Analytic Geometry Notes
Analytic Geometry Notes
Introduction:
This material includes brief review of the basic terms concerning coordinates of a
point, distance between two points, slopes and equations of lines.
The two axes separate the plane into four regions called quadrants. Points can lie
in one of the four quadrants or on an axis. The points on the x-axis to the right of the
origin correspond to positive numbers; while to the left of the origin correspond to
negative numbers. The points on the y-axis above the origin correspond to positive
numbers; while below the origin correspond to negative numbers.
An ordered pair of real numbers, called the coordinates of a point, locates a point
in the Cartesian plane. Each ordered pair corresponds to exactly one point in the
Cartesian plane.
Villena-Diaz 2
E
D
A
F x
The following are the points in the above figure: A(-6,3), B(-2,-3), C (4,-2),
D(3,4), E(0,5), F(-3,0).
For examples 1-5, use the following condition: Five insects M,A,V,I,C are
initially at a point T(-3, -6) on a Cartesian plane..
2. If A traveled 4 units to the left and 7 units downward, at what point is it now?
3. If V traveled 6 units to the left and 8 units upward, at what point is it now?
4. If I traveled 8 units to the right and 9 units upward, at what point is it now?
5. If C traveled 7 units to the left and 15 units upward, at what point is it now?
Example 6. Given the points P(3,1) and Q(15,6). Determine the length PQ.
For example 7-10: Given the points R(-4,-1), V (-1, -5) and D(-4, -5).
Solution: 5 + 4 + 3 = 12 units
B. Slope of a line
Example 11. Given the points P(3,1) and Q(15,6). Determine the slope of PQ .
1- 6 6- 1
Solution: or
3 - 15 15 - 3
- 5 5
= or
- 12 12
Example 12. Given the points R(-4,-1), V (-1, -5) and D(-4, -5).
Sketch the triangle RVD. Determine the slopes of lines RV, VD and RD.
Villena-Diaz 4
solution:
- 1+ 5 4
slope of line RV: = . Note that the line RV leans to the left.
- 4+ 1 - 3
- 5+ 5
slope of line VD: = 0 . Note that line VD is horizontal.
- 1+ 4
- 1+ 5
slope of line RD: . Undefined. Note that the line RD is vertical.
- 4+ 4
Example 13. Given the points P(3,1) and Q(15,6). Determine the equation of the line
PQ .
6- 1
y–1= (x-3)
15 - 3
12y – 12 = 5x – 15
0 = 5x -12y -3
5x -12y -3 = 0.
6- 1
y-6 = (x-15)
15 - 3
0 = 5x – 12 y – 3
5x – 12y – 3 = 0.
Villena-Diaz 5
a) General form: ax + by + c = 0.
b) Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-
intercept.
c) Point slope form: y − y1 = m( x − x1 ) where (x1, y1) is any point on the
line.
y2 − y1
d) Two point form: y − y1 = ( x − x1 ) where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are
x2 − x1
any two points on the line.
x y
e) Intercept form: + = 1 where a is the x-intercept and b is the
a b
y-intercept.
b) x = 9
c) y = -10
x y
d) + =1
6 8
Solutions:
a) 4x – 2y + 7 = 0
2y = 4x + 7
4x + 7
y=
2
The slope is 2.
x y
d) + =1
6 8
4x + 3y = 24
3y = -4x +24
- 4 x + 24
y=
3
Reminders:
• A line that leans to the right has positive slope. The steeper the line, the higher
the slope is.
m n p
• A line that leans to the left has negative slope. The steeper the line, the lower the
slope is.
w x y
Given two non-vertical lines p and q so that p has slope m1 and q has slope m2.
f) If p and q are parallel, then m1 = m2.
g) If p and q are perpendicular to each other, then m1m2 = -1.
b) Determine the equation of the line passing through the point R(-1,-2) and
perpendicular to PQ .
Example 16. Determine the equation of the line passing through D(4, 7) and parallel
to the line 3x – 2y -8 = 0.
Example 17. Determine the equation of the line passing through D(4, 7) and
perpendicular to the line 3x – 2y -8 = 0.
Villena-Diaz 7
Exercises:
For items # 1-7, please refer to the following points: L(-3,-5), M(11,-4) and N=(5,7).
4. What is the equation of the line perpendicular to LM and whose y-intercept is 10.
7. What is the equation of the line whose x-intercept is –4 and y-intercept is 12?
8. Determine the value of k so that the line whose equation is 2x +3y –13=0 shall pass
through the point (-2,4)?
9. Two buses leave the same station at 7:00 p.m. One bus travels at the rate of 30 kph
and the other travels at 40 kph. If they go on the same direction, how many km apart are
the buses at 8:00 p.m.?
10. Two buses leave the same station at 7:00 p.m. One bus travels at the rate of 30 kph
and the other travels at 40 kph. If they go on opposite direction, how many km apart are
the buses at 8:00 p.m.?
11. Two buses leave the same station at 7:00 p.m. One bus travels north at the rate of
30 kph and the other travels east at 40 kph. How many km apart are the buses at 8:00
p.m.?
12. Which of the following is true about the quadrilateral with vertices A(0,0), B(-2,1), C
(3,4) and D(5,3)?
13. Show by means of slopes that the points P(0,0), A(-2,1), U (3,4) and
L(5,3) are vertices of a parallelogram. (Recall that in a parallelogram, opposite
sides are parallel)
14. Show by means of slopes that the points L(-6,1), I(-4,6), N(4,-3) and
A(6,2) are vertices of a rectangle. (Recall that in a rectangle, the adjacent sides are
perpendicular, and the opposite sides are parallel.)