ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

ANALYTIC GEOMETRY

Analytic geometry, otherwise known as coordinate geometry or cartesian

geometry, is the brainchild of Pierre de Fermat and Rene Descartes. They cleverly
married algebra and geometry with their development of the cartesian plane.
The cartesian plane, the basis of analytic geometry, allows algebraic equations to
be graphically represented, in a process called graphing. Analytic geometry is the study
of points, curves and lines defined by algebraic expressions. Here we deal primarily with
the cartesian plane, but do note that the concepts can be extended to other planes such
as the Argand diagram for complex numbers.

Applications of Analytic Geometry

Mathematical applications of analytic geometry lie mainly in relating algebra and

geometry. The concepts in this course are useful for solving problems such as calculus
on the cartesian plane.
Analytic geometry can also be used in the practical world. One very important
example is in cartography. It can be used in the location of places and points on a
topographical map. The concept of longitude and latitude is also based on analytic
geometry. Hence, it can also be used in navigation.

The Cartesian Coordinate System

This is consists of two perpendicular number lines which intersect at a certain
point called the origin. The horizontal line is called the x-axis and the vertical line is
known as y-axis. Together, they are known as the Cartesian coordinate axes. The
coordinate axes divide the plane into four regions called the quadrants.
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Q2 Q1
origin

Q3 Q4

A convenient unit of measurement is usually chosen and marked off on each

axis. Distances measured to the right of the y-axis and parallel to the x-axis are
considered positive while distances measured to the left of the y-axis are negative.
Distances measured upward from the x-axis and parallel to the y-axis are considered
positive while those measured downward from the x-axis are negative.
The position of any point on a plane may be determined by its distance from the
y-axis (abscissa or x-coordinate) and its distance from the x-axis (ordinate or y-
coordinate). The abscissa and ordinate together are called the rectangular coordinates
or Cartesian coordinates or simply the coordinates of the point. The coordinates of a
point are written in parentheses putting the abscissa first. A moving or variable point
may be denoted by an ordered pair P(x,y).
Locating or plotting a point whose coordinates are given is made easy by the use
of rectangular coordinate or graphing paper. To plot a point, measure off from the origin
along the x-axis the number of units in the abscissa (to the right when positive and to
the left when negative). From this terminal, measure off parallel to the y-axis the number
of units in the ordinate (upward when positive and downward when negative).
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

The points P1(2,3), P2(-3,4), P3(x3,y3), and P(x,y) are plotted in the Cartesian
plane below.

P(x,y)
P2(-3,4)
P1(2,3)

P3(x3,y3)

Exercises
1. What are the coordinates of the origin?
2. What is the abscissa of (2,-9)? The ordinate?
3. What is the abscissa of a point on the x-axis?
4. In what quadrant would a point lie if its abscissa and ordinate are equal?
5. What is the distance from the x-axis to (6,-5)? From the y-axis?
6. Plot the following points on rectangular coordinate paper? Connect the points
using this pattern A-B-C-D-E-A.
A(0,5), B(3,-3), C(-3,3), D(3,3), E(-3,-3)
7. Draw the polygons,whose vertices are the following;
a. (-1,1),(3,-4),(2,4)
b. (-3,-3), (4,-1), (6,4), (1,5)
c. (-1,-9), (2,-7), (4,-1), (1,1),(-2,2)
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Directed Line Segments

Whenever we talked about the length of a line segment, we generally mean the
number of units in the line segment.
When a line segment is measured in a definite sense or direction, it is known to
be a directed line segment. We speak of the directed line segment AB if the direction of
measurement is from A to B or BA if we start at B and end at A.

AB (+)

A B

BA (-)

If we take one direction, say AB, as positive, then the opposite direction BA
would be negative. If B is 5 units to the right of A, then AB=5 and BA=-5.

Distance Between Two Points

Let the coordinates of two points be A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) and let d be the
distance between them.
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

To find the distance between A and B, using the concept of length of a line
segment and Pythagorean Formula.
AC= x2-x1
BC=y2,y1
(AB)2=(AC)2+(BC)2

AB   AC 2  BC 2
AB  x2  x1 2   y2  y1 2

d  x2  x1    y2  y1 
2 2

This is known as the distance formula and the coordinates may be taken in
reverse because the quantity in parentheses, whatever its sign, would become positive
when squared.

Example
Find the distance between the points (2,-7) and (-4,2).
Solution
In the distance formula, x1=2, y1=-7, x2=-4, and y2=2

d x2  x1 2   y2  y1 2
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

d  4  22  2  72
d  62  92
d  36  81

d  117
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

DIVISION OF A LINE SEGMENT

A line segment may be divided internally (when the point is on the line segment)
or externally (when the point lies on the extension).
In the figures below, we have a line segment from P 1(x1,y1) to P2(x2,y2) and a
point P(x,y) dividing the line segment into two segments P1P and PP2 in a certain ratio.
Consider the segment P1P as directed, starting at P1 and terminating at P. The segment
PP2 starts at P and terminates at P2. They have the same sign in the first figure since
they are measured in the same sense. In figure 2 they have unlike signs since they are
measured in opposite senses.

P2(x2,y2)

P(x,y)

P1(x1,y1)

Figure 1

P(x,y)

P2(x2,y2)

P1(x1,y1)

Figure 2
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

P1 P r
Let the ratio be 1 . Then in figure 1, this ratio is positive. In the second
PP2 r2
figure, it is positive. By proportion, we have
P1 P x  x1 r x  x1
 or 1  simplifying, we obtain
PP2 x2  x r2 x 2  x

r1 x2  r2 x1
x similarly, we have
r1  r2
r1 y 2  r2 y1
y
r1  r2
P1 P r1
In the above formulas, it is very important to remember that  .
PP2 r2
Examples:
1. The line segment joining P1(1,3) and P2(5,-2) is to be divided into three equal
parts. Find the point of division closest to P1.
Solution:
P1 P 1
We may take r1=1 and r2=2, since  ,
PP2 2
x1=1,y1=3,x2=5 and y2=-2
2 1  1 5 7 2  3  1(2) 4
x  , y 
1 2 3 1 2 3
7 4
P , 
3 3
2. The line segment from (1,4) to (2,1) is extended a distance equal to twice its
length. Find the terminal point.
Solution:
We may consider the segment P1P as three parts and the segment PP2 as
two parts. Since they are measured in opposite senses, we make P 1P
P1 P r1  3
negative and PP2 positive.  
PP2 r2 2
Let r1=-3, r2=2, x1=1, y1=4, x2=2, and y2=1, applying the formula
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

(3)( 2)  (2)(1) (3)(1)  (2)( 4)

x 4 y  5
3 4 3 4
The terminal point is at (4,-5).

3. Find the midpoint of the segment joining (5,-2) and (3, 6)

A special case of the division of a line segment is that where we have the
point of division at the midpoint.

r1 x2  r2 x1 r1 y 2  r2 y1
In the formula x and y 
PP
, if 1 =1 or r1=r2=1
r1  r2 r1  r2 PP2

x2  x1 y 2  y1
we obtain x and y  .
2 2
Solution:
x1=5, y1=-2, x2=3,y2=6
x2  x1 3  5 y  y1 6  (2)
x   4 and y  2  2
2 2 2 2
The midpoint is at (4,2).
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Angle of Inclination

A straight line makes four angles with the x-axis. The smallest positive angle that
the straight line makes with the positive x-axis is called its angle of inclination or
simply inclination and is denoted by the letter  .

2 1

Slope of a Line

The slope of a line is the tangent of the angle of inclination. Slope is usually
denoted by m.
m= tan 
If the axes are in the conventional position, a line sloping upward to the right has
positive slope, since the tangent of a positive acute angle is positive; a line sloping
downward to the right has negative slope. The slope of a line parallel to the x-axis is
zero. The slope is meaningless in the case of a line parallel to the y-axis, since tan

“approaches infinity” as  approaches 900.

ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Let us consider the line joining two distinct points P1(x1,y1) and P2(x2,y2). If we will
draw the auxiliary lines P1W and WP2 forming the right triangle.

P2(x2,y2)

P1(x1,y1)
W

The slope of the line P1P2 can now be expressed in terms of the coordinates of
the two points, the slope or m being equal to the tangent of the angle of inclination .
WP2
By the definition of the tangent function, we have tan   , substituting, the slope of
P1W

y 2  y1
a line joining the points P1(x1,y1) and P2(x2,y2) is m  .
x2  x1
In ordinary language, the slope of a line means the ratio of “rise” to “run”, that is,
the ratio of the vertical distance to the horizontal distance covered in traversing any
segment of the line.
Slopes of Parallel Lines

l1
l2

1 2
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

The two lines l1 and l2, which are parallel to each other, which are cut by a
transversal, the x-axis form corresponding angles 1 and 2. These angles represent
the angles of inclination of l1 and l2 respectively and being equal, their tangents are also
equal. Thus, the slopes of parallel lines are equal.
m1=m2, l1 // l 2
Conversely, if the slopes of two lines are equal, the lines are parallel.

Slopes of Perpendicular Lines

l3
l4

3
4

Consider now a line l3 perpendicular to the l4. Let the angle of inclination of l3 be
3 , we now have 3=900+4.
Being equal, their tangents are equal. tan3=tan(900+4). From Trigonometry,
tan (900+4)=-cot4.

Substituting, we have tan3=-cot4

1
tan3 = 
tan  4

Since the tangent of the angle of inclination is equal to the slope of the line, we
obtain the formula, which shows that the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative
reciprocals to each other.
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Conversely, if the slopes of two lines are negative reciprocals, the lines are
perpendicular to each other.

Examples:
1. Find the slopes of the line joining (-6,3) and (2,7).
Solution:
y 2  y1 73 4 1
m   
x2  x1 2  (6) 8 2
2. Verify that the points W(-1,3), P(0,5) and M(3,1) are the vertices of a right
triangle.
Solution:
The slopes of WP and WM are respectively 2 and -1/2, hence it follows
that WP and WM are perpendicular.

Exercises
Verify the following statements. Draw the figure.
1. The points (6,-1), (3,0),(5,-6) are the vertices of a right triangle.
2. The points (4,0), (12,3),(7,4),(-1,1) are vertices of a parallelogram.
3. The given points (9,10),(4,3), (-3,-7) lie on a straight line.
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

Angles Formed by Two Lines

L1
L2 L1 L2





  

Figure 1 Figure 2

Let the lines L1 and L2 have the inclinations  and . Then in the first figure
=+, so that =-.(Eq.1)
In figure 2,  =+(1800-), from which =1800+(-). (Eq.2)
From either equations 1 and 2 it follows that tan=tan(-) and by trigonometric
tan   tan 
identities tan= .
1  tan  tan 
But the slopes of the lines are tan=m1, tan=m2 so that:
The angle from a line of slope m1 to a line of slope m2 is given by the formula
m2  m1
tan 
1  m1m2

Example:
1. Find the tangent of the angle  from the line L1 through (-2, -3) and (4,3)
to the line L2 through (-1, 6) and (3, -2)
Solution:
m1 = 1, m2 = -2
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY LLARENAS,E M.

tan   tan 
tan= .
1  tan  tan 
 2 1
tan = 3
1  (2)1

2. Find the interior angles of the triangle with vertices A(1,1),B(4,3),C(5,2)

We readily solve the slopes of the three lines connected by the three points;
m1=-1, m2=1/4, m3=2/3
Let C denote the angle from line BC to line AC, A from line AC to line AB, B from
line AB to line BC.
tan   tan 
Applying the formula tan= .
1  tan  tan 
1
1
5
tan C= 4 
1
1   1
3
4
5
Similarly, tan A= and tan B= -5
14
C= 590 2’ A= 190 39’ B= -780 41’