First published by

John Kinny-Lewis in 2012

c John Kinny-Lewis 2012

National Library of Australia
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ISBN: 978-0-9872782-1-0
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Typeset by Christopher Hines

Edited by Christopher Hines

Preface

This revision of Mathematics Topics has been written

to follow the syllabus of the NSW Higher School Certificate course of Mathematics.

It is assumed that the student is familiar with the content of the corresponding Mathematics syllabus.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

Coordinate Geometry
Example 1
y
C
A
T
x
B

The line ` passes through A (1, 3) and has the equation x + 2y 5 = 0.

The point B has the coordinates (1, 2) and the line CB is perpendicular
to `.
(i) Find the length of the interval BA.
(ii) Write down the slope of BA and use your calculator to find the angle
BA makes with the positive direction of the x-axis. Give your answer
to the nearest degree.
(iii) Show that BC has the equation 2x y 4 = 0.
(iv) If T is the intersection of ` and BC, find the coordinates of T .
(v) Find the exact perpendicular distance from T to the line BA.
(vi) Find the area of the triangle AT B.

Solution:
(i)
p
(1 1)2 + (3 2)2

= 4 + 25

= 29 units

BA =

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

(ii)

gradient of BA =

5
2 3
=
1 1
2

tan =

5
2

= 112
(iii) Equation of ` is x + 2y 5 = 0,
5
1
1
y = x + gradient is
2
2
2
Gradient of BC = 2

(since BC `)

Equation of BC is y 2 = 2(x 1)
y + 2 = 2x 2
2x y 4 = 0 is the equation of BC.
(iv) Solving simultaneously:
2x y 4 = 0

(1)

x + 2y 5 = 0

(2)

(1) 2 4x 2y 8 = 0 (3)
(3) + (2) 5x 13 = 0
x=
In (2)

13
5

13
+ 2y 5 = 0
5
2y =

12
5

y=1

T =

3 1
2 ,1
5 5

1
5

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

5
(v) The equation of BA is y 3 = (x + 1).
2
2y 6 = 5x 5
5x + 2y 1 = 0




72
5 13 + 2 6 1


5
5

d=
= 5
2
2
5 +2
29
72
=
5 29

72 29
units
=
145
(vi)
Area of the triangle AT B =

1
72
29 = 7.2 cm2
2
5 29

Example 2
y

O
C

A
B
OC is parallel to AB and OA is parallel to BC.
A (0, 2), B = (1, 4) and O is the origin.
(i) Find the coordinates of C.
(ii) Find the area of OABC.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

(i)
gradient of AB =

4 2
= 2
10

Since OC is parallel to AB then from O run out 1 and fall by 2

co-ordinates of C = (1, 2)
(ii) Area of OABC = 2 1 = 2 units2 .

Example 3
Plot the points A (1, 4), B (7, 2) and C (1, 2) on the number plane.
(i) Show that AB AC.
(ii) Find the area of triangle ABC.
(iii) Write down the three inequalities that define the region enclosed by the
sides of the triangle ABC.
(i)

A
B
x

gradient of AB =

1
24
= = m1
71
3

gradient of AC =

2 4
= 3 = m2
1 1

AB AC

(m1 m2 = 1)

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

(ii)
p

(7 1)2 + (2 4)2 = 40
p

AC = (1 1)2 + (4 2)2 = 40

AB =

area =

1
40 40 = 20 units2
2

1
(iii) Equation of AB is y 4 = (x 1),
3
3y 12 = x + 1
x + 3y 13 = 0
Equation of AC is y 4 = 3(x 1),
y 4 = 3x 3
3x y + 1 = 0

gradient of BC =

2 2
1
=
7 1
2

1
equation of BC is y 2 = (x 7)
2
2y 4 = x 7
x 2y 3 = 0
for AB : x 3y 13 < 0
for AC : 3x + y + 1 > 0
for BC : x 2y 3 < 0

The three above inequalities define the enclosed region.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

1)
y

R
x

The diagram shows the points P (2, 0), Q (3, 2) and R (2, 2). is
the acute angle between QR and P R.
(i) Show that P and Q lie on the line 2x + y + 4 = 0.
1
.
2

(iii) Show that the length of P R is 2 5 units.

(ii) Show that the gradient of P R is

(iv) Show that P Q and P R are perpendicular.

(v) Find tan .
(vi) Find the midpoint (M ) of QR.
(vii) Find the equation of the circle with centre M
that passes through R.
(viii) Copy this diagram and shade the region which satisfies the inequality
2x + y + 4 0
2) The lines L1 and L2 have equations L1 : x 4y 13 = 0 and L2 :
2x + y + 1 = 0.
(i) Find the shortest distance from P (1, 2) to L1 .
(ii) Show that the lines intersect at Q (1, 3).
(iii) Find the distance P Q.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

3) Let A and B be the points (0, 2) and (2, 5) respectively.

(i) Find the co-ordinates of the midpoint of AB.
(ii) Find the slope of the line AB.
(iii) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB.
(iv) C lies on the line y = x + 1 and is equidistant from A and B.
Find the co-ordinates of C.
4)
y

B
D

ABCD is a parallelogram where A = (1, 3), B = (5, 2), C = (3, 5)

and D = (1, 0).
(i) Find the equation of AD.
(ii) Find the perpendicular distance from C to AD.
(iii) Find the distance AD.
(iv) Find the area of ABCD.
(v) What fraction of the area of ABCD lies above the x-axis?

COORDINATE GEOMETRY

5)
(i) Find the equation of the straight line AB, given that A has coordinates (2, 1) and that AB is parallel to the line whose equation is 3x y + 1 = 0.
(ii) The line AB in (i) intersects the y-axis at C. Find the co-ordinates
of the midpoint of AC.
6)
(i) Show that the points (3, 4), (1, 2) and (5, 0) are collinear.
(ii) Show that the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0 is a tangent to the circle with
centre at the origin and radius 1 unit.
7)
(i) Find the co-ordinates of the point of intersection of the lines
x+y1=0

xy =0

(ii) Draw these lines on the number plane and indicate, by shading,
the region of intersection of
x + y 1 0, x y 0 and y 0
(iii) Find the area of the shaded region.
8) Plot the points A (3, 2), B (-1, -1) and C (0, 3).
(i) Find the equation of the line through C and parallel to AB.
(ii) Find the co-ordinates of D, the point where the line in (i) meets
the x-axis.
(iii) Prove that ABCD is a parallelogram.
9) Find the co-ordinates of A, on the line x = 2, such that the line joining
A to B (4, 7) is perpendicular to 3x y + 1 = 0.
10) Given that P , Q and S are the points (-1, -2), (2, 5) and (4, 1) respectively, and R lies in the first quadrant, find R so that P QRS is a
parallelogram.
END OF CHAPTER

10

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

Coordinate Geometry - Solutions

1)
y

R
x

The diagram shows the points P (2, 0), Q (3, 2) and R (2, 2). is the acute
angle between QR and P R.
(i) Show that P and Q lie on the line 2x + y + 4 = 0.
gradient of P Q =

02
= 2
2 3

equation of P Q is y 0 = 2(x 2)
y = 2x 4
2x + y + 4 = 0 is the equation of P Q, hence P and Q lie on the line.
(ii) Show that the gradient of P R is

1
.
2

gradient of P R =

20
1
=
2 2
2

(iii) Show that the length of P R is 2 5 units.

p
(2 2)2 + (0 2)2

= 16 + 4

= 20

= 2 5 units

PR =

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

11

(iv) Show that P Q and P R are perpendicular.

mP Q = 2 and mP R =
mP Q mP R = 2

1
2

1
= 1
2

PQ PR
(v) Find tan .
QR is parallel to the x-axis.
tan = mP R =

1
2

(alternate angles = in parallel lines QR, PO)

(vi) Find the midpoint (M ) of QR.


3 + 2
,2
M=
2


1
= ,2
2


(vii) Find the equation of the circle with centre M that passes through R.
QR = 5 units
MR = 2

1
units
2

1
the circle has a radius of 2 units and centre
2


 2
1 2
5
2
the equation is x +
+ (y 2) =
2
2


1 2
1
x+
+ (y 2)2 = 6
2
4


1
,2 .
2

12

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

(viii) Copy this diagram and shade the region which satisfies the inequality

2x + y + 4 0

R
x

2) The lines L1 and L2 have equations L1 : x4y 13 = 0 and L2 : 2x+y +1 = 0.

(i) Find the shortest distance from P (1, 2) to L1 .

L1 : x 4y 13 = 0
Now p =

|ax1 + by1 + c|

a2 + b2

a = 1, b = 4, c = 13, x1 = 1 and y1 = 2
p=

|1 1 4 2 + 13|
20
p
=
17
12 + (4)2

20
p = units.
17
(ii) Show that the lines intersect at Q (1, 3).

x 4y = 13

(1)

2x + y = 1

(2)

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

(2) 4

8x + 4y = 4

(1) + (3)

(3)

9x = 9
x=1

In (2) 2 1 + y = 1
y = 3
Q (1, 3)
(iii) Find the distance P Q.

P Q = 2 3
P Q = 5 units

(P Q lies on the line x = 1)

3) Let A and B be the points (0, 2) and (2, 5) respectively.

(i) Find the co-ordinates of the midpoint of AB.

 

0 + 2 2 + 5
1
M=
,
= 1, 3
2
2
2
(ii) Find the slope of the line AB.
mAB =

3
25
=
0 2
2

(iii) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB.



1
The perpendicular passes through the midpoint M 1, 3
2
2
and has gradient .
3
the equation is y
3y

7
2
= (x 1)
2
3

21
= 2x + 2
2

6y 21 = 4x + 4
4x 6y + 25 = 0

13

14

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

(iv) C lies on the line y = x + 1 and is equidistant from A and B. Find the
co-ordinates of C.
If C is equidistant from A and B then it must lie on the perpendicular bisector, as well as the line y = x + 1. Solving these two conditions simultaneously,

y =x+1
4x 6y + 25 = 0

(1)
(2)

Substituting for y in (2)

4x 6(x + 1) + 25 = 0
4x 6x 6 + 25 = 0
2x + 19 = 0
1
1
and y = 10
2
2


x=9

1
1
C = 9 , 10
2
2

(from i)

4)

B
D

x
E

ABCD is a parallelogram where A = (1, 3), B = (5, 2), C = (3, 5) and

D = (1, 0).

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

(i) Find the equation of AD.

gradient of AD =

3
3 0
=
1 1
2

3
equation of AD is y 0 = (x 1)
2
2y = 3x 3
3x + 2y + 3 = 0

(ii) Find the perpendicular distance from C to AD.

p=

|3 3 + 2 5 + 3|

32 + 2 2

22
=
13

22 13
units
=
13

(iii) Find the distance AD.

p
(1 1)2 + (3 0)2

= 13 units

AD =

(iv) Find the area of ABCD.

22
area of ABCD = 13 = 22 units2
13

(v) What fraction of the area of ABCD lies above the x-axis?

gradient of AB =

2 3
5
=
51
4

5
equation of AB is y 2 = (x 5)
4

15

16

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

Let y = 0 on the line AB to determine the co-ordinates of E



2
E= 3 ,0
5
2
2
ED = 3 1 = 4
5
5
the height of 4AED = 3
area of 4AED =

(the y value of A)

1
2
3
4 3=6
2
5
5

area of ABCD = 22 from part (iv)

3
2
the area above the x-axis = 22 6 = 15
5
5
2
the fraction of area above the x-axis = 15 22
5
=

7
10

5)
(i) Find the equation of the straight line AB, given that A has co-ordinates (2, 1)
and that AB is parallel to the line whose equation is 3x y + 1 = 0.
If AB is parallel to 3x y + 1 = 0 then it will be of the form 3x y + k = 0. Since
A(2, 1) lies on 3x y + k = 0,

3 2 1 + k = 0 k = 7
the equation of AB is 3x y 7 = 0

(ii) The line AB in (i) intersects the y-axis at C. Find the co-ordinates of the
midpoint of AC.

When x = 0, y = 7
C = (0, 7)

midpoint of AC =

2 + 0 1 7
,
2
2

= (1, 4)

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

17

6) (i) Show that the points (3, 4), (1, 2) and (5, 0) are collinear.
let A = (3, 4), B = (1, 2) and C = (5, 0)
gradient of AB =

1
42
=
3 1
2

gradient of BC =

20
1
=
1 5
2

gradient of AB = gradient of BC
A, B and C are collinear.
(ii) Show that the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0 is a tangent to the circle with centre at
the origin and radius 1 unit.
If the perpendicular distance from the centre O (0, 0) to the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0
is 1 unit (the circle radius) then this line is a tangent to the circle.
d=
=

|3 0 + 4 0 + 5|

32 + 4 2
5
=1
5

the line 3x + 4y + 5 is a tangent to this circle.

7) (i) Find the co-ordinates of the point of intersection of the lines
x+y1=0

xy =0

Solving these simultaneously

(1) + (2)

x+y =1

(1)

xy =0

(2)

2x = 1
x=


the point of intersection is

1 1
,
2 2

1
1
and y =
2
2


18

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

(ii) Draw these lines on the number plane and indicate, by shading, the region of
intersection of
x + y 1 0, x y 0 and y 0
y

(iii) Find the area of the shaded region.

x + y = 1 intersects the x-axis at A (1, 0)
base is 1 unit and the height is

1
units.
2

area of the region is =

1
1
1
1 = units2
2
2
4

8) Plot the points A (3, 2), B (-1, -1) and C (0, 3).

(i) Find the equation of the line through C and parallel to AB.
y

C
A

gradient of AB =

2 1
3
=
3 1
4

3
the equation of the line through C is y = x + 3
4

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

19

(ii) Find the co-ordinates of D, the point where the line in (i) meets the x-axis.
when y = 0,

3
x = 3
4

D (4, 0)

(iii) Prove that ABCD is a parallelogram.

gradient of AC =

23
1
=
30
3

gradient of BD =

1 0
1
=
1 4
3

AC || BD and we are given that AB || CD

ABCD is a parallelogram since it has two opposite sides parallel.
9) Find the co-ordinates of A, on the line x = 2, such that the line joining A to B
(4, 7) is perpendicular to 3x y + 1 = 0.

clearly the gradient of the line is 3

the gradient of AB =

1
3

let A have the co-ordinates (2, b)

gradient of AB =

b7
1
=
24
3

2
2
b=7
3
3


2
A = 2, 7
3

b7=

20

COORDINATE GEOMETRY - SOLUTIONS

10) Given that P , Q and S are the points (-1, -2), (2, 5) and (4, 1) respectively,
and R lies in the first quadrant, find R so that P QRS is a parallelogram.
R

gradient of P Q =

5 2
7
=
2 1
3

The run = 3 units and the rise = 7 units, from S (4, 1) the coordinates of R are
R = (4 + 3, 1 + 7)
= (7, 8) which lies in the first quadrant.
END OF CHAPTER