Chapter 2

XY Plane

Chapter 1 Revision
Speed of a Train
x

B CD

F G

Suppose the graph represents the speed of a train moving in a North-South direction.
(1) When is the train going fastest?
(2) When does the train change direction
(3) When is the train furthest from the start?

The Real Line

What is a real number?

Why do we need them?

Are there other kinds of numbers?

The Number Line

The XY-plane
We introduce the XY-plane by adding a number line perpendicular to the rst one, allowing us to
represent ordered pairs of reals.

This allows us to draw pairs of numbers

(x, y),

such as a function's input

and output

y = f (x)

on the same picture, instead of using two dierent number lines.

We also call dierent parts 

quadrants of the plane to make it easier to describe points:

Example I sold 5kg oranges at $1 per kilo and 3kg oranges at $2 per kilo. Draw the demand
function on the XY-plane, assuming it is linear. At what price will I not be able to sell any?

Functions and Their Graphs

A

function is just a rule that assigns a single real number y to every real number x in the domain

of the function.
In the previous example, the demand function is given by the formula

is the demand and

P (Q) = 0.5Q + 3.5, where

is the price. What is the domain?

A function is a tool that tells you (to varying degrees of accuracy) the relationship between dierent
quantities, called

variables. For example price P

you want to sell. It is also function of the price

We will keep things simple and only deal with
all other variables, such as

PS

are

xed ).

PS

is not just a function of how many objects

other substitutable goods are selling for.

functions of one variable. (i.e. we are assuming

Example
Graph

f (x) = 2x + 1.

Example Graph y = 2x x2.

Example Graph y = 2/x + 2.

Straight Lines
In practice, mathematical equation are used to model phenomena to help you better understand
or predict their behavior. For example, you may construct a mathematical equation to describe
the probability of someone having a heart attack, which would be useful if you were an insurance
company.
Often such models are very complicated, and dicult to understand. Consequently, sometimes we
use straight lines to

approximate

the equation we wish to understand, because straight lines are

much easier to undestand.

A Note on Subscripts

Often we want to deal with more than one unknown point

To distinguish dierent unknown point, we use

Dierent points will thus be denoted

(x, y)

subscripts.

(x1 , y1 ), (x2 , y2 ), (x3 , y3 )

at a time.

etc.

The Midpoint Formula

Suppose that

(x1 , y1 )

and

(x2 , y2 )

are two points. What is the coordinate of the point exactly

half-way between them?

Example
Find the coordinates of the point half-way between

(2, 1)

and

(3, 6).

The Distance Formula

Suppose that

(x1 , y1 )

and

(x2 , y2 )

are two points. What is the distance between them?

10

Example
Find the distance between the points

(2, 1)

and

(3, 6).

11

The Gradient (Slope) Formula

Suppose that

(x1 , y1 )

and

(x2 , y2 )

are two points. What is the slope of the line joining them?

12

Example
Find the slope of the line the points

(2, 1)

and

(3, 6).

13

The Point-Slope Formula for a Straight Line

Find a formula for the straight line passing through the point

14

(x1 , y1 )

with slope

m.

Example
Find the equation of the straight line passing through

15

(0, 4)

with slope 2.

The Two-Point Formula for a Straight Line

Find a formula for the straight line passing through the points

16

(x1 , y1 )

and

(x2 , y2 ).

Example
Find the formula of the straight line passing through

17

(1, 2)

and

(4, 7).

The Slope-Intercept Formula for a Straight Line

Suppose you have an equation for a straight line

y = mx + b.
What do

and

represent?

Example Suppose the demand function of apples in the market is given by P (Q) = 10 0.5Q,
where

is $/kg and

is the mass of apples. At what price can you no longer sell apples? What

does the slope of the graph represent?

18

The General Equation of a Straight Line

Can every straight line be written in the form

Example
A line is described in general form by

y = mx + b?

2x 3y + 6 = 0.

19

What is the slope and

y -intercept?

When are Two Lines Parallel? Perpendicular?

Example
Find the equation of the straight line parallel to

y = 2x + 1

20

that passes through the point

(4, 0).

Example
Find the equation of the straight line perpendicular to

(4, 0).

21

y = 2x + 1

that passes through the point