STRAIGHT LINES 1

LESSON 1
STRAIGHT LINES

Coordinates : Let OX and OY be two fixed straight lines in the plane of the paper. The line OX is
called the axis of x, the line OY the axis of y, whilst the two together are called the axes of coordinates.
The point O is called the origin.
Y
From any point P in the plane draw a straight line parallel to OY to meet P2
P
OX in M .
M4
The distance OM is called the Abscissa, and the distance MP the
Ordinate of the point P, whilst the abscissa and the ordinate together are X  M 2 M 3 O M X
P4
called its Coordinates.
P3
If the distances OM and MP be respectively x and y, the coordinates of Y
P are, for brevity, denoted by the symbol  x, y  .
DISTANCES BETWEEN TWO POINTS
Let A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  be two points. Then the distance between them is

 x1  x2    y1  y2 
2 2
AB 

Illustration Show that the points  2, 1 1, 5   2, 0  and  1,  2  are vertices of a parallelogram.
Solution Let the points be denoted by A, B, C and D in order
AB 2   2  1   3  5   5
2 2

BC 2  1  2    5  0   34
2 2

CD 2   2  1   0  2   5
2 2

DA2   1  2    2  3  34
2 2

Since the opposite sides are equal. So the points represents parallelogram.
SECTION FORMULA
(i) Coordinates of the point R which divides the join of points A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  internally in
the ratio AP : BP :: m : n, are
m:n
 mx2  nx1 my2  ny1 
P ,  A(x1, y1) P B(x2, y2)
 mn mn 
Coordinates of mid point of the line segment joining A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  , are
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 x1  x2 y1  y2 
 , 
 2 2 
(ii) Coordinates of the point S which divides the join of points A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  externally in
the ratio AS : BS :: m : n, are
m:n
 mx  nx1 my2  ny1  A(x1, y1) B(x2, y2) S
S 2 , , m  n
 mn mn 
Illustration Divide the join of points P  2, 5 and Q  7, 4  in the ratio 1 : 2
(a) Internally (b) externally
Solution (a) Let R be the point which divides PQ internally in the ratio 1 : 2. Then coordinates of
R are
1   7   2  2 3
x  1 P(2,5) Q(–7, 4)
1 2 3 R
1:2
1 4  2  5 14
y 
1 2 3
 14 
i.e. the required point is  1, 
 3
(b) Let S be the point which divides PQ externally in the ratio 1 : 2. Then the coordinates
of S are
1   7   2  2 11 S P Q
x   11
1 2 1
1
1  4  2  5 6 2
y  6
1 2 1
i.e. the required points is 11, 6 

Illustration Using section formula find the foot of perpendicular drawn from the point  2, 3 to the
 8 12 
line joining the points  2, 0  and  , 
 13 13 
 8 12 
Solution Let A, B and C be the points  2, 3 ,  2, 0  and  ,  respectively.
 13 13 
Let the foot D of perpendicular AD to BC divides BC in the ratio  :1   . Then the
coordinate of D are given by
18  26
x-coordinate    8 /13  1    2 
13
12  1     0 12
y-coordinate  
13 13
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12
3
13 39  12 A  2, 3
Slope of AD  
 18  26  18
2 
 13 
12
12 2
Slope of BC is  13  
8
 2 18 3
 : 1 
13  8 12 
C , 
Since AD  BC B  2, 0  D  13 13 
39  12  2 
      1 i.e.   1
18  3
 8 12 
 The coordinates of D are  , 
 13 13 
A
SOME IMPORTANT CENTRES
(i) Centroid : Meeting point of medians is called Centroid.
Let A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  are the vertices of
2
 ABC. Then coordinates of its Centroid are G

 x  x  x y  y2  y3  1
G 1 2 3 , 1 
 3 3  B C
A

(ii) Incentre : Meeting point of internal angle bisector is called Incentre.

Let A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  are the vertices of  ABC.
b+c
Then the coordinates of its incentre I with respect to A are
I
 ax1  bx2  cx3 ay1  by2  cy3 
 ,  a
 abc abc 
B C
where a  BC , b  CA and c  AB A
(iii) Excentre : Meeting point of two external and one internal angle bisector
is called Excentre. Let A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  be the
vertices of  ABC. Then coordinates of the excentre I1 are B C

  ax1  bx2  cx3 ay1  by2  cy3 

 , 
 a  b  c a  b  c  I1
(iv) Circumcentre :

Circumcentre is point of intersection of perpendicular bisectors of the sides.

(v) Orthocenter:
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Orthocenter is the point of intersection of altitudes

Note : Orthocentre (H), centroid (G) and circumcentre (O) are collinear and HG : GO = 2 : 1.

AREA OF A TRIANGLE

Let A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  be the vertices of a  ABC. Then the area of  ABC is

x1 y1 1
1 1
  x1  y2  y3   x2  y3  y1   x3  y1  y2   | x2 y2 1 |
2 2
x3 y3 1

 comes out to be positive if the vertices are taken in the anticlockwise sense, otherwise negative.

Note : Three points A  x1 , y1  B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  are collinear if

x1 y1 1
x2 y2 1  x1  y2  y3   x2  y3  y1   x3  y1  y2   0
x3 y3 1

Alternately

Three points A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  and C  x3 , y3  are collinear if slope of AB  slope of AC

y2  y1 y3  y1
i.e. 
x2  x1 x3  x1

Illustration Find the area of quadrilateral with vertices  3, 3 , 1, 4  ,  2, 1 ,  2,  3

B 1, 4 
Solution Let the given vertices be A, B, C , D respectively
C  2, 1 A  3, 3 
Area of ABCD  area of   ABC   ACD 

1 1
 3  4  1  11  3  2  3  4    3 1  3  2  3  3  2  3  1 
2 2
D  2,  3 
37
 sq units
2

Classroom Practice Paper

Find the distances between the following pairs of points
1.  4,  7  and  1, 5
2.  a cos  , a sin   and  a cos  , a sin  
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3.  am , 2am  and  am , 2am 

2
1 1
2
2 2

4. Divides the line joining the points 1, 3 and  2, 7  in the ratio 3 : 4.
5. Divides, internally and externally, the line joining  1, 2  to  4,  5 in the ratio 2 : 3.
6. The line joining the points 1,  2  and  3, 4  is trisected; find the coordinates of the points of
trisection.
Find the areas of the triangles the coordinates of whose angular points are respectively
7. 1, 3 ,  7, 6  and  5,  1
8. (i)  a, c  a  ,  a, c  and  a , c  a 
(ii)  a cos  , b sin   ,  a cos  , b sin   and  a cos  , b sin   .
9. (i) If O be the origin, and if the coordinates of any two points P1 and P2 be respectively  x1 , y1 
and  x2 , y2  , prove that
OP1.OP2 .cos POP
1 2  x1 x2  y1 y2 .

1 1
  
(ii) Prove that the points a 2 , 0 , 0, b 2 and 1, 1 are collinear if  1
a 2 b2

DEFINITION OF A STRAIGHT LINE

A straight line is the curve, on which if two points are taken, then all points on the line segment joining
these two points lie.
SLOPE OF A STRAIGHT LINE Y
Let l be a line, which is not parallel to y-axis. Let it makes an
l
angle   0     ,    / 2  with the positive direction of
x-axis. Then tan  is called the slope of the line l. It is denoted B(x2,y2)
by m. A(x1,y1)
Slope m of the straight line passing through the points 
A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  is given by O X
y2  y1
m , where x1  x2
x2  x1
If x1  x2 , the slope of AB is not defined

EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE

Let l be the straight line parallel to x-axis, at a distance of 4 units from x-axis and is lying above x-axis.
If P is any point on l, then its y-coordinates must be equal to 4. i.e. y-
Y
coordinate 4 i.e. the coordinates of P satisfies the equation
y  4 i.e. 0 x  y  4
Thus coordinates of every point on l satisfies the equation y  4. On the other
hand, if coordinate of a point satisfy the equation y  4, then its y-coordinate l
P

O x
 STRAIGHT LINES 6

is equal to 4. Therefore the point must lie on l. Thus all the points whose coordinates satisfy the equation
lie on l.
From the above it following that the equation y  4 is the complete representation of l.
 We represent the line l by the equation y  4
Similarly equation of any straight line parallel to x-axis is y  k where k is real number. Equation of any
line parallel to y-axis is x  k .
STANDARD FORMS OF EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE
(i) Slope – intercept form :
y  mx  c, where m is the slope and c is the y – intercept of the line.
Equation of any line parallel to y-axis can not be expressed in this form.
(ii) Intercept form :
x y
  1, where a  0 and b  0 are x – intercept and y – intercept respectively.
a b
Equation of any line passing through origin can not be expressed in this form
(iii) Point slope form (one point slope form) :
Equation of the straight line passing through the point A  x1 , y1  and whose slope is m, is given
by y  y1  m  x  x1 

Equation of line passing through origin is given by y  mx

Equation of any straight line parallel to y-axis can not be expressed in this form.
(iv) Two point form :
Equation of the straight line passing through the points A  x1 , y1  and B  x2 , y2  where x1  x2 is
given by
y2  y1
y  y1   x  x1 
x2  x1
(v) Normal form (or perpendicular form) : Y
x cos   y sin   p, where p is the length of the
perpendicular drawn from the origin to the line and  is p0
0    2
the angle which the perpendicular drawn from the origin to L
the line makes with the positive direction of x- axis. p
A line passing through origin cannot be written in this
form. 
O X

Illustration Write the equation in normal form of the line 3 x  4 y  5  0.

 STRAIGHT LINES 7

Solution 3 x  4 y  5  0  3 x  4 y  5   3 x  4 y  5
3 4 5 3 4
 x y  x  y 1
 3 
2
 42  3 
2
 42  3
2
 42 5 5

Here cos   3 / 5, sin   4 / 5 and p  1

(vi) Symmetric form or Distance From or parametric form
Equation of a straight line passing through the point A  x1 , y1  and making an angle  with the
x  x1 y  y1
positive direction of x-axis is given by   r  say  .
cos  sin 
Here r is the distance between the points A  x1 , y1  and p  x, y 

 x  x1  r cos   y  y1  r sin 

If r is positive then p  x, y  is above A  x1 , y1  otherwise below.

Illustration Put the line x  y  3 in the parametric form with respect to a fixed point  2, 1 on the
line.
Solution Since slope  1 the equation of line (from point slope form) is y  1  1 x  2 
x  2 y 1
or 
1 1
x  2 y 1 x2 y 1
   
1 1 cos 45  sin 45
2 2
(vii) General equation of straight line :
An equation of first degree in x and y, ax  by  c  0 , where a and b are not both zero represents a
a coefficient of x
straight line. Its slope is given by m     .
b coefficient of y
Illustration Find the slope of the line 2 x  5 y  4  0. Also express the equation in intercept form.
coefficient of x 2
Solution Slope of the line is    .
coefficient of y 5
x y
Intercept form of the line 2 x  5 y  4  0 is  1
2 4 /  5 
 2 is the x  intercept and 4 / 5 is the y  intercept made by the line 2 x  5 y  4  0
on the coordinate axes.
Illustration A line through A  5,  4  meets the lines x  3 y  2  0, 2 x  y  4  0 and x  y  5  0
at the points B, C and D respectively. If
2 2 2
 15   10   6 
      find the equation of the line.
 AB   AC   AD 
 STRAIGHT LINES 8

Solution Let the line through A  5,  4  makes an angle  with x-axis then the distance form its
x5 y4
equation is  … (1)
cos  sin 
If AB  r1 , AC  r2 , AD  r3 then
x5 y4
for B,   r1  B   r1 cos   5, r1 sin   4 
cos  sin 
x5 y4
for C ,   r2  C   r2 cos   5, r2 sin   4 
cos  sin 
x5 y4
and for D,   r3  D   r3 cos   5, r3 sin   4 
cos  cos 
Given that B, C , D lie on lines x  3 y  2  0, 2 x  y  4  0 and x y 5  0
respectively so that
15
 r1 cos   5  3  r1 sin   4   2  0   cos   3sin  … (2)
r1
10
2  r2 cos   5   r2  sin   4   4  0   2 cos   sin  … (3)
r2
6
and  r2 cos   5    r3 sin   4   5  0   cos   sin  … (4)
r3
2 2 2
 15   10   6 
from (2), (3) and (4)        
 r1   r2   r3 
 cos   3sin     2 cos   sin     cos   sin  
2 2 2

or 4 cos 2   9sin 2   12sin  cos   0
cos  sin 
  2 cos   3sin    0   k  say 
2

3 2
Putting cos   3k , sin   2k in 1 the required equation is 2 x  3 y  22  0

Classroom Practice Paper

Find the equation to the straight line
10. cutting off an intercept unity from the positive direction of the axis of y and inclined at 45° to the
axis of x.
11. cutting off an intercept 5 from the axis of y and being equally inclined to the axes.
12. cutting off intercept 3 and 2 from the axes.
13. cutting off intercept 5 and 6 from the axes.
Find the equations to the straight lines passing through the following pairs of points.
14.  3, 4  and  5, 6 
15.  0,  a  and  b, 0  ,
16.  a cos  , b sin   and  a cos  , b sin  
Find the equations to the sides of the triangles the coordinates of whose angular points are respectively
 STRAIGHT LINES 9

17. 1, 4  ,  2,  3 and  1,  2 

18.  0, 1 ,  2, 0  and  1,  2 
19. (i) Find the co-ordinates of two points on the line x  y  3 which are situated at distance 8 from
the point  2, 1 on the line.
(ii) The opposite vertices of a square are A  0, 4  and B  2, 8  . Find the co-ordinates of remaining
two vertices.
20. Find centroid, incentre, excentre, circumcentre and orthocenter of a triangle whose vertices are
 2,  3  ,  1, 0  and  7 ,  6 

POSITION OF TWO POINTS WITH RESPECT TO A STRAIGHT LINE

Two points P  x1 , y1  and Q  x2 , y2  lie on the same side or on the opposite side of the line
ax  by  c  0 according as ax1  by1  c and ax2  by2  c are of the same sign or of opposite signs
respectively.
Illustration For what values of the parameter  does the point M  ,   1 lies within the triangle
ABC the vertices of which are A  0, 3 , B  2, 0  and C  6, 1 .
Solution We will discuss two methods to solve the problem.
First Method : We easily get the equations of sides as A  0, 3
BC : x  8 y  2  0
M
AB : 3 x  2 y  6  0
C  6, 1
AC : x  3 y  9  0 B  2, 0 
If the point M  ,   1 lies inside the triangle then M and A must be on the same side
of BC , M and B must be on the same side of AC , M and C must be on the same side
of AB.
(All the three condition must be satisfied simultaneously in order that M lies inside).
Now if M and A are on the side of BC the consequence of substituting the co-ordinates
M and A in the equation of BC must be of the same sign i.e.
(value of equation of BC for A )  (value of equation of BC for M )  0
 22   8 1     2   0
similarly the order conditions yield the inequations
11   3 1     9   0 and 22 3  2 1     6   0
the required values of  must be intersection of these inequations. The system of
inequations is equivalent to
  8 1     2  0,   3 1     9  0, 3  2 1     6  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 10

6 3
which respectively give solutions    ,   ,   4
7 2

A  0, 3 y  x 1

 3 / 2, 5 / 2 
E

 0, 1 D  0, 1/ 4  C  6, 1

 2, 0  B
6 3
 all the three inequations are satisfied for   
7 2
which are the required values of for the point M to be inside the triangle.
Second Method : Let us draw the exact diagram of the problem (see figure)
We note that the point M  ,   1 move on the line y  x  1 for all  and the portion
DE (excluding D and E ) of the line y  x  1 lies within the triangle ABC.
Now D is the intersection of y  x  1 and x  8 y  2  0 while E is the intersection of
 6 1 3 5
y  x  1 and x  3 y  9  0. We easily get D and E as   ,  and  ,  .
 7 7 2 2
6 3
Thus the points on the line y  x  1 whose x-co-ordinates lies between  and lie
7 2
within the triangle. But the x-co-ordinates happens to be  consequently  lies in the
 6 3
interval   ,  .
 7 2
ANGLE BETWEEN TWO STRAIGHT LINES
m1  m2
Let  be the angle between two straight lines whose slopes are m1 and m2 . Then tan  
1  m1m2
provide m1 m2  1.
(i) If m1 m2  1 , then the two lines are perpendicular to each other.
(ii) If m1  m2 , then the two lines are parallel.
m1  m2
(iii) If l1 and l2 are lines of slopes m1 and m2 then the angle    0,   given by, tan   is
1  m1m2
the angle by which line l2 should be rotated in the anticlockwise direction to coincide with l1.
 Rule to write down the equation of any line parallel to a given line
Leave the terms of x and y as they are and replace the constant c by another constant k.
 Rule to write down the equation of any line perpendicular to a given line
Interchange the coefficient of x and y and change the sign of any one of them and replace the
constant c by another constant k.

Classroom Practice Paper

 STRAIGHT LINES 11

21.  
Find the value of  for which origin and  2 ,  lies (i) same side (ii) opposite side to the line
x  3y  2  0
22. Find the values of parameter  for which the points  0, 0  and   , 3 lie on the opposite side of
the lines 3 x  2 y  6  0, x  4 y  16  0
Find the angles between the pairs of straight lines
23. x  y 3  5 and 3x  y  7
24. y  3 x  7 and 3 y  x  8
25.  
y  2  3 x  5 and y  2  3 x  7  
26. 7 x  8 y  14 and 7 x  8 y  5.
27 . (i) Find the equation of st. line which passes through  2, 3 and parallel to line 2 x  3 y  1  0 .
(ii) Find the equation of st. line which passes through  2, 3 and perpendicular to line 4 x  3 y  10
(iii) Prove that the equation to the straight line which passes through the point a cos3  , a sin 3   
and is perpendicular to the straight line x sec   y cosec   a is x cos   y sin   a cos 2 .

CONDITION OF CONCURRENCY
Let the equations of three given lines be
a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 (i)
a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 (ii)
and a3 x  b3 y  c3  0 (iii)
Then the condition is
(i) a3  b1c2  b2 c1   b3  c1a2  c2 a1   c3  a1b2  a2b1   0
a1 b1 c3
or (ii) a2 b2 c2  0
a3 b3 c3
or (iii) The straight lines (i), (ii) and (iii) will be concurrent if and only if there exist three constants
l , m, n (not all zero at a time) such that
l  a1 x  b1 y  c1   m  a2 x  b2 y  c2   n  a3 x  b3 y  c3   0
Illustration The line x   y  4  0 passes through the point of intersection of 4 x  y  1  0 and
x  y  1  0. Find the values of .
Solution The three lines are concurrent if
 STRAIGHT LINES 12

1  4
4 1 1 0
1 1 1
2  3  20  0
22

3
DISTANCE AND EMAGE OF A POINT FROM A STRAIGHT LINE
ax1  by1  c
(i) Perpendicular distance of a point  x1 , y1  from the straight line ax  by  c  0 is
a 2  b2
c
(ii) Distance of origin from straight line ax  by  c  0 is
a2  b2
cc'
(iii) Distance between two parallel lines ax  by  c  0 and ax  by  c '  0 is
a2  b2
(iv) Coordinates of the foot of perpendicular drawn from P  x1 , y1  to the line ax  by  c  0 are
given by
x  x1 y  y1 ax  by  c
   1 2 12
a b a b
(v) Coordinates of the image of the point p  x1 , y1  in the line ax  bx  c  0 are given by
x  x1 y  y1 2  ax1  by1  c 
 
a b a 2  b2
SLOPE OF A STRAIGHT LINE MAKING AN ANGLE α WITH A GIVEN LINE
Let l be a given straight line, making angle  with positive x-axis. Then there are two straight lines
making angle  with l (infact passing through a given point on l). y
Thus the two lines make angles    and    with the positive x-axis.
 Their slope are given by

tan   tan  
tan      provided tan  tan   1
1  tan  tan 
tan   tan  
and tan      provided tan  tan   1 x
1  tan  tan 
Note : (i) If tan  tan   1 , then the corresponding line is parallel to y-axis.
(ii) If tan  tan   1 , then again the corresponding line is parallel to y-axis.
Illustration Find the equation of the straight line passing through the point  2, 3 and inclined at  / 4
radians to the line 2 x  3 y  5 .
Solution Let the line 2 x  3 y  5 makes angle  with positive x-axis. Then tan   2 / 3
2   2
Now tan  tan  / 4     tan      1
3 4 3
Slope of the required lines are
 STRAIGHT LINES 13

 2
tan   tan  1
4  3 1
tan    / 4    and tan    / 4   5
  2 5
1  tan  tan 1   
4  3
 the equations of the required lines are
1
y  3   x  2 i.e. x  5 y  13  0
5
y  3  5  x  2  5 x  y  13  0
Remarks :
Let a line l makes an angle  with positive x-axis. Let the lines l1 and l2 are equally inclined to l and
having slopes m1 and m2 respectively and are such that the value of tan  lies between m1 and m2 . Then
tan   m1 m  tan 
 2
1  m1 tan  1  m2 tan 
Illustration A ray of light traveling along the line 2 x  3 y  5  0 after striking a plane mirror lying
along the line x  y  2 gets reflected. Find the equation of the straight line containing the
reflected ray.
1 9
Solution The point of intersection of lines 2 x  3 y  5  0 and x  y  2 is  ,  .
5 5
1 9
 ,  is the point of incidence.
5 5
Slope m of the normal to the mirror (i.e. normal to the line x  y  2 ) is 1.
Now the incident ray and reflected ray both are equally inclined to the normal and are on
opposite side of it.
Slope of incident ray m1  2 / 3
Let the slope of the reflected ray be  m2
2
1
m1  m m  m2 3 1  m2
Then  i.e 
2
1  m1m 1  m2 m 1   1 1  m2  1
3
 m2  3 / 2,  the equation of the straight line containing the reflected ray is
9 3 1
y  x  i.e. 3 x  2 y  3  0
5 2 5
FAMILY OF STRAIGHT LINES
(i) If L1  a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and L1  a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are two straight lines (not parallel) then
L1   L2  a1 x  b1 y  c1    a2 x  b2 y  c2   0,   R, represents family of lines passing through
the point of intersection of L1  0 and L2  0. Here  is a parameter.

Note : ax  by  c  0 with a  b  1  0 is the families of lines through  ,   .

 STRAIGHT LINES 14

(ii) Family of straight lines parallel to the line ax  by  c  0 is given by ax  by  k  0, where k is a

parameter.
(iii) Family of straight lines perpendicular to the line ax  by  c  0 is given by bx  ay  k  0 , where
k is a parameter.
(iv) Family of lines not passing through origin is ax  by  c  0; where a and b are parameters and
c0
(v) Family of lines at a distance of p from origin is x cos   y sin   p, where  is a parameter.
Illustration Find the equation of the straight line passing through the point  2, 0  and through the
point of intersection of the lines x  2 y  3 and 2 x  3 y  4.
Solution Equation of any straight line passes through the intersection of the lines
x  2 y  3 and 2 x  3 y  4  0 is
  x  2 y  3   2 x  3 y  4   0 … (1)
Since it passes through the point  2, 0 
   2  0  3   4  0  4   0
i.e.  0
Now substituting this value of  in (1) we get
2 x  3 y  4  0 as the equation of the required line.

Classroom Practice Paper

28. Find the equation of a line which passes through the intersection of the lines x  y  3  0,
2 x  4 y  10  0 and
(i) which also passes through  0, 2 
(ii) which is parallel to 3 x  4 y  72
(iii) which has x-intercept as 5
(iv) which is equally inclined to the co-ordinate axes
(v) which makes an angle 45° with the line 3 x  4 y  7
29. If a and b are variable show that the lines  a  b  x   2a  b  y  7b pass through a fixed point.
30. Find the value of m so that the lines 3 x  y  2  0, 2 x  y  3  0 and x  my  3  0 may be
concurrent.
31. 
Show that the product of the perpendicular drawn from the two points  a 2  b 2 , 0 upon the 
x y
straight line cos   sin   1 is b 2 .
a b
32. The straight lines 3 x  4 y  5 and 4 x  3 y  15 intersect at the point A. On these lines the points
Band C are chosen so that AB  AC. Find the possible equations of the line BC passing through
1, 2  .
33. Find the distance between the two parallel straight lines y  mx  c and y  mx  d .
 STRAIGHT LINES 15

34. Find the perpendicular distance from the origin of the perpendicular from the point 1, 2  upon the
straight line x  3 y  4  0.
35. Through the point  3, 4  are drawn two straight lines each inclined at 45° to the straight line
x  y  2. Find their equations and find also the area included by the three lines.

LOCUS
(i) Definition
The path traced by a point moving under a given condition (or a given set of conditions) is called
its locus.
If an equation is satisfied by the coordinates of every point on the path and any point whose
coordinates satisfy the equation lies on the path, then the equation is called the equation of the
locus.
(ii) Equation of Locus
To find the equation of locus of a point under given condition(s), we proceed as follows :
(a) Assign the coordinates  h, k  or  x, y   to the point whose locus is to be determined.
(b) Properly conceive the given geometrical condition(s) which the above point is to satisfy.
(c) Express the said condition(s) in an analytical relation in h and k (or in x and y ).
(d) Solve to eliminate the parameter(s) so that the resulting expression contains known
quantities and  h, k  or  x, y  .

(e) Replace  h, k  by  x, y  if taken resulting equation will be the required locus.

x y
Illustration A variable straight line drawn through the point of intersection of the lines   1 and
a b
x y
  1 meets the coordinate axes in A and B. Show that the locus of the midpoint of AB
b a
is the curve 2xy  a  b   ab  x  y 
Solution Any line through the point of intersection of given lines is
x y  x y 
   1      1   0
a b  b a 
 ab 1    
This meets the x- axis at A   , 0
 a  b 
 ab 1    
And meets the y – axis at B  0, 
 a  b 
Let mid point of AB be P  h, k  then
ab 1    ab 1    1 2  a  b  1 2  a  b 
h , k   , 
2  a  b  2  a  b  h ab 1    k ab 1   
 STRAIGHT LINES 16

1 1 2 2
    a  b  a  b    a    1  b 1    
h k ab 1    ab 1    
2a  b
  2hk  a  b   ab  h  k 
ab
Locus of P  h, k  is 2 xy  a  b   ab  x  y 

Classroom Practice Paper

36. Find the locus of a point whose distance from origin is twice its distance from the point 1,  2  .
37. Find the locus of a point whose distance from origin is twice its perpendicular distance from y-axis.
38. Find the locus of a point whose co-ordinates are given by
(a)  a cos t , a sin t  (b) t 2 , 2t   (c)  a cos t , b sin t  (d)  a sec t , b tan t 

 1  1 1  1  t 2 2t 
(e)  t ,  (f)  t  , t   (g)  
t 2  1, 2t  1 (h)  , 2 
 1 t 1 t 
2
 t  t t
39. A variable line cuts x-axis at A, y-axis at B where OA  a, OB  b ( O origin) such that
a 2  b 2  1. Find the locus of
(i) Centroid of  OAB (ii) Circumcentre of OAB

A and B being the fixed points  a, 0  and   a, 0  respectively, obtain the equations giving the locus of
P, when

40. PA2  PB 2  a constant quantity  2k 2 .

41. PA  nPB, n being constant.
42. PA  PB  c, a constant quantity.

ANGLE BISECTORS
Angle bisector is locus of point which moves in such a way that its perpendicular distance from both line
is equal.
Let L1  a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and L2  a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 be two intersecting l4
l2
lines. Then the equations of the lines bisecting the angle between L1 and
L2 are given by l3
 /2
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b2 y  c2

a12  b12 a22  b22 l1

 If a1a2  b1b2  0 , then the given lines are perpendicular to each other

Else they will contain acute and obtuse angles.

 STRAIGHT LINES 17

Let  be the angle between l1 and l2 which is bisected by one of the bisectors say l3 . Then angle
between l1 and l3 is  / 2 .

Now find tan  / 2

Two cases arise

 
(i) If tan  1, then  
2 2
Thus l3 will be bisecting the acute angles between l1 and l2

 
(ii) If tan  1, then  
2 2
Thus l3 will be bisecting the obtuse angle between l1 and l2 .

 To find the equation of that bisector of the angle between the two lines which contains a
given points  α, β  .

Let the equations of the lines be a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 . The equation of the angle
the two lines containing the points  ,   will be
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b2 x  c2

a12  b12 a22  b22
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b2 y  c2
or 
a b
2
1 1
2
a22  b22

according as a1  b1  c1 and a2  b2   c2 are of the same sign or of opposite sign.

 If c1  0, c2  0 then origin must lie in one of the angles between l1 and l2 .

Now under the assumption c1c2  0, we have

equation of the bisector which bisects the angle in which origin lies is
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b2 y  c2
 (Taking  sign)
a12  b12 a22  b22

Also, if a1a2  b1b2  0, the origin lies in obtuse angle else the origin lies in acute angle.

Illustration Find the bisector (i) of acute angle (ii) of the angle containing the point 1,  2  between
the lines 3 x  4 y  0 and 5 x  12 y  7  0.
Solution Equations of the bisectors are
3x  4 y 5 x  12 y  7

5 13
i.e. 2 x  16 y  5  0 and 64 x  8 y  35  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 18

Now suppose  be the angle between the given lines which is bisected by the bisector
2 x  16 y  5  0
The angle between 3 x  4 y  0 and 2 x  16 y  5  0 is  / 2 which is certainly acute
3 1

 4 8  24  4  20  4  1   
 tan    and so  
2 1 3  1 32  3 35 7 2 4 2
4 8
(i) Hence 2 x  16 y  5  0 is the required bisector.
(ii) Putting 1,  2  in the both given line we get positive value, so required angle
bisector is 64 x  8 y  35  0.

Classroom Practice Paper

Find the equations to the straight lines bisecting the angles between the following pairs of straight lines
bisecting the angles between the following pairs of straight lines, placing first the bisector of the angle in
which the origin lines.
43. x  y 3  6  2 3 and x  y 3  6  2 3.
44. 12 x  5 y  4  0 and 3 x  4 y  7  0.
45. 2 x  y  4 and y  3 x  5.

PAIR OF STRAIGHT LINE

The most general form of an equation of second degree in x and y is
ax 2  2hxy  by 2  2 gx  2 fy  c  0 (1), where a, h and b are not simultaneously zero.
Since it is an equation in x and y therefore it must represent the equation of the locus of a point in the x–y
plane. It may represent a pair of straight lines, a circle, or other curves in different cases.
If b  0 then 1 written as a quadratic in y i.e., by 2  2  hx  f  y  ax 2  2 gx  c  0

2  hx  f   2  hx  f   b  ax 2  2 gx  c 
2

Thus y
2b
  hx  f   h 2
 ab  x 2  2  hf  bg  x  f 2  bc
 y
b
Thus (1) will represent a pair of straight lines (case when b  0 ) if quantity inside the square root sign is a
perfect square of a linear function of x, which is possible if 4  hf  bg   4  h 2  ab  f 2  bc   0
2

i.e.,   abc  2 fgh  af 2  bg 2  ch 2  0.

However further if
Case I : h 2  ab  0, then (1) will represent a pair of non-parallel lines.
 STRAIGHT LINES 19

Case II : h 2  ab  0, then it can be shown that hf  bg and hence

  hx  f   f 2  bc
y , which will represent
b
(i) parallel non-coincident lines if f 2  bc  0
(ii) Coincident lines if f 2  bc  0
(iii) Imaginary lines if f 2  bc  0
Case III : h 2  ab  0 , then (1) represent imaginary lines.
Similarly we can discuss equation (1), when b = 0 and a  0.
However if a  b  0 and h  0, then (1) reduces to 2hxy  2 gx  2 fy  c  0
 2f  2 gf
  2x    hy  g   c   0 , which will represent a pair of straight lines if and only if
 h  h
2 gf
c  0, which is equivalent to   0 .
h
Thus if   0, then (1) represents a pair of straight lines in general, which may be intersecting parallel or
imaginary in different cases.
HOMOGENEOUS EQUATION IN X AND Y
Equation in which sum of the power of x and y in every term is the same, say n, is called a homogeneous
equation of nth degree in x and y, which represents n straight lines passing through origin.
Thus ax 2  2hxy  by 2  0 is a homogeneous equation of second degree. It represents a pair of
straight lines passing through origin.
2 h 2  ab
(i) Acute angle  between the lines represents by 1 is given by tan  
ab
(ii) Lines are perpendicular then a  b  0
(iii) Lines are parallel then h 2  ab.
THE EQUATON OF THE PAIR OF LINES JOINING THE ORIGIN TO THE POINTS OF
INTERSECTION OF A SECOND DEGREE CURVE AND A LINE :
The equation of the pair of lines joining the origin to the points of
y
intersection of a curve and a line is obtained by making the equation
of the curve homogeneous with help of the equation of the line.
The three step method for this is as follows : A lx  my  n  0
Step 1 : Write down the equation of the line with constant
term on the right hand side. B
Step 2 : Divide both sides by the constant term on the right so x
that right hand side become 1.
Step 3: Make the equation of the curve homogeneous with ax  2hxy  by  2 gx  2 fy  c  0
2 2

help of the equation of the line as obtained after step 2.

 STRAIGHT LINES 20

Illustration Prove that the equations to the straight lines passing through the origin and making an
angle  with the straight line y  x  0 are given by x 2  2 xy sec 2  y 2  0.
Solution Let y  mx be the equation of the straight line passing through the origin and making an
angle  with y  x  0. Now, slope of line y  x  0 is 1.

 m  1
2
m 1
 tan    or tan 2   [squaring]
1 m  m  1
2

or m 2 1  tan 2    2m 1  tan 2    1  tan 2    0

This is a quadratic equation in m, therefore three will be two value of m and hence two
straight lines which make an angle  with y  x  0. Let the two values of m be m1 and
m2 , then
2 1  tan 2   1  tan 2 
m1  m2    2sec 2 and m1m2  1
1  tan 2  tan 2 
Now the joint equation of the straight line passing through the origin and making an angle
 with y  x  0 is
 y  m1 x   y  m2 x   0
or y 2  xy  m1  m2   m1m2 x 2  0 or y 2  2 xy sec 2  x 2  0.
Illustration Discuss the nature of the lines represented by the equation
(i) 2 x 2  5 xy  2 y 2  4 x  5 y  2  0 (ii) 2 x 2  2 xy  y 2  6 x  2 y  5  0
(iii) x 2  2 xy  y 2  12  0
Solution It is easy to see that in each case   0 . In (i) h 2  ab  0, hence (i) represents a pair of
interesting lines. In (ii) h 2  ab  0, thus (ii) represents a pair of imaginary lines. Lastly in
(iii) h 2  ab  0 and f 2  bc  0 . Thus a pair of imaginary lines.

Classroom Practice Paper

Prove that the following equations represent two straight lines; find also their point of intersection and the
angle between them.
46. 6 y 2  xy  x 2  30 y  36  0
47. x 2  5 xy  4 y 2  x  2 y  2  0
Find the value of k so that the following equations may represent pairs of straight lines :
48. 6 x 2  11xy  10 y 2  x  31y  k  0
49. 12 x 2  10 xy  2 y 2  11x  5 y  k  0
Find what straight lines are represented by the following equations determine the angles between them.
50. (i) 4 x 2  24 xy  11 y 2  0 (ii) x 2

 y 2 sin 2    x cos   y sin  
2

51. x 2  7 xy  12 y 2  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 21

52. (i) Find the equation to the pair of straight lines joining the origin to the intersections of the
straight line y  mx  c and the curve x 2  y 2  a 2

Prove that they are at right angles if 2c 2  a 2 1  m2 
(ii) Show that all chords of the curve 2 x 2  3 y 2  5 x  0 subtending 900 at origin passes through a
fixed point. Find the co-ordinate of this point.
SHIFTING OF ORIGIN
If origin is shifted from O  0, 0  to O  h, k  , then if  x, y  y Y
are the coordinates of a point P in the old system (when (x, y)
origin was O) and  X , Y  are the coordinates of the same P
(X, Y)
point P in the new system (when origin is O ), then
x  X  h and y  Y  k .
X
Thus if f  x, y  is the equation of a curve in a coordinates O (h,k)
x
system and if origin is shifted to a point  h, k  , then the O

equation changes to f  x  h, y  k   0.

For example if u  ax 2  2hxy  by 2  2 gx  2 gy  c  0 * represents a pair of straight lines, which inter
sect at  ,   then on shifting the origin to  ,   (i.e. x is replaced by x   and y is replaced by
A  x     2h  x    y   
2
y   ) the new equation should be homogenous of degree two i.e., in
b  y     2 g  x     2 f  y     c  0 , coefficients of x, y and constant term should be zero i.e.
2

2a  2h  2 g  0, … (1)

2h  2b  2 f  0, … (2)

and a 2  2h   b 2  2 g  2 f   c  0 … (3)
(1) and (2) can be solved to find  and  and if these value are replaced in (3), then we get
abc  2 fgh  af 2  bg 2  ch 2  0, a necessary condition for * to represent a pair of straight lines.
u u
Remarks : Equation (1) and (2) are infact  0 and  0 at x   , y   ,
x y
u
where represent the partial derivative of u with respect to x.
x
ROTATION OF AXES
Suppose the coordinates axes are rotated about origin through an (x, y)
P
angle  . If  x, y  are the coordinates of a point P in the old Y y
(X, Y)
system and  X , Y  are the coordinates of the same point P in the  X
new system then N
x  X cos   Y sin  and y  X sin   Y cos  .

x
M
 STRAIGHT LINES 22

Thus if f  x, y   0 is the equation of a curve in a coordinate system and if system is rotated about origin
by an angle  , then the equation changes to f  x cos   y sin  , x sin   y cos    0 .

For example if x 2  y 2  a 2 is the equation of a curve in a coordinate system and if coordinate system is
rotated by an angle of  / 4 about origin, then the equation of the same curve in the system is obtained
1 1
by replacing x by  x  y  and y by   x  y  . The new equation is
2 2
1 1
 x  y     x  y   a 2  xy  a 2 / 2
2 2

2 2
However if both the transformation are done, i.e., if origin is shifted to (h, k) and axes are rotated by an
angle  , then the equation
f  x, y   0 changes to f  x cos   y sin   h, x sin   y cos  k   0

Classroom Practice Paper

53. Transform to parallel axes through the point 1,  2  the equations
(i) y 2  4 x  4 y  8  0, and (ii) 2 x 2  y 2  4 x  4 y  0
54. Transform to axes inclined at an angle  to the original axes the equations
(i) x 2  y 2  r 2 , and (ii) x 2  2 xy tan 2  y 2  a 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 23

SOLVED SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

Example 1 Find the angle through which the axes must be turned about the origin, so that the equation
of the curve x 2  2 3 xy  y 2  2 may change in to the form ax 2  by 2  1.
Solution Suppose required angle is  . Then on replacing x by x cos   y sin  and y be
x sin   y cos  , the coefficient of xy in the new equation should be zero i.e. in the
equation
 x cos   y sin    2 3  x cos   y sin   x sin   y cos     x sin   y cos    2,
2 2

the coefficient of xy should be zero, i.e.,

2sin  cos   2 3  cos 2   sin 2    2sin  cos   0

 sin 2  3 cos 2  0

 tan 2  3     / 6, 2 / 3.
Example 2 Find the equation of lines joining origin and point of intersection of the line 3 x  4 y  7
with the conic 2 x 2  y 2  xy  5 x  9  0.
3x  4 y
Solution We have 1,
7
For the equation of required pair of lines we have to make homogeneous equation
2
 3 x  4 y   3x  4 y 
2 x  y  xy  5 x 
2 2
  9  0
 7   7 
 122 x 2  95 y 2  27 xy  0.

Example 3 Find the range of  in the interval  0,   such that the points  3, 5  and  sin  , cos   lie
on the same side of the line x  y  1  0 .
Solution 3  5 1  7  0  sin   cos   1  0

 sin  / 4     1 2   / 4    3 / 4  0     / 2
Example 4 The vertices of a triangle are
A
 at1t2 , a  t1  t2   ,  at2t3 , a  t2  t3   ,  at3t1 , a  t3  t1   .

Find the orthocentre of the triangle.

E
Solution Let A, B, C be the vertices
O
A   at1t2 , a  t1  t 2   B   at2t3 , a  t 2  t3  
B D C
a  t3  t1   a  t2  t3  1
C   at3t1 , a  t3  t1   Slope of BC = 
at3t1  at2t3 t3
 STRAIGHT LINES 24

Slope of altitude AD  t3

Equation of AD is y  a  t1  t2   t3  x  at1t2  … (1)
Similarly equation of altitude BE is y  a  t2  t3   t1  x  at2t3  … (2)
The coordinates of orthocenter O are obtained by simultaneous by solving equation (1) and
equation (2).
Subtracting equation (2) from (1)
a  t3  t1    x  t3  t1   x   a
Putting x   a in equation (1), we get
y  a  t1  t2   t3   a  at1t2  , y  a  t1  t2  t3  t1t2t3 
The coordinates of the orthocentre does not depend upon the values of t1 , t2 , t3
Example 5 Suppose the bisector AD of the interior angle A of ABC divides the sides BC into
segments BD  4, DC  2. Show that the maximum value of the attitude, AE is 4 and that
2  b  6, 4  c  12.
Solution Take B as origin and BC as x-axis and let A be y A  h, k 
AB BD
 h, k  since AD is the bisector   c  2b
AC DC c b
Now b  c  a  b  c  6  3b  6  b  2
x
b 2  c 2  36 5b 2  36 B E D C
Again cos B  1  1  b  6 a
2bc 4b 2
 2  b  6 and consequently 4  c  12  c  2b 
Now h 2  k 2  c 2 and  h  6   k 2  b 2
2

 h 2  k 2  4b 2 and  h  6   k 2  b 2
2

on eliminating b 2 , we get, 3k 2  h 2  4  h  6 
2

 k 2  16   h  8   maximum value of k  4.
2

Example 6 The base BC of a triangle ABC contains the points P  p1 , q1  and Q  p2 , q2  and the
equation of sides AB and AC are p1 x  q1 y  1 and q2 x  p2 y  1 respectively. Prove that
the equations of AP and AQ are
 p1q2  q1 p2  1 p1 x  q1 y  1   p12  q12  1  q2 x  p2 y  1 and
 2 p2 q2  1 p1 x  q1 y  1   p1 p2  q1q2  1 q2 x  p2 y  1 respectively.
Solution Since both AB and AQ pass through A the intersection of the two given lines, their
equation is  p1 x  q1 y  1    q2 x  p2 y  1  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 25

In order to find the equation of AP we find the value of  A

by using the fact that equation (1) passes through
P  p1 , q1  as follows :

p 2
1  q12  1  1  p1q2  q1 p2  1  0

 1  
p
2
1  q12  1 B P Q C

 p1q2  q1 p2  1
Thus equation of AP is  p1q2  q1 p2  1 p1 x  q1 y  1   p12  q12  1  q2 x  p2 y  1
Next to find the equation of AQ we find the value of  by the fact that equation (1) passes
through Q  p2 , q2 
 p1 p2  q1q2  1
 p1 p2  q1q2  1    2 p2 q2  1  0  2  
 2 p2 q2  1
Therefore equation of AQ is  2 p2 q2  1 p1 x  q1 y  1   p1 p2  q1q2  1 q2 x  p2 y  1
Example 7 Prove that all lines represented by the equation
2 cos   3sin  x   3cos   5sin   y  5cos   2 sin  … (1)
Pass through a fixed point for all  . What are the coordinates of this fixed point and its
reflection in the line x  y  2 ? Prove that all lines through reflection point can be
represented by equation
 2 cos   3sin   x   3cos   5sin   y   
2  1  5 cos   2 sin   … (2)

Solution The equation (1) can be expressed as  2 x  3 y  5  cos    3 x  5 y  2  sin   0

or  2 x  3 y  5   tan   3x  5 y  2   0
It is clear that these lines will pass through the point of intersection of the lines
2x  3 y  5  0 … (3) 3x  5 y  2  0
For all value of  . Solving equations (3) and (4) we get the coordinates of the required
fixed points as P 1, 1 .
Let Q  ,   be the reflection of P 1,1 in the line x  y  2 . The line PQ is
perpendicular to the line x  y  2 and the mid point segment PQ lies on the line
x  y  2 . Thus
  1   1  1
   1  1     and   2      2 1
  1  2 2
Hence coordinates of the reflection Q of P in the line x  y  2 are Q   2  1, 2  1 
If the required family of lines is  2 cos   3sin   x   3cos   5sin   y  
In order that each member of the family passes through Q we have
  
2  1  2 cos   3sin   3cos   5sin     
2  1 5 cos   2sin  
 STRAIGHT LINES 26

Hence equation of required family is

 2 cos   3sin   x   3cos   5sin   y   
2  1 5cos   2 sin  
x y
Example 8 One diagonal of a square is the intercept of the line   1 between the axes. Find the
a b
coordinates of other two vertices and hence prove that if two opposite vertices of a square
move on two perpendicular lines, the other two vertices also move on perpendicular lines.
a b
Solution The coordinates of centre E are  , 
2 2
b y
Slope of AC  
a
a a a
Slope of DB   tan    sin   (0, b) C
b b a  b2
2
B
E
b
cos   D
a  b2
2
(a,0)
O A x
1 1 2
Length AE  EC  EB  ED  AC  a  b2
2 2
a b
x y
2 2   1 a 2  b2 ab ba
Using distance form for DB  x , y
b a 2 2 2
 ab ba   a b b  a 
The coordinates of other two vertices are thus B  ,  and D  , 
 2 2   2 2 
Now given that A and C move on perpendicular lines (axes). For coordinates
 ab ba   a b b  a 
 ,  , we have the locus x  y and for  ,  the locus is x   y.
 2 2   2 2 
These are also perpendicular lines.
Example 9 Prove that the lines represented by the equation x3  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3  0 are equally
inclined to each other.
Solution x3  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3  0 … (1)
Since (1) is homogenous in x, y of degree 3, so it represents 3 lines passing through
origin.
x y
Let one of the lines represented by equation (1) be,   r , then
cos  sin 
x  r cos  , y  r sin 
purring x and y in (1), we get
r 3 cos 3   3cos 2   3cos  sin 2   sin 2    0
 cos3   3cos 2  sin   3cos  sin 2   sin 3   0
3 tan   tan 3 
or, 1  3 tan   3 tan 2   tan 3   0 or,  1
1  3 tan 2 
 STRAIGHT LINES 27

   n 
 tan 3  1  tan     3  n    
 4 4 3 12
Since, the slope of a line is restricted to lie between 0° and 180°, the integer ‘ n ’ in the
above expression for  , can take only three values, namely, 1, 2 and 3
  2  
Therefore, 1   , 2 
 and 3   
3 12 3 12 12
Angle between the lines is given by

1   2 and  2  3 and 3  1 which is same in each case and equal to .
3
Example 10 The base of a triangle passes through a fixed point  f , g  and its sides are respectively
bisected right angles by the lines y 2  8 xy  9 x 2  0. Determine the locus of its vertex.
Solution The lines y 2  8 xy  9 x 2  0 and y   x and y  9 x. The reflection of A  h, k  in y   x
must be B A  h, k 
 B  k ,  h  .
y x y 9x

B  f , g C
 k ,  h 
Again reflection of vertex  h, k  in y  9 x must be C. We easily get C as
 9k  40h 40k  9h 
 , 
 41 41 
40k  9h
h
41 4 k  5h
Now equation of BC is y  h 
9k  40h
or y  h  x  k
k 5k  4 h
41
4 k  5h
Since BC passes through  f , g  , we get g  h   f k
5k  4 h
4 y  5x
 locus of  h, k  is g  x   f  y .
5y  4x
 STRAIGHT LINES 28

SOLVED OBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

Example 1 The diagonals of a parallelogram PQRS are along the lines x  3 y  4 and 6 x  2 y  7.
Then PQRS must be a
(a) Rectangle (b) Square
(c) Cyclic quadrilateral (d) Rhombus
Solution d
Product of slope of the diagonal  1
i.e. diagonals are mutually perpendicular.
Hence PQRS is a rhombus
This is given in (d).
Example 2 The equation of the straight line equally inclined to the axes and equidistant from the
points 1,  2  and  3, 4  is

(a) x  y  1  0 (b) x  y  2  0 (c) x  y  2  0 (d) x  y  L  0

Solution d
Middle point of the line joining 1,  2  and  3, 4  is  2, 1 which lie on line x  y  1  0,
which is equally inclined to the axes and is at equal distance from the given points.
Hence correct answer is (d)
Example 3 If the Circumcentre of a triangle lies at the origin and the centroid is the middle point of
the line joining the points  a 2  1, a 2  1 and  2a,  2a  ; then the orthocenter lies on the
line
(a) y   a 2  1 x (b) y  2ax

 a  1 x   a  1 y  0
2 2
(c) x  y  0 (d)

Solution d
We known from geometry that the Circumcentre, centroid and orthocenter of a triangle lie
on a line. So the orthocenter of the triangle lies on the joining the Circumcentre  0, 0  and
  a  12  a  12 
the centroid  , 
 2 2 


 a  1  a  1
2 2

 a  1 x   a  1 y  0 .
2 2
i.e. y x or
2 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 29

Example 4 The equation of the line which passes through  a cos3  , a sin 3   and perpendicular to the
lines x sec   y cosec   a is
(a) x cos   y sin   2a cos 2 (b) x sin   y cos   2a sin 2
(c) x sin   y cos   2a sin 2 (d) None of these
Solution d
Slope of line x sec   y cosec   a is  sec  / cosec    sin / cos 
 Slope of line  to this line  cos  / sin   Equation of required line is
y  a sin 3    cos  / sin    x  a cos3  

or x cos   y sin   a  cos 4   sin 4    a  cos 2   sin 2   cos 2   sin 2  

or x cos   y sin   a cos 2 .

Hence correct answer is (d)
Example 5 Let PQR be a right angled isosceles triangle, right angled at P  2, 1 . If the equation of the
line QR is 2 x  y  3, then the equation representing the pair of lines PQ and PR is

(a) 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 xy  20 x  10 y  25  0 (b) 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 xy  20 x  10 y  25  0

(c) 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 xy  10 x  15 y  20  0 (d) 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 xy  10 x  15 y  20  0
Solution b
If m is the slope of side PQ or PR, then
m   2 
  tan  / 4,  slope of QR is  2 and PQR  PRS  45
1   2  m
 m  3,  1/ 3
 Equations of side PQ and PR are 3 x  y  5  0 and x  3 y  5  0

Their combined equation is  3 x  y  5  x  3 y  5  0

i.e. 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 xy  20 x  10 y  25  0. Which is given in (b).

Example 6 The orthocenter of the triangle formed by  0, 0  ,  8, 0  ,  4, 6  is

(a)  4, 8 / 3 (b)  3, 4  (c)  4, 3 (d)  3, 4 

Solution a
Let ABC be the given triangle and the vertices be A  0, 0  , B  8, 0  and C  4, 6 
 Equation of line through A and  to BC is
y  0   2 / 3 x  0  i.e. 2 x  3 y  0 … (1)
 STRAIGHT LINES 30

And slope of CA   6  0  /  4  0   3 / 2
 Equation of line through B and  to CA is
y  0   2 / 3 x  8 

i.e. 2 x  3 y  16 … (2)

Solving (1) and (2), the orthocentre is  4, 8 / 3 , which is given in (a)

Example 7 Equation of the bisector of the acute angle between the lines 3 x  4 y  7  0 and
12 x  5 y  2  0 is
(a) 21x  77 y  101  0 (b) 21x  77 y  101  0
(c) 11x  3 y  9  0 (d) 11x  3 y  9  0
Solution c
The given equation can be rewritten as 3 x  4 y  7  0 and  12 x  5 y  2  0
(Making constant terms positive)
Since a1a2  b1b2  36  20  0 ,

 Positive sign in equations of bisectors gives the bisector of acute angle.

Hence acute angle bisector is
3x  4 y  7 12 x  5 y  2
 or 11x  3 y  9  0, which is given in (c).
3
2
 42  12 2
 52 

Example 8 Mixed term xy is to be removed from the general equation of second degree
ax 2  by 2  2hxy  2 gx  2 fy  c  0, one should rotate the axes through an angle  given
by tan 2 equal to
(a)  a  b  / 2h (b) 2h /  a  b  (c)  a  b  / 2h (d) 2h /  a  b 

Solution d
Let  x, y  , be the coordinates on new axes, then put
x  x cos   y  sin  .
y  x sin   y  cos  , in the equation.
Then coefficient of x y in transformed equation  0, so,

2  b  a  sin  cos   2h cos 2  0 or tan 2  2h /  a  b  , which is given (d).

Example 9 If one of the diagonals of a square is along the line x  2 y and one of its vertices is  3, 0  ,
then its sides through this vertex are given by the equation.
(a) y  3 x  9  0, 3 y  x  3  0 (b) y  3 x  9  0,3 y  x  3  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 31

(c) y  3 x  9  0, 3 y  x  3  0 (d) y  3 x  3  0, 3 y  x  9  0
Solution a
Diagonal of the square is along
x  2y … (1)

The point  3, 0  does not lie on (1)

Let the side trough this vertex be y  0  m  x  3

Angle between side (2) and diagonal (1) is 45.

m  1/ 2
 tan 1  45  m  3,  1/ 3
1  m. 1/ 2 
 from (2), the required sides are
y  3 x  9  0 and 3 y  x  3  0 which are given in (a).

Example 10 The equation x 2 y 2  2 xy 2  3 y 2  4 x 2 y  8 xy  12 y  0

Represents
(a) A pair of straight lines (b) A pair of straight lines and circle
(c) A pair of straight lines and a parabola (d) A set of four lines forming a square
Solution d
x 2 y 2  2 xy 2  3 y 2  4 x 2 y  8 xy  12 y  y 2  x 2  2 x  3  4 y  x 2  2 x  3  0

 y  y  4  x  3 x  1  0
 y  0, y  4, x  3, x  1
Hence the equation represents four straight lines which evidently form a square.
Hence correct answer is (d)
Example 11 The vertices of triangle ABC are A 1,  2  , B  7, 6  and C 11/ 5, 2 / 5 

(i) Equation of the perpendicular side bisector (a) 26 x  17 y  8  0

(ii) Equation of the median (b) 14 x  23 y  40  0
(iii) Equation of altitude (c) x  y  5  0
(iv) Equation of BC (d) 5 x  5 y  9  0

Solution  i  « c  ,  ii  « a  ,  iii  «  d  ,  iv  « b 
 1  7 2  6  62
(i) Middle point of AB is  ,    3, 2  and slope of AB is  1
 2 2  7  1
 (a) Equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB is
 STRAIGHT LINES 32

y  2  1.  x  3  x  y  5  0

 7  11/ 5 2 / 5  6   12 16 
(ii) Middle point of BC is  ,    , 
 2 2   5 5
 Equation of the meddle through A is
y2 x 1 y  2 x 1
    26 x  17 y  8  0.
16 / 5 12 / 5  1 26 17
(iii) Slope of AB  1 (from (a))
 Equation of the altitude through C is
y  2 / 5  1 x  11/ 5   5 x  5 y  9  0
(iv) Equation of BC is
y  2 / 5 x  11/ 5 5 y  2 5 x  11
    14 x  23 y  40  0
6  2 / 5 7  11/ 5 28 46
1
Example 12 If y  mi x   i  1, 2, 3 represent there straight lines whose slopes are the roots of the
mi
equation 2m3  3m 2  3m  2  0, then

(i) Algebraic sum of the intercepts (a) 4 2 9 5  4 made by the lines on x-axis.

(ii) Algebraic sum of the intercepts (b) 3/2 made by the lines on y-axis
(iii) Sum of the distance of the lines (c) 21/ 4 from the origin.

(iv) Sum of the length of the (d) 5 

2  9 5 10 intercepted between the

coordinate axes.
Solution  i  « c  ,  ii  « b  ,  iii  « d  ,  iv  « a 
Solving the equation 2m3  3m2  3m  2  0 we get
2  m3  1  3m  m  1  0   m  1  2m 2  5m  2   0

  m  1 2m  1 m  2   0  m  1, 1/ 2 or 2.

Equation of the given lines can be written as m 2i x  mi y  1

(i) Algebraic sum of the intercepts made by the lines on x-axis
1  1  21
  2
  1   4   
mi  4  4
1
(ii) Algebraic sum the intercept made by the line on y-axis    1  2  1/ 2  3 / 2.
mi
 STRAIGHT LINES 33

(iii) Let pi denote the perpendicular distance of the line from the origin

1/ mi 1 2 2 1/ 2
Then pi    pi    
1  mi2 11 11 1  1/ 4 1 4


1
2

4

1

1
5 2 5 10
5 2 9 5  
(iv) li  lengths of the line intercept between the coordinates axes.
2 2
 1   1 
  2   
 mi   mi 

 l i  1  1  16  4  1/16  1/ 4  2  2 5  5 / 4  4 2  9 5 / 4  
 STRAIGHT LINES 34

EXERCISE – I

CBSE PROBLEMS

1. Find the slope of the lines :

(a) Passing through the points  3,  2  and  7,  2  ,
(b) Making inclination of 60° with the positive direction of x-axis.
 1
2. If the angle between two lines is and slope of one of the lines is , find the slope of the other
4 2
line.
3. Line through the points  2, 6  and  4, 8  is perpendicular to the line through the points  8, 12 
and  x, 24  . Find the value of x.

4. Find a point on the x-axis, which is equidistant from the points  7, 6  and  3, 4  .

5. Without using the Pythagoras theorem, show that the points  4, 4  ,  3, 5  and  1,  1 are the
vertices of a right angled triangle.
6. Without using distance formula, show that points  2,  1 ,  4, 0  ,  3, 3 and  3, 2  are the
vertices of a parallelogram.
1
7. The slope of a line is double of the slope of another line. If tangent of the angle between them is ,
3
find the slope of the lines.
8. A line passes through  x1 , y1  and  h, k  . If slope of the line is m, show that k  y1  m  h  x1  .
a b
9. If three points  h, 0  ,  a, b  and  0, k  lie on a line, show that   1.
h k
10. Consider the following population
and year graph, find the slope of 102
Population in Cross

the line AB and using it, find what

will be the population in the year B
2010? 97
1995, 97 
A
92
1985, 92 
87

O 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Find the equation of the line which Years
satisfy the given conditions :
 STRAIGHT LINES 35

1
11. Passing through the point  4, 3 with slope .
2
12.  
Passing through 2, 2 3 and inclined with the x-axis at an angle of 75°.

13. Intersecting the y-axis at a distance of 2 units above the origin and making an angle of 30° with
positive direction of the x-axis.
14. Passing through the points  1, 1 and  2,  4  .
15. Perpendicular distance from the origin is 5 units and the angle made by the perpendicular with the
positive x-axis is 30°.
16. The vertices of  PQR are P  2, 1 , Q  2, 3 and R  4, 5 . Find equation of the median through
the vertex R.
17. Find the equation of the line passing through  3, 5  and perpendicular to the line through the
points  2, 5 and  3, 6  .
18. Find the equation of a line that cuts off equal intercepts on the coordinate axes and passes through
the point  2, 3 .

2
19. Find equation of the line through the point  0, 2  making an angle with the positive x-axis.
3
Also, find the equation of line parallel to it and crossing the y-axis at a distance of 2 units below the
origin.
20. The perpendicular from the origin to a line meets it at the point  2, 9  , find the equation of the
line.
21. The length L (in centimeter) of a copper rod is a linear function of its Celsius temperature C. In an
experiment, if L  124.942 when C  20 and L  125.134 when C  110, express L in terms of
C.
22. The owner of a milk store finds that, he cal sell 980 litres of milk each week at Rs 14/litre and 1220
litres of milk each week at Rs 16/litre. Assuming a linear relationship between selling price and
demand, how many litres could he sell weekly at Rs 17/litre?
23. P  a, b  is the mid-point of a line segment between axes. Show that equation of the line is
x y
  2.
a b
24. Point R  h, k  divides a line segment between the axes in the ratio 1 : 2. Find equation of the line.

25. By using the concept of equation of a line, prove that the three points  3, 0  ,  2,  2  and  8, 2 
are collinear.
26. Find the angle between the lines y  3 x  5  0 and 3 y  x  6  0.
27. Reduce the following equations into intercept form and find their intercepts on the axes.
(i) 3 x  2 y  12  0 (ii) 4 x  3 y  6 (iii) 3 y  2  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 36

28. Find the distance of the point  1, 1 from the line 12  x  6   5  y  2  .
29. Find the distance between parallel lines
(i) 15 x  8 y  34  0 and 15 x  8 y  31  0 (ii) l  x  y   p  0 and l  x  y   r  0

30. Find angles between the lines 3 x  y  1 and x  3 y  1.

31. Two lines passing through the point  2, 3 intersects each other at an angle of 60°. If slope of one
line is 2, find equation of the other line.
32. Find the equation of the right bisector of the line segment joining the points  3, 4  and  1, 2  .

33. Find the coordinates of the foot of perpendicular from the point  1, 3 to the line 3 x  4 y  16  0.

34. The perpendicular from the origin to the line y  mx  c meets it at the point  1, 2  . Find the
values of m and c.
35. If p and q are the lengths of perpendiculars from the origin to the lines x cos   y sin   k cos 2
and x sec   y cosec   k , respectively, prove that p 2  4q 2  k 2 .
36. In the triangle ABC with vertices A  2, 3 , B  4,  1 and C 1, 2  , find the equation and length of
altitude from the vertex A.
37. If p is the length of perpendicular from the origin to the line whose intercepts on the axes are a
1 1 1
and b, then show that 2  2  2 .
p a b
38. Find the distance of the line 4 x  y  0 from the point P  4, 1 measured along the line making an
angle of 135° with the positive x-axis.
39. Assuming that straight lines work as the plane mirror for a point, find the image of the point 1, 2 
in the line x  3 y  4  0.
40. Show that the area of the triangle formed by the lines y  m1 x  c1 , y  m2 x  c2 and x  0 is
 c1  c2 
2

.
2 m1  m2
41. A line is such that its segment between the lines 5 x  y  4  0 and 3 x  4 y  4  0 is bisected at the
point 1, 5  . Obtain its equation.

42.  
Find the values of k for which the line  k  3 x  4  k 2 y  k 2  7 k  6  0 is

(a) Parallel to the x-axis, (b) Parallel to the y-axis, (c) Passing through the origin
43. Find the values of  and p, if the equation x cos   y sin   p is the normal form of the line
3 x  y  2  0.
44. Find the equations of the lines, which cut-off intercepts on the axes whose sum and product are 1
and 6, respective.
 STRAIGHT LINES 37

x y
45. What are the points on the y-axis whose distance from the line   1 is 4 units.
3 4
46. Find perpendicular distance from the origin of the joining the points  cos  , sin   and
 cos  , sin   .
47. Find the equation of the line parallel to y-axis and drawn through the point of intersection of the
lines x  7 y  5  0 and 3 x  y  0.
x y
48. Find the equation of a line drawn perpendicular to the line   1 through the point, where it
4 6
meets the y-axis.
49. Find the area of the triangle formed by the lines y  x  0, x  y  0 and x  k  0.
50. Find the value of p so that the three lines 3 x  y  2  0, px  2 y  3  0 and 2 x  y  3  0 may
intersect at one point.
51. If three lines whose equations are y  m1 x  c1 , y  m2 x  c2 and y  m3 x  c3 are concurrent, then
show that m1  c2  c3   m2  c3  c1   m1  c1  c2   0.

52. Find the equation of the lines through the point  3, 2  which make an angle of 45° with the line
x  2 y  3.
53. Find the equation of the line passing through the point of intersection of the lines 4 x  7 y  3  0
and 2 x  3 y  1  0 that has equal intercepts on the axes.
54. Show that the equation of the line passing through the origin and making an angle  with the line
y m  tan 
y  mx  c is  .
x 1  m tan 
55. In what ratio, the line joining  1, 1 and  5, 7  is divided by the line x  y  4?

56. Find the distance of the line 4 x  7 y  5  0 from the point 1, 2  along the line 2 x  y  0.

57. Find the direction in which a straight line must be drawn through the point  1, 2  so that its point
of intersection with the line x  y  4 may be a distance of 3 units from this point.
58. The hypotenuse of a right angled triangle has its ends at the point 1, 3 and  4, 1 . Find the
equation of the legs (perpendicular sides) of the triangle which are parallel to co-ordinate axes.
59. Find the image of the point  3, 8  with respect to the line x  3 y  7 assuming the line to be a plane
mirror.
60. If the lines y  3 x  1 and 2 y  x  3 are equally inclined to the line y  mx  4, find the value
of m.
61. If sum of the perpendicular distances of a variable point P  x, y  from the line x  y  5  0 and
3 x  2 y  7  0 is always 10. Show that P must move on a line.
62. Find equation of the line which is equidistant from parallel lines 9 x  6 y  7  0 and
3 x  2 y  6  0.
 STRAIGHT LINES 38

63. A ray of light passing through the point 1, 2  reflect on the x-axis at point A and the reflected ray
passes through the point  5, 3 . Find the coordinates of A.
64. A person standing at the junction (crossing) of two straight paths represented by the equations
2 x  3 y  4  0 and 3 x  4 y  5  0 wants to reach the path whose equation is 6 x  7 y  8  0 in the
least time. Find equation of the path that he should follow.
 STRAIGHT LINES 39

EXERCISE – II

JEE MAIN-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. A line passing through  2, 2  is perpendicular to the line 3 x  y  3. Its y intercept is

1 2 4
(a) (b) (c) 1 (d)
3 3 3
2. If the points  k , 2  2k  ,  k  1, 2k  and  4  k , 6  2k  are collinear, then k 
1 1
(a) 11 (b) (c) 1 (d) 
2 2
3. The equation of the bisector of the acute angle between the lines 3 x  4 y  7  0 and
12 x  5 y  2  0 is
(a) 21x  7 y  101  0 (b) 11x  3 y  20  0
(c) 21x  7 y  3  0 (d) 11x  3 y  9  0

4. If the line 6 x  y  2  k  2 x  3 y  13  0 is parallel to x-axis, the value of k is

1 1
(a)  (b) (c) – 3 (d) 3
3 3
5. The equation of the Straight line which is perpendicular to y  x and passes through  3, 2  will be
given by
(a) x  y  5 (b) x  y  5 (c) x  y  1 (d) x  y  1
6. The nearest point on the line 3 x  4 y  25 from the origin is
(a)  4, 5  (b)  3,  4  (c)  3, 4  (d)  3, 5 

7. If the lines lx  my  n  0 and px  qy  r  0 are perpendicular, then

(a) lp  mq  0 (b) lp  mq  0 (c) lm  pq (d) lm  pq  0
8. The angle between the lines 3 x  2  0 and 5 y  7 is
(a) 0° (b) 30° (c) 60° (d) 90°
9. The line  a  2b  x   a  3b  y  a  b for different values of a and b passes through the point
3 5 2 2 3 3  2 3
(a)  ,  (b)  ,  (c)  ,  (d)   , 
2 2 3 5 5 5  5 5
10. The equation to the pair of straight lines through the origin and perpendicular to 2 x 2  4 xy  7 y 2  0
is
(a) 7 x 2  4 xy  2 y 2  0 (b) 7 x 2  4 xy  2 y 2  0
(c) 7 x 2  4 xy  2 y 2  0 (d) 7 x 2  4 xy  2 y 2  0
 STRAIGHT LINES 40

11. P and Q are the points on the line joining A  2, 5  and B  6, 1 such that AP  PQ  QB. Then
the mid - point of PQ is

1   1 
(a)  , 3  (b)   , 4  (c)  2, 3 (d)  1, 4 
2   2 
12. If x 2  3xy   y 2  3 x  5 y  2  0, represents a pair of straight lines, then the value, of  is
(a) 1 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 2
13. The locus of a point at which the line segment joining the given points  ,   and   ,   subtends
a right angle is
(a) Straight line (b) ellipse (c) parabola (d) circle
14. Given the system of straight lines a  2 x  y  3  b  3 x  2 y  5   0, the line of the system situated
farthest from the point  4,  3 has the equation
(a) 4 x  11 y  15  0 (b) 7 x  y  8  0
(c) 4 x  3 y  7  0 (d) 3 x  4 y  1  0
r r
15. The parametric equation of a line is given by x  2  and y  1  3 . Then, for the line
10 10
7
(a) Intercept on the x-axis  (b) Intercept on the y-axis  7
3
1
(c) Slope of the line  tan 1 (d) Slope of the line  tan   3
3
16. The equation of the lines joining the origin to the points of trisection of the portion of the line
3 x  y  12 intercepted between the axes are
1
(a) y  x and y  x (b) y  x and y   x
2
3
(c) y  x and y  6 x (d) None of these
2
17. The area of a triangle is 5 and two of its vertices are A  2, 1 and B  3,  2  . The third vertex which
lies on the line y  x  3 is
 3 3  5 11   7 13 
(a)   ,  (b)  ,  (c)   ,   (d)  0, 0 
 2 2 2 2   2 2
18. The co-ordinates of foot of the perpendicular from the point  2, 4  on the line x  y  1 are

1 3  1 3 4 1 3 1
(a)  ,  (b)   ,  (c)  ,  (d)  ,  
2 2  2 2 3 2 4 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 41

19. The line L has intercepts a and b on the co-ordinate axes. When keeping the origin fixed, the
co-ordinate axes are rotated through a fixed angle, then the same line has intercepts p and q on the
rotated axes, then
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a) a 2  b 2  p 2  q 2 (b) 2
 2  2 2 (c) a 2  p 2  b 2  q 2 (c) 2
 2  2 2
a b p q a p b q
20. The area of the triangle with vertices of the point  a, b  c  ,  b, c  a  ,  c, a  b  is
(a) 0 (b) a  b  c (c) ab  bc  ca (d) None of these
21. The equation:  y 2  1   2  xy   x 2  0 represents a pair of straight lines. Then

(a)   2 necessarily (b)   2 necessarily

(c)  may be any real number (d) None of these
22. The area of the quadrilateral whose sides are given by x  y  1 is
(a) 1 sq. unit (b) 2 sq. unit (c) 4 sq. units (d) None of these
23. The equation of bisector of that angle between the lines x  y  1  0 and 2 x  3 y  5  0 which
contains the points 10,  20  is

(a) x  13  2 2   y  13  3 2    13  5 2   0
(b) x  13  2 2   y  13  3 2    13  5 2   0

(c) x  13  2 2   y  13  3 2    13  5 2   0

(d) None of these

24. A point moves so that sum of squares of its distance from the four sides of a square is constant. This
point always lie on a
(a) Straight line (b) Circle (c) Ellipse (d) Parabola
25. Three lines px  qy  r  0, qx  ry  p  0 and rx  py  q  0 are concurrent if
(a) p  q  r  0 (b) p 2  q 2  r 2  pq  qr  rp
(c) p 3  q 3  r 3  3 pqr (d) None of these
 STRAIGHT LINES 42

EXERCISE – III

IIT-JEE-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. The straight lines x  y  0, 3 x  y  4 and x  3 y  4  0 form a triangle, which is

(a) Isosceles (b) Equilateral (c) Right – angled (d) None of these
2. If the sum of the distance of a point from two perpendicular lines in a plane is 1, then its locus is
(a) Square (b) Circle
(c) Straight line (d) Two intersecting lines
X Y x y x y
3. If   1 is any line through the intersection of lines   1 and   1, then
c d a b b a
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a)    (b)    (c)    (d) None of these
a d b c b d c a c d a b
4. If x1 , x2 , x3 as well as y1 , y2 , y3 are in G.P. with the same common ratio, then the points  x1 , y1  ,
 x2 , y2  ,  x3 , y3 
(a) lie on a straight line (b) lie on an ellipse
(c) lie on a circle (d) are vertices of a triangle
5. The equation of the diagonal through the origin of the quadrilateral formed by the lines
x  0, y  0, x  y  1  0 and 6 x  y  3  0 is
(a) 4 x  3 y  0 (b) 3 x  2 y  0 (c) x  y  0 (d) x  y  0

6. A ray of light coming from the point 1, 2  is reflected at a point A on the x-axis and then passes
through the point  5, 3 . The co-ordinates of the point A is
 13  5 
(a)  , 0  (b)  , 0  (c)  7, 0  (d) None of these
5   13 
7. The locus of the mid-point of the portion intercepted between the axes by the line
x cos   y sin   p, where p is a constant is
1 1 4 4 1 1 2
(a) x 2  y 2  4 p 2 (b) 2  2  2 (c) x 2  y 2  2 (d) 2  2  2
x y p p x y p
8. In a square through ABCD the diagonals AC and BD intersect at the point  3, 4  . If the point A is
1, 2  the diagonal BD has the equation
(a) x  y  1  0 (b) x  y  1  0 (c) x  y  1  0 (d) x  y  7  0

9. The equation to pair of opposite sides of a parallelogram are x 2  5 x  6  0 and y 2  6 y  5  0.

The equations to its diagonals are
(a) x  4 y  13 and y  4 x  7 (b) 4 x  y  13 and 4 y  x  7
(c) 4 x  y  13 and y  4 x  7 (d) y  4 x  13 and y  4 x  7
 STRAIGHT LINES 43

 1 
10. If the points  2, 0  ,  1,  and  cos  , sin   are collinear, then the number of values of
 3
   0, 2  is
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) Infinite
 t t 
11. If P 1  , 2  be any point on a then the range of values of t for which the point P lies
 2 2
between the parallel lines x  2 y  1 and 2 x  4 y  15 is
4 2 5 2 5 2 4 2
(a)  t (b) 0  t  (c)  t 0 (d) None of these
3 6 6 5
12. If bx  cy  a, where a, b, c are of the same sign, be a line such that the area enclosed by the line
1
and the axes of reference is unit 2 , then
8
(a) b, a, c are in G.P. (b) 2b, 2a, c are in G.P.
a
(c) b, , c are in A.P. (d) b,  2a, c are in G.P.
2
13. If  x, y  be a variable point on the line y  2 x lying between the lines 2  x  1  y  0 and
x  3  y  1  0, then

 1 6 1 3  3  6
(a) x    ,  (b) x   ,  (c) y   1,  (d) y   1, 
 6 7 2 7  7  7
14. The point  4, 1 undergoes the following three transformations successively
I. Reflection about the line y  x
II. Translation through a distance 2 units along the positive direction of x-axis

III. Rotation through an angle about the origin in the, anticlockwise direction. The final position
4
of the point is given by the co-ordinates
 1
(a) 
 2
,
7 

2

(b)  2, 7 2   1
(c)  
 2
,
7 

2
(d)  2, 7 2 

15. The line 3 x  4 y  7  0 is rotated through an angle in the clockwise direction about the point
4
 1, 1 . The equation of the line in its new position is
(a) 7 y  x  6  0 (b) 7 y  x  6  0 (c) 7 y  x  6  0 (d) 7 y  x  6  0
16. A  4, 2  , B  7, 6  and C  x, y  are three points such that the angle BAC is a right angle and the
area of the triangle ABC is 7 square units. Then the number of such appoints C is
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 4
 STRAIGHT LINES 44

17. Let PS be the median of the triangle with vertices P  2, 2  , Q  6,  1 and R  7, 3 . The equation
of the line passing trough 1,  1 and parallel to PS is
(a) 2 x  9 y  7  0 (b) 2 x  9 y  11  0 (c) 2 x  9 y  11  0 (d) 2 x  9 y  7  0
18. The locus of the orthocenter of the triangle formed by the lines
1  p  x  py  p 1  p   0, 1  q  x  qy  q 1  q   0 and y  0 where p  q
(a) A hyperbola (b) A parabola (c) An ellipse (d) A straight line
19. The equation of the bases of an equilateral triangle is x  y  2  0 and one vertex is  2,  1 . Then
the length of the side of the triangle is
1 3 2
(a) (b) (c) (d) 2
2 2 3
20. The equation of the line through the point of intersection of the lines x  3 y  1  0, 2 x  5 y  9  0
and whose distance from the origin is 5 is
(a) 2 x  y  5  0 (b) 3 x  2 y  7  0 (c) 2 x  y  7  0 (d) 2 x  y  5  0
21. The equation of the line through  5, 4  such that its segment intercepted by the lines x  2 y  1  0
2
and x  2 y  1  0 is of length is
5
(a) 2 x  y  14  0 (b) 2 x  y  14  0 (c) 2 x  y  1  0 (d) 2 x  y  13  0
22. The orthocenter, Circumcentre, centroid and incentre of the triangle formed by the lines
x  0, y  0 and x  y  a lie on
(a) Straight line y  x (b) y  2 x (c) y  3 x (d) None of these
23. If O be the origin and if P1  x1 , y1  and P2  x2 , y2  are two points, the OP1  OP2  COS  POP
1 2 is

equal to
(a) x1 y2  x2 y1 (b) x1 x2  y1 y2

(c)  x12  y12  x22  y22  (d)  x1  x2    y1  y2 

2 2

24. Area of the parallelogram formed by the lines y  mx, y  mx  1, y  nx and y  nx  1 equals.

(a)
m  n (b)
2
(c)
1
(d)
1
m  n
2
m  n m  n m  n
25. A square is inscribed in the circle x 2  y 2  2 x  4 y  3  0 . Its sides are parallel to the coordinate
axes. Then one vertex of the square is


(a) 1  2,  2  
(b) 1  2,  2  
(c) 1,  2  2  (d) None of these
 STRAIGHT LINES 45

EXERCISE – IV

MORE THAN ONE CHOICE CORRECT

1. If the lines 3 x  y  2  0, 2 x  y  3  0 and a 2 x  2ay  6  0 are concurrent if a is equal to

(a) 7 1 (b) 7 1 (c) 1  7 (d) Any real number
2. All points lying inside the triangle formed by the points 1, 3 ,  5, 0  and  1, 2  satisfy
(a) 3 x  2 y  0 (b) 2 x  y  13  0 (c) 2 x  3 y  12  0 (d) 2 x  y  0
3. Let L be the line 2 x  y  2. If the axes are rotated by 45° without transforming the origin, then the
intercepts made by the line L on the new axes are respectively
2 2 2 2
(a) 1 and 2 (b) and 2 2 (c) 2 and 1 (d) 2 2 and
3 3
4. Equations(s) of the straight lines(s), inclined at 30° to the axis of x such that the length of its
(each of their) line segment(s) between the co-ordinate axes is 10 units, is
(a) x  3 y  5 3  0 (b) x  3 y  5 3  0
(c) x  3 y  5 3  0 (d) x  3 y  5 3  0
5. A 1, 2  and B  7, 10  are two points. If P  x  is a point such that the angle APB is 60° and the
area of the triangle APB is maximum, then which of the following is (are) true?
(a) P lies on the straight line 3 x  4 y  36
(b) P lies on any line perpendicular to AB
(c) P lies on the right bisector AB
(d) P lies on the circle passing through the points 1, 2  and  7, 10  and having a radius of 10 units
6. In a triangle ABC , AB  AC and the co-ordinates of B and C are 1, 3 and  2, 7  respectively.
The co-ordinates of A can be
 1   1 5 
(a)   , 5  (b)  7,  (c) 1, 6  (d)  , 6 
 2   8 6 
x y
7. The family of straight lines   1 will represent
a b
(a) y-axis if a  0, b  0
(b) x-axis if a  0, b  0
(c) concurrent lines passing through fixed point  a, 0  a  0
(d) parallel lines if b / a is fixed, a  0
8. If the coordinates of the vertices of a triangle are rational numbers, then which of them of the
following points of the triangle will always have rational coordinates?
(a) Centroid (b) Incentre (c) Circumcentre (d) Orthocenter
9. If each of the vertices of a triangle has integral coordinates, then the triangle may be
(a) Right angled (b) Equilateral (c) Isosceles (d) Scalene

10. A line passing the origin and making an angle with the line y  3 x  5 has the equation
4
 STRAIGHT LINES 46

(a) x  2 y  0 (b) 2x  y (c) x  2 y (d) y  2 x  0

11. The equation x3  x 2 y  xy 2  y 3 represents
(a) Three real straight lines
(b) Lines in which two of them are perpendicular to each other.
(c) Lines in which two of them are coincident.
(d) Lines are making an angle 60° with one another.
12. If a and b are the roots of the equation x3  3 x 2  x  1  0. If  a  b  1 (  x  denotes greatest
integer  x ) then the maximum value of the area of the triangle made by the line x  a  b   y  1
and co-ordinate axes must be
3 1
(a) (b) (c) less than 1 (d) greater than 1
2 2
13. If A  x1 , y1  , B  x2 , y2  , C  x3 , y3  are the vertices of a triangle, then the equation
x y 1 x y 1
x1 y1 1  x1 y1 1  0 represents
x2 y2 1 x3 y3 1
(a) The median through A (b) The altitude through A
(c) The perpendicular bisector (d) The line joining the Centroid with a vertex
14. O, A, B are the points  0, 0  ;  0, 8 and 10, 0  . A points P moves so that the area of triangle POA
is equal to the area of triangle POB. Then P may lie on
(a) 4 x  5 y  0 (b) 5 x  4 y  0 (c) 4 x  5 y  3 (d) 5 x  4 y  0
15. If the slope of one of the lines represented by ax 2  6 xy  y 2  0 is square of the order, then
(a) a  1 (b) a  27 (c) a  4 (d) a  8

EXERCISE – V

MATCH THE FOLLOWING

 STRAIGHT LINES 47

Note : Each statement in Column – I has only one match in Column – II.

1. A line cuts x-axis at A and y-axis at B such that AB  l. Match the following loci :

COLUMN – I COLUMN – II
I. Circumcentre of triangle ABC l2
A. x2  y 2 
9
II. Orthocentre of triangle ABC l2
B. x2  y 2 
4
III. Incentre of the triangle ABC C. x2  y 2  0
IV. Centroid of the triangle ABC D. yx

2.

COLUMN – I COLUMN – II
I. If the line 2 x  y  5 form a right angled isosceles triangle A. 5
with two mutually perpendicular lines passing though
origin, then area of the triangle is
II. If the lines joining origin to the intersection of line B. 2
y  mx  2 and the curve x 2  y 2  1 are at right angles,
them m 2 is
III. If one of the lines in 2 x 2  axy  3 y 2  0 coincide with one C. 7
of those given by 4 x 2  bxy  6 y 2  0 and the other lines
represented by them be perpendicular, then b 2  4 
IV. If pair of lines ax 2  2 xy  by 2  0 and bx 2  2 xy  ay 2  0 D. 4
be such that each pair bisects the angles between the other
pair then a  b 
E. 8

3. Consider the lines given by L1 : x  3 y  5  0, L2 : 3 x  ky  1  0, L3  5 x  2 y  12  0

COLUMN – I COLUMN – II
I. L1, L2 , L3 are concurrent if A. k  9
 STRAIGHT LINES 48

II. One of L1, L2 , L3 is parallel to at least one of the other two, if 6

B. k 
5
III. L1, L2 , L3 form a triangle, if 5
C. k
6
IV. L1, L2 , L3 do not form a triangle, if D. k 5
 STRAIGHT LINES 49

ASSERTION AND REASON TYPE

Direction : Read the following questions and choose :

(A) If both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(B) If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not correct explanation of the Assertion.
(C) If Assertion is true but Reason is false.
(D) If Assertion is false but Reason is true.

1. Assertion : Centroid and incentre of a triangle always lie inside the triangle.
Reason : Lines which divides the two different internal angle of triangle, will meet inside the
triangle.
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
2. Assertion :   L1   L2  aL3  bL4   lines L1 , L2 , L3 and L4 are concurrent.  a, b,  ,   R 

Reason : L1  kL2  0 represents family of lines passing through point of intersection of L1 and L2 .
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
3. Assertion : Each point on the line y  x  12  0 is equidistant from the lines
4 y  3 x  12  0, 3 y  4 x  24  0
Reason : The locus of a point which is equidistant from two given lines is the angular bisector of
the two lines.
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
4. Assertion : A homogeneous equation in x and y of degree n represents family of lines
(not more than n ), all intersecting at origin.
y
Reason : Substituting  m give a polynomial in m of degree n, which can have maximum n real
x
roots of the form y  m1 x  0, y  m2 x  0, ........
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
5. Assertion : Two mutually perpendicular lines intersect with co-ordinate axes, then the angle which
one makes with positive x-axis anticlockwise is equal to angle that other one makes with positive
y-axis anticlockwise.
Reason : All quadrilaterals that can be formed by points of intersection of pair of lines with
co-ordinate axes are concyclic.
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
 STRAIGHT LINES 50

PASSAGE BASED PROBLEMS

A. The equations of adjacent sides of a parallelogram are x  y  1  0 and 2 x  y  2  0. If the

equation of one of its diagonal is 13 x  2 y  32  0 then answer the following questions.

1. Equation of the other diagonal must be

(a) 7 x  8 y  7  0 (b) 2 x  y  0 (c) 2 x  y  7 (d) None of these
2. Area of the parallelogram must be
(a) 45 (b) 45 / 2 (c) 3 5 (d) None of these
3. Equation of the side of the parallelogram opposite to the given side 2 x  y  2  0 must be
(a) 2 x  y  5  0 (b) 2 x  y  0 (c) 2 x  y  7 (d) None of these

B. The vertex C of a right angled isosceles triangle ABC is  2, 2  and the equation of hypotenuse AB
is 3 x  4 y  4. Answer the following questions.

1. The equations of sides AC and BC must be

(a) 7 y  x  12  0, 7 x  y  16 (b) 3 x  4 y  2  0, 4 x  3 y  14  0
(c) x  y  4 (d) None of these
2. The area of the triangle ABC must be
(a) 1 square units (b) 2
(c) 2 2 square units (d) 4 square units
3. The in radius of the triangle ABC must be
2 4 2 2 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 51

EXERCISE – VI

SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

1. The points 1, 3 and  5, 1 are two opposite vertices of a rectangle. The other two vertices lie on
the line y  2 x  c. Find c and the remaining vertices.
2. The area of the triangle formed by the intersection of a line parallel to x-axis and passing through
P  h, k  with the lines y  x and x  y  2 is 4h 2 . Find the locus of the points P.
3. Derive the conditions to be imposed on  so that  0,   should lie on or inside the triangle having
sides y  3 x  2  0, 3 y  2 x  5  0 and 4 y  x  14  0.
4. The equation to the base of an equilateral triangle ABC is 2 x  y  6  0 . The vertex is  3, 4  . Find
the equation of the other two sides and also the length of a side of the triangle.
5. A rectangle PQRS has its side PQ parallel to the line y  mx and vertices P, Q and S on the
lines y  a, x  b and x  b, respectively. Find the locus of the vertex R.
6. For points P   x1 , y1  and Q   x2 , y2  of the coordinate plane, a new distance d  P, Q  is
defined by d  P, Q   x1  x2  y1  y2 . Let O   0, 0  and A   3, 2  . Prove that the set of points
in the first quadrant which are equidistant (with respect to the new distance) from O and A consists
of the union of a line segment of finite length and an infinite ray. Sketch this set in a labeled
diagram.
7. A ray of light is sent along the line x  2 y  3  0. Upon reaching the line 3 x  2 y  5  0, the ray is
reflected from it. Find the equation of the line containing the reflected ray.
8. The Circumcentre of a triangle with vertices A  a, a tan   , B  b, b tan   and C  c, c tan   lies at
the origin where        . Show that its orthocenter lies on the line
       
 4 cos cos cos  x   4 sin sin sin  y  y
 2 2 2  2 2 2
9. Prove that the diagonal of a parallelogram whose sides are u  p, u  q, v  r , v  s where
u  ax  by  c, v  ax  by  c and which passes through the points of intersection of the lines
u v 1
u  p, v  r , and u  q, v  s is given by p r 1  0.
q s 1
10. A line cuts the sides BC , CA and AB of a triangle at P, Q, R respectively. Show that
BP.CQ. AR  PC.QA.RB  0.
11.      
Show that the equation cos 3 x 3  3 xy 2  sin 3 y 3  3 x 2 y  3 x 2  y 2  4  0 represents 3
straight lines forming an equilateral triangle. Prove also that its area 3 3
 STRAIGHT LINES 52

ANSWER TO CLASSROOM PRACTICE PAPER

 
1. 13 2. 2a sin
2
 10 33 
a  m1  m2   m1  m2 
2
3. 4 4.  , 
7 7 
 4  1   5 
5. 1,   ;  11, 16  6.   , 0;   , 2
 5  3   3 
7. 10
1  2 2  3 3  1
8. (i) a 2 (ii) 2ab sin sin sin
2 2 2
10. y  x 1 11. x  y  5  0
12. 2x  3 y  6 13. 6 x  5 y  30  0
14. y  x 1 15. ax  by  ab
x   y    
16. cos  sin  cos 17. x  3 y  7  0; y  3x  1; y  7 x  11
a 2 b 2 2
18. 2 x  3 y  4; y  3 x  1; x  2 y  2
19. (i)  0, 3 and  4,  1 (ii)  3, 5  and  1, 7 
21. (i)    ,1  (2, ) (ii)   1, 2 
22. No value of 
23. 90°
4
24. tan 1 25. 60°
3
26. 0
27. (i) 2 x  3 y  5  0 (ii) 3 x  4 y  13
28. (i) y2 (ii) 3 x  4 y  5  0 (iii) x  3 y  5  0 (iv) x  y  3  0
(v) x  7 y  15  0, 7 x  y  5  0
 14 7
29.  ,  30. m  4
 3 3
cd
32. 7 x  y  9 or  x  7 y  13 33.
1  m2

34.
1
2

2 3  35. x  3; y  4; 4
1
2
36. 3 x 2  3 y 2  8 x  16 y  20  0 37. y 2  3x 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 53

x2 y 2 x2 y2
38. (a) x 2  y 2  a 2 (b) y 2  4 x (c)  1 (d)  1
a 2 b2 a2 b2
 y  1  4  x  1 (h) y  x  1
2
(e) xy  1 (f) x 2  y 2  4 (g)
(i) x 2  y 2  1
1 1
39. (i) x 2  y 2  (ii) x 2  y 2 
9 4
40. 2ax  k 2  0 41. n 2
   
 1 x 2  y 2  a 2  2ax n 2  1  0

42.   
4 x 2 c 2  4 a 2  4c 2 y 2  c 2 c 2  4 a 2  43. y  2; x  6
44. 99 x  77 y  71  0; 7 x  9 y  37  0
45. 2  
2 3 x   
2  1 y  5  4 2  0, 2 2  3 x   
2 1 y  5  4 2  0

 6 12  3
46.    ; 45 47.  2, 1 ; tan 1
5 5  5
48. 15 49. 2
4 1
50.  2 x  11y  2 x  y   0; tan 1 51.  x  3 y  x  4 y   0; tan 1
3 13
53. (i) y  2  4 x ; (ii) 2 x2  y2  6
54. x2  y2  r 2 ; x2  y2  a 2 cos 2
 STRAIGHT LINES 54

ANSWERS

EXERCISE – I

CBSE PROBLEMS

1. (a) 0 (b) 3
1
2. m  3 or 3. x4
3
 15 
4.  , 0
 2 
1 1 1
7. 1 & 2 or & 1 or  1 &  2 or  &  1 10. , 104.5 crores
2 2 2
11. x  2 y  10  0 12.   
3 1 x  
3 1 y  4  
3 1

13. x  3y  2 3  0 14. 5 x  3 y  2  0

15. 3 x  y  10 16. 3 x  4 y  8  0
17. 5 x  y  20  0 18. x  y  5

19. 3 x  y  2  0, 3x  y  2  0 20. 2 x  9 y  85  0
192
21. L  C  20   124.942 22. 1340 litre
90
24. 2kx  hy  3kh 26. 30°, 150°
x y x y 3 y
27. (i)   1, 4, 6 (ii)   1, ,  2 (iii) 1
4 6 3 2 2 2
2 3
28. 5 units
65 1  pr 
29. (i) units (ii)   unit
17 2 l 
30. 30°, 150°
31.    
3  2 x  2 3  1 y  8 3  1;    
3  2 x  1 2 3 y  1 8 3

 68 49 
32. 2x  y  5 33.  ,  
 25 25 
1 5
34. m ,c 36. y  x  1, 2
2 2
6 7
38. 3 2 39.  , 
5 5
 STRAIGHT LINES 55

41. 107 x  3 y  92  0
42. (a) k  3 (b) k  2 (c) k  6 or 1
7
43. ,1 44. 2 x  3 y  6,  3 x  2 y  6
6

 8   32  sin    
45.  0,   ,  0,  46.
 3  3     
2sin  
 2 
5
47. x 48. 2 x  3 y  18  0
22
49. k 2 sq. unit 50. 5
52. 3 x  y  7, x  3 y  9 53. 13 x  13 y  6
23 5
55. 1:2 56.
18
57. parallel to x-axis 59.  1,  4 

1 5 2
60. 62. 18 x  12 y  11  0
18
 13 
63.  , 0 64. 119 x  102 y  125
5 
 STRAIGHT LINES 56

EXERCISE – II

JEE MAIN-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (b)

6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (a)

11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (d) 14. (d) 15. (d)

16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (b) 19. (b) 20. (a)

21. (c) 22. (b) 23. (a) 24. (b) 25. (c)

EXERCISE – III

IIT-JEE SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (b)

6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (d) 9. (c) 10. (b)

11. (a) 12. (d) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (a)

16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (d) 19. (c) 20. (a)

21. (a) 22. (a) 23. (b) 24. (d) 25. (d)

EXERCISE – IV

MORE THAN ONE CHOICE CORRECT

1. (a, c) 2. (a, c) 3. (b, d) 4. (a, b, c, d) 5. (a, c)

6. (b, d) 7. (b, c, d) 8. (a, c, d) 9. (a, c, d) 10. (c, d)

11. (a, b, c) 12. (b, c) 13. (a, d) 14. (a, c) 15. (b, d)

EXERCISE – V
 STRAIGHT LINES 57

MATCH THE FOLLOWING

1. I   B  ; II   C  ; III   D  ; IV   A 
2. I   A  ; II   C  ; III   E  ; IV   B 
3. I   D  ; II   A, B  ; III   C  ; IV   A, B, D 

ASSERTION AND REASON TYPE

1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (c)

PASSAGE BASED PROBLEMS

A.

1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (c)

B.

1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (b)

EXERCISE – VI

SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

1. c  4, A   2, 0  , C   4, 4 
2. y  1  2x
3. 5/3    7 / 2

4. m1 
2 3
and m2 
32  
, equation : y  4  m  x  3 ; side 
8
1  2 3 1 2 3 15
5.    
x m 2  1  ym  m 2  1 b  am  0
7. 29 x  2 y  31  0