WOLMER’S BOYS’ SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
Date: September 17, 2020
Topic: Coordinate Geometry
OBJECTIVES: By completing this lesson, you MUST be able to
a. Identify the gradient and y-intercept given the equation of the line
b. calculate the y-intercept of a straight line (calculation)
c. state the equation of a line
MOTIVATION: “If you think you are too small to make a difference,
try sleeping with a mosquito”
EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE:
The ‘equation’ of a straight line is usually written in the form
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑚 the gradient of the line; always beside 𝒙
𝑐 the y-intercept (point where the line cuts the y-axis)
When stating the equation of any straight line, the constants are the gradient (𝑚) and the y-
intercept (𝑐). The other two variables (𝑥 and 𝑦) simply represents all the points which the line
passes through. This means that a line may have many 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates but the gradient (𝑚)
and the y-intercept (𝑐) cannot be changed (hence, why they are constants).
EXERCISE #1:
1. State the equation of the straight line with
a. gradient = 2 and y-intercept = 4
b. gradient = 3 and y-intercept = -5
1
c. gradient = and y-intercept = 2
2
d. gradient = -2 and y-intercept = 1
3
e. gradient = and y-intercept = -3
4
2. Write down the gradient and the y-intercept of each line.
a. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3 e. 𝑦 = 4(𝑥 + 2)
b. 𝑦 = −4𝑥 − 2 f. 𝑦 = 3(𝑥 − 7)
1 𝑥+ 5
c. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 g. 𝑦 =
2 2
2 𝑥 − 10
d. 𝑦 = 3
𝑥− 4 h. 𝑦 = 4
EXAMPLE 1: Use the diagram below to answer the questions which follow.
a. Calculate the gradient/slope of the line using any points on the line
[solution]
Using the points (0,2) and (6,6) to calculate the gradient:
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
Gradient =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
2 − 6
=
0 − 6
−4
=
−6
2
=
3
b. State the 𝑦-intersect (the point at which the line cuts the 𝑦-axis)
[solution] The coordinate where the line cuts the 𝑦-axis is (0,2)
Therefore the 𝑦-intersect is 2
c. Using the solutions in parts (a) and (b) above, state the equation of the line
[solution] The general format for the equation of the line is 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
In order to state the equation, substitute the values for the gradient (𝑚) and
the y-intercept (𝑐)
2
Therefore, the equation of the line is: 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 + 2
Remember, we do not substitute for 𝑥 and 𝑦 because these variable change.
There are many points on the line; this means there are many 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates.
As such, we make a general equation which substitutes only the constants
(the gradient and the 𝑦-intercept).
EXAMPLE 2: Find the equation of the line that passes through the points (1, 5) and (3, 1)
Equation of straight line formula: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 5 − 1
a. Gradient = =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 1 − 3
4
=
−2
= −2
b. Finding the 𝑦-intersect (using the graph)
[solution] The point at which the line cuts
the y-axis is (0,7)
Therefore the y-intersect is 7.
(Note that we had to extend the
line in order for it to touch the y-axis)
c. State the equation of the line
[solution] Equation of straight line formula: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
Substitute the values for the gradient and the y-intercept
𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 7
d. EXAMPLE 3: Prove that the point with coordinates (4 , 9) lies on the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1
[solution] In order to prove that this point lines on the line, substitute the coordinates in
the equation. If the equation balances, then the point lies on the line.
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1
(9) = 2(4) + 1
9 = 8 + 1
9 = 9
The equation balances and therefore the point lies on the line
EXAMPLE 4:
In the diagram above, AB is the straight line joining A (-1 , 9) and B (3 , 1).
a. Calculate the gradient of the line AB
[solution] Using the points (-1 , 9) and (3 , 1) to calculate the gradient:
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 9 − 1
Gradient = =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 −1 − 3
8
=
−4
= −2
b. Determine the equation of the line AB
[solution] Equation of a straight line formula: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
Equation of the line AB: 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 7
EXERCISE #2:
1. The diagram shows the straight line that passes through the points (2 , 1) and (5 , 4)
a. Find the gradient of the line
b. Write down the y-intercept
c. Write down the equation of the straight line
2. State the gradient of each line and the coordinates of the y-intercept
a. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 8 e. 𝑦 = −3𝑥 + 2
1
b. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 3 f. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2
2
c. 𝑦 = 8 − 2𝑥 g. 𝑦 = 4 − 3𝑥
d. 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 8 h. 𝑦 = 3(5 − 𝑥)
3. Find the equation of the line that passes through the points with the coordinates below.
a. (0 , 2) and (4 , 10)
b. (4 , 2) and (8 , 4)
c. (0 , 6) and (6 , 4)
d. (1 , 4) and (3 , 0)
4. The line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑐 passes through the point (4 , 7). Find the value of c
5. The point (5 , -2) lies on the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 𝑐. Find the value of c
6. The line 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 2 passes through the point (3 , 17). Find the value of 𝑚
2
7. A straight line passes through the point P (-3 , 5) and has a gradient of
3
a. Write down the equation of this line in the form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
b. Show that this line is parallel to the line 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 0
8. A line has equation 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 1
Another line is parallel to this and passes through the point with coordinates (5 , 2)
Determine the equation of this line
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