∆𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑥 .
∆𝑦 𝑦 −𝑦
𝑚 = = ,𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 .
∆𝑥 𝑥 −𝑥
NOTE: There are four types of slopes, one has a positive slope, one has a slope of zero,
one has a negative slope, and one has an “undefined” slope. In general, the greater the
absolute value of the slope of a line, the steeper the line.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3
EQUATIONS OF LINES
If (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) is a point on a nonvertical line that has a slope of 𝑚 and (𝑥, 𝑦) is any other
point on the line, then
= 𝑚.
𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ),
EXAMPLE: Find an equation of the line that has a slope of 3 and passes through the
point (1, −2). Then sketch the line.
𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ).
𝑦 + 2 = 3(𝑥 − 1),
𝑦 + 2 = 3𝑥 − 3,
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 5.
installs a wheelchair ramp that rises to a height of 22 inches over a length of 24 feet, as
shown in Figure. Is the ramp steeper than recommend?
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3
SOLUTION: The length of the ramp is 24 feet or 12(24) = 288 inches. The slope of
the ramp is the ratio of its height (the rise) to its length (the run).
Slope of ramp = ,
Slope of ramp = ,
Because the slope of the ramp is less than ≈ 0.083, the ramp is not steeper than
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏,
Two distinct nonvertical lines are parallel if and only if their slopes are equal—
that is, if and only if
𝑚 = 𝑚 .
Two nonvertical lines are perpendicular if and only if their slopes are negative
reciprocals of each other—that is, if and only if
1
𝑚 =− .
𝑚
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3
EXAMPLE: Find the general forms of the equations of the lines that pass through the
point (2, −1) and are
1. parallel to and
2. perpendicular
to the line 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5.
2 5
𝑦= 𝑥− .
3 3
1. The line through (2, −1) that is parallel to the given line also has a slope of . As
𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑥 ) ,
2
𝑦 − (−1) = (𝑥 − 2),
3
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 7 = 0.
2. Using the negative reciprocal of the slope of the given line, you can determine
that the slope of a line perpendicular to the given line is − . As we know that the
point-slope form is
𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ),
3
𝑦 − (−1) = − (𝑥 − 2),
2
after some simplifications, we get
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4 = 0.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions. The function (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) is the composite of 𝑓 with
𝑔. The domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑔 such that 𝑔(𝑥) is in the
domain of 𝑓.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3
a. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔
b. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓
Solution:
a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
= 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥)
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 1)
= 2(𝑥 + 1) − 3
= 2𝑥 − 1
b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥)
= 𝑔 𝑓(𝑥)
= 𝑔(2𝑥 − 3)
= (2𝑥 − 3) + 1
= 4𝑥 – 12𝑥 + 10
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 𝑥
b. 𝑔(𝑥 ) =
c. ℎ(𝑥) = −𝑥 − 𝑥 − 1
Solution: