LINES IN

A PLANE

LINEAR EQUATION
A. IN ONE VARIABLE
A linear equation in one variable (x or y) is an
equation of the form:

ITS GRAPH:
The graph of a linear equation in one
variable is either:
a horizontal line; or
a vertical line.

EXAMPLES

1.)
Solution:
Solve for the
value of x.

EXAMPLES

1.) 2
Solution:
Solve for the
value of y.

LINEAR EQUATION
B. IN TWO VARIABLES
A linear equation in two variables is an equation
of the form:

Where A, B and C are constants and A and B are

BOTH nonzero.

SOME FACTS:
The highest exponent of BOTH x and y is 1.
It is also known as First-Degree Equation
It doesnt have ANY xy- term.

EXERCISES
Tell whether the given equation is LINEAR or
NOT. Justify your answer.

LINEAR

LINEAR

NOT Linear
NOT Linear
LINEAR

ITS GRAPH:
Its graph is the set of all points (a,b) that satisfy
the given linear equation in two variables.
Its graph is ALWAYS a straight line.

EXAMPLES

1.) 2
Solution:

If x = 0, y = 5

If y = 0, x =

EXAMPLES

2.) 3
Solution:

If x = 0, y = -3
If y = 0, x = 5

A POINT ON THE LINE

The point P(x, y) is ON the line

if the coordinates of P satisfy the equation defined
by the line.
Examples:

1. Is point (7,7) on the line

2. Is point (4,-1) on the line

SLOPE OF A LINE
It is the steepness of a line.
It is commonly known as the rise over run.
It is the ratio of change in y to change in
x.

EXAMPLES
Sketch and determine the slope of the line which
passes through each pair of points:
1. (4, 1), (2,-3)
2. (-3, 2), (6,-5)
3. (-1, -5), (-3,-5)
4. (8, -3), (8,5)

1. (4, 1), (2,-3)

RISING LINE

2. (-3, 2), (6,-5)

FALLING LINE

3. (-1, -5), (-3,-5)

HORIZONTAL LINE

4. (8, -3), (8,5)

VERTICAL LINE

SLOPE AND LINE

DESCRIPTION
SLOPE

LINE DESCRIPTION

m >0
m<0

Rising Line
Falling Line

m=0

Horizontal/Parallel
to x-axis
Vertical/Parallel to y-axis

m = undefined

SPECIAL FORMS OF THE

EQUATION OF A LINE
1. POINT-SLOPE FORM
Use this when the slope and a point on the
line are given.
Formula:

EXAMPLE
Determine the equation of the line passing
through point P(2,1) and with a slope of 3.
Given: m = 3 and P(2,1)
Solution:

2. TWO-POINT FORM
Use this when two points on the line are
given.
Formula:

EXAMPLE
Determine the equation of the line passing
through points (-2,8) and (3,1)
Given: (-2,8) and
(3,1)

Solution:

3. SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM
Use this when the slope and the y-intercept
(which is equal to b) are given.
Formula:

EXAMPLE

Determine the equation of the line whose

slope is and y-intercept is -3.

Given: slope = b = - 3.
Solution:

4. TWO-INTERCEPT FORM
Use this when the x- and y- intercepts of
the line are given.
Restriction: Cant be used when the line
passes through the origin because a=0, b=0.
Formula:

EXAMPLE
Determine the equation of the line whose
x-intercept is 2 and y-intercept is -3.

Given: a = b = - 3.

Solution:

PARALLEL LINES
When two lines are parallel, it means that
their slopes are equal.
When the slope of the lines are equal, then
they are parallel.

EXAMPLE 1

Determine the equation of the line which passes

through (-2, 3) and parallel to
Solution:
Transform first the given equation to slopeintercept form.

Now, we know the slope and the point on the line

What formula to use?
POINT-SLOPE FORM

SOLUTION
Given:

m = -2 ; P(-2, 3)

Therefore, the equation of the line PARALLEL

to line and passes through P(-2, 3) is

EXAMPLE 2

Determine the equation of the line which passes

through (5, -2) and parallel to 3
Solution:
Transform first the given equation to slopeintercept form.

Now, we know the slope and the point on the line

What formula to use?
POINT-SLOPE FORM

SOLUTION
Given:

m = 3 ; P(5, -2)

Therefore, the equation of the line PARALLEL

to line 32 and passes through P(5, -2) is

PERPENDICULAR LINES
When two lines are perpendicular to each
other, it means that the product of their
slopes is -1.
If the slope of one line is the negative
reciprocal of the slope of the other line, or the
product of their slopes is -1, then the lines are
PERPENDICULAR.

EXAMPLE 1

Determine the equation of the line which passes

through (5, 4) and perpendicular to
Solution:
Transform first the given equation to slopeintercept form.

Now, get the reciprocal of

NEGATIVE
RECIPROCAL

What formula to use?

POINT-SLOPE FORM

SOLUTION

Given:

m=
P(5, 4)

Therefore, the equation of the line

PERPENDICULAR to line 3 and passes through
P(5, 4) is

EXAMPLE 2

Determine the equation of the line which passes

through (0, -2) and perpendicular to
Solution:
Transform first the given equation to slopeintercept form.

Now, get the reciprocal of

NEGATIVE
RECIPROCAL

What formula to use?

POINT-SLOPE FORM

SOLUTION

Given:
m=2
P(0, -2)

Therefore, the equation of the line

PERPENDICULAR to line and passes through
P(0, -2) is