Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate Geometry is considered to be one of
the most interesting concepts of mathematics.
Coordinate Geometry (or the analytic geometry)
describes the link between geometry and algebra
through graphs involving curves and lines. It
provides geometric aspects in Algebra and enables
them to solve geometric problems. It is a part of
geometry where the position of points on the plane
is described using an ordered pair of numbers. Here,
the concepts of coordinate geometry (also known
as Cartesian geometry) are explained along with its
formulas and their derivations.
Introduction to Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate geometry (or analytic geometry) is
defined as the study of geometry using the
coordinate points. Using coordinate geometry, it is
possible to find the distance between two points,
dividing lines in m:n ratio, finding the mid-point of a
line, calculating the area of a triangle in the
Cartesian plane, etc. There are certain terms in
Cartesian geometry that should be properly
understood. These terms include:
Coordinate Geometry Terms
Coordinate Geometry It is one of the branches of geometry where the position of a point is defined using
Definition coordinates.
What are the Coordinates are a set of values which helps to show the exact position of a point
Coordinates? in the coordinate plane.
Coordinate Plane A coordinate plane is a 2D plane which is formed by the intersection of two
Meaning perpendicular lines known as the x-axis and y-axis.
Distance Formula It is used to find the distance between two points situated in A(x 1,y1) and B(x2,y2)
Section Formula It is used to divide any line into two parts, in m:n ratio
This formula is used to find the coordinates at which a line is divided into two
Mid-Point Theorem
equal halves.
What is a Co-ordinate and a Co-ordinate Plane ?
You must be familiar with plotting graphs on a plane,
from the tables of numbers for both linear and non-
linear equations. The number line which is also
known as a Cartesian plane is divided into four
quadrants by two axes perpendicular to each other,
labelled as the x-axis (horizontal line) and the y-
axis(vertical line).
The four quadrants along with their respective
values are represented in the graph below-
Quadrant 1 : (+x, +y)
Quadrant 2 : (-x, +y)
Quadrant 3 : (-x, -y)
Quadrant 4 : (+x, -y)
The point at which the axes intersect is known as
the origin. The location of any point on a plane is
expressed by a pair of values (x, y) and these pairs
are known as the coordinates.
The figure below shows the Cartesian plane with
coordinates (4,2). If the coordinates are identified,
the distance between the two points and the
interval’s midpoint that is connecting the points can
be computed.
Coordinate Geometry Fig. 1: Cartesian plane
Equation of a Line in Cartesian plane
Equation of a line can be represented in many ways,
few of which is given below-
(i) General Form
The general form of a line is given as Ax + By + C =
0.
(ii) Slope intercept Form
Let x, y be the coordinate of a point through which a
line passes, m be the slope of a line, and c be the y-
intercept, then the equation of a line is given by:
y=mx + c
(iii) Intercept Form of a Line
Consider a and b be the x-intercept and y-intercept
respectively, of a line, then the equation of a line is
represented as-
y = mx + c
Slope of a Line:
Consider the general form of a line Ax + By + C = 0,
the slope can be found by converting this form to
the slope-intercept form.
Ax + By + C = 0
⇒ By = − Ax – C
or,
⇒y=
−A C
x−
B B
Comparing the above equation with y = mx + c,
−A
\boldsymbolm= B
Thus, we can directly find the slope of a line from the
general equation of a line.
Coordinate Geometry Formulas and Theorems
Distance Formula: To Calculate Distance
Between Two Points
Let the two points be A and B, having coordinates to
be (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), respectively.
Thus, the distance between two points is given as-
√ 2
d= ( x 2−x 1 ) + ( y 2− y 1)
2
Coordinate Geometry Fig. 2: Distance Formula
Midpoint Theorem: To Find Mid-point of a Line
Connecting Two Points
Consider the same points A and B, which have
coordinates (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), respectively. Let
M(x,y) be the midpoint of lying on the line connecting
these two points A and B. The coordinates of point
M is given as-
m ( x , y )= ( x +2 x , y +2 y )
1 2 1 2
Angle Formula: To Find The Angle Between
Two Lines
Consider two lines A and B, having their slopes
m1 and m2, respectively.
Let “θ” be the angle between these two lines, then
the angle between them can be represented as-
m1−m2
tanθ=
1+ m1 m2
Special Cases:
Case 1: When the two lines are parallel to
each other,
m1 = m2 = m
Substituting the value in the equation above,
m−m
tanθ=
1+ m
2 =0
⇒θ=0
Case 2: When the two lines are
perpendicular to each other,
m1 . m2 = -1
Substituting the value in the original equation,
m1−m2 m1−m2
tanθ= =
1+(−1) 0
which is undefined.
⇒ θ = 90°
Section Formula: To Find a Point Which Divides
a Line into m:n Ratio
Consider a line A and B having coordinates (x 1, y1)
and (x2, y2), respectively. Let P be a point that which
divides the line in the ratio m:n, then the coordinates
of the coordinates of the point P is given as-
When the ratio m:n is internal
( m xm+n+n x ) ,( m ym+n+n y ) ,
2 1 2 1
When the ratio m:n is external:
( m−n
, )(
m x 2−n x 1 m y 2 −n y 1
m−n
, )
Area of a Triangle in Cartesian Plane
The area of a triangle In coordinate geometrywhose
vertices are (x1, y1), (x2, y2) and (x3, y3) is
1
∨x ( y − y ) + x 2 ( y 3− y 1 ) + x 3 ( y 1− y )
2 1 2 3
If the area of a triangle whose vertices are (x 1, y1),
(x2, y2) and (x3, y3) is zero, then the three points are
collinear.
Examples Based On Coordinate Geometry
Concepts
Examples 1: Find the distance between points M
(4,5) and N (-3,8).
Solution:
Applying the distance formula we have,
d= √ (−3−4 ) + ( 8−5 )
2 2
⇒d= √(−7 ) + ( 3 ) =√ 49+ 9
2 2
⇒d= √58
Example 2: Find the equation of a line parallel to
3x+4y = 5 and passing through points (1,1).
Solution:
For a line parallel to the given line, the slope will be
of the same magnitude.
Thus the equation of a line will be represented as
3x+4y=k
Substituting the given points in this new equation,
we have
k=3×1+4×1=3+4=7
Therefore the equation is 3x + 4y = 7
Coordinate Geometry Questions For Practice
[Link] the ratio in which the line 2x + y – 4 =
0 divides the line segment joining the points A(2,
– 2) and B(3, 7).
[Link] the area of the triangle having vertices at A,
B, and C which are at points (2, 3), (–1, 0), and
(2, – 4), respectively. Also, mention the type of
triangle.
3.A point A is equidistant from B(3, 8) and C(-10,
x). Find the value for x and the distance BC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
What is Abscissa and Ordinates in
Coordinate Geometry?
The abscissa and ordinate is used to represent the
position of a point on a graph. The horizontal value
or the X axis value is the abscissa while the vertical
value i.e. the Y axis value is the ordinate. For
example, in an ordered pair (2, 3), 2 is abscissa and
3 is ordinate.
Q2
What is a Cartesian Plane?
A Cartesian plane is a plane which is formed by two
perpendicular lines known as the x-axis (horizontal
axis) and the y-axis (vertical axis). The exact
position of a point in Cartesian plane can be
determined using the ordered pair (x, y).
Q3
Why do we Need Coordinate
Geometry?
Coordinate geometry has various applications in real
life. Some of the areas where coordinate geometry
is an integral part include.
In digital devices like computers, mobile phones,
etc. to locate the position of cursor or finger.
In aviation to determine the position and location
of airplanes accurately.
In maps and in navigation (GPS).
To map geographical locations using latitudes
and longitudes.
