Coordinate Geometry

Midpoint of a Line Segment

The midpoint of two points (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) is found by
averaging the 𝑥- and 𝑦-coordinates.
𝑥 +𝑥 𝑦 +𝑦
midpoint = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯, ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
2 2

Distance Between Two Points / Length of a Line Segment

The distance between two points (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) is found using Pythagoras' Theorem.
  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯   ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
distance = (𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + (𝑦 − 𝑦 ) = run + rise

Gradient of a Line Segment

The gradient of between two points (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) is the rate the 𝑦-values rise 𝑦 −𝑦
𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯ 𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
are increasing compared to the rate the 𝑥-values are increasing. That is, ratio run 𝑥 −𝑥
of the rise to the run. It is also the steepness of the line.
The gradient is also the tangent of the angle between the line and the positive 𝑥-axis. 𝑚 = tan 𝜃

Positive 𝑚 > 0 Negative 𝑚 < 0 Zero 𝑚 = 0 Undefined

Axis Intercepts
The points where a line will cut the 𝑥-axis and the 𝑦-axis are the axis intercepts.
The 𝑥-intercept occurs at the 𝑥-axis, therefore the 𝑦 value at this point must be 0.
The 𝑦-intercept occurs at the 𝑦-axis, therefore the 𝑥 value at this point must be 0.

Equations of a Straight Line Given Particular Information

the gradient, 𝑚, and the 𝑦-intercept, 𝑐 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
the coordinates of two points on the graph (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), or 𝑦 −𝑦
𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯, 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + 𝑦
the gradient, 𝑚, and a coordinate of a point on the graph, (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) 𝑥 −𝑥
the 𝑥-intercept, 𝑎, and 𝑦-intercept, 𝑏 𝑥 𝑦
⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= 1
𝑎 𝑏
a coordinate, (𝑥 , 𝑦 ), and it is a horizontal or a vertical line 𝑦=𝑦 , 𝑥=𝑥

Parallel Lines
Two lines are parallel when their gradients are equal. That is, the ratio of the rise to
rise rise
the run are equivalent: 𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯, 𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯, ∴𝑚 =𝑚 .
run run
Given the equation or gradient, 𝑚 , of a parallel line and a point on the graph, (𝑥 , 𝑦 )
𝑚=𝑚 , 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + 𝑦

Perpendicular Lines
Two lines are perpendicular when their gradients are negative reciprocals of
each other. That is, the rise and run switch and the sign is changed:
rise run 1
𝑚 = ⎯⎯⎯, 𝑚 = − ⎯⎯⎯, ∴ 𝑚 = − ⎯⎯⎯.
run rise 𝑚
Alternatively, the product of the gradients is − 1, 𝑚 × 𝑚 = −1.
Given the equation or gradient, 𝑚 , of a perpendicular line and a point on the graph, (𝑥 , 𝑦 )
1
𝑚 = − ⎯⎯⎯, 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + 𝑦
𝑚