Definitions [8]
Locus is the path traced by a moving point, which moves so as to satisfy a certain given condition/conditions.
The slope m of a line is m = tanθ
where θ is the inclination of the line with the positive x-axis.
x-intercept: Point where a line cuts the x-axis, y = 0
y-intercept: Point where a line cuts the y-axis, x = 0
An equation of the form ax + by + c = 0 represents a straight line and is known as a linear equation.
Find the equation of the line which passes through the point (3, 4) and is such that the portion of it intercepted between the axes is divided by the point in the ratio 2:3.
The equation of the line with intercepts a and b is \[\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\] .Since the line meets the coordinate axes at A and B, the coordinates are A (a, 0) and B (0, b).
Let the given point be P (3, 4).
Here,
\[AP : BP = 2 : 3\]
\[\therefore 3 = \frac{2 \times 0 + 3 \times a}{2 + 3}, 4 = \frac{2 \times b + 3 \times 0}{2 + 3}\]
\[ \Rightarrow 3a = 15, 2b = 20\]
\[ \Rightarrow a = 5, b = 10\]
Hence, the equation of the line is
\[\frac{x}{5} + \frac{y}{10} = 1\]
\[ \Rightarrow 2x + y = 10\]
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point (not on the line) in the plane.
A hyperbola is the set of all points in a plane, the difference of whose distances from two fixed points in the plane is a constant.
An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane, the sum of whose distances from two fixed points in the plane is a constant.
Formulae [7]
The distance between P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) is
\[\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2}\]
The distance of a point P(x, y) from the origin is
\[\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\]
\[P\left(\frac{m_1x_2+m_2x_1}{m_1+m_2},\frac{m_1y_2+m_2y_1}{m_1+m_2}\right)\]
\[m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\]
For line ax + by + c = 0
x-intercept:
\[\left(-\frac{c}{a},0\right)\]
y-intercept:
\[\left(0,-\frac{c}{b}\right)\]
When slope and y-intercept are given
y = mx + c
-
m = slope
-
c = y-intercept (value of y when x = 0)
When two points are given
\[\frac{y-y_1}{x-x_1}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\]
When the slope and one point are given
y − y1 = m(x − x1)
Theorems and Laws [5]
If the point (x, y) is equidistant from the points (a + b, b – a) and (a – b, a + b), prove that bx = ay.
Let P(x, y), Q(a + b, b – a) and R (a – b, a + b) be the given points. Then
PQ = PR ...(Given)
⇒ `sqrt({x - (a + b)}^2 + {y - (b - a)}^2) = sqrt({x - (a - b)}^2 + {y - (a + b)}^2`
⇒ `{x - (a + b)}^2 + {y - (b - a)}^2 = {x - (a - b)}^2 + {y - (a + b)}^2`
⇒ x2 – 2x(a + b) + (a + b)2 + y2 – 2y(b – a) + (b – a)2 = x2 + (a – b)2 – 2x(a – b) + y2 – 2(a + b) + (a + b)2
⇒ –2x(a + b) – 2y(b – a) = –2x(a – b) – 2y(a + b)
⇒ ax + bx + by – ay = ax – bx + ay + by
⇒ 2bx = 2ay
⇒ bx = ay
Let `A(bara)` and `B(barb)` be any two points in the space and `R(barr)` be the third point on the line AB dividing the segment AB externally in the ratio m : n, then prove that `barr = (mbarb - nbara)/(m - n)`.

As the point R divides the line segment AB externally, we have either A-B-R or R-A-B.
Assume that A-B-R and `bar(AR) : bar(BR)` = m : n
∴ `(AR)/(BR) = m/n` so n(AR) = m(BR)
As `n(bar(AR))` and `m(bar(BR))` have same magnitude and direction,
∴ `n(bar(AR)) = m(bar(BR))`
∴ `n(barr - bara) = m(barr - barb)`
∴ `nbarr - nbara = mbarr - mbarb`
∴ `mbarr - nbarr = mbarb - nbara`
∴ `(m - n)barr = mbarb - nbara`
∴ `barr = (mbarb - nbara)/(m - n)`
Hence proved.
Let `A(bara)` and `B(barb)` are any two points in the space and `R(barr)` be a point on the line segment AB dividing it internally in the ratio m : n, then prove that `barr = (mbarb + nbara)/(m + n)`.
R is a point on the line segment AB(A – R – B) and `bar(AR)` and `bar(RB)` are in the same direction.
Point R divides AB internally in the ratio m : n
∴ `(AR)/(RB) = m/n`
∴ n(AR) = m(RB)
As `n(bar(AR))` and `m(bar(RB))` have same direction and magnitude,
`n(bar(AR)) = m(bar(RB))`
∴ `n(bar(OR) - bar(OA)) = m(bar(OB) - bar(OR))`
∴ `n(vecr - veca) = m(vecb - vecr)`
∴ `nvecr - nveca = mvecb - mvecr`
∴ `mvecr + nvecr = mvecb + nveca`
∴ `(m + n)vecr = mvecb + nveca`
∴ `vecr = (mvecb + nveca)/(m + n)`
If D, E, F are the midpoints of the sides BC, CA, AB of a triangle ABC, prove that `bar(AD) + bar(BE) + bar(CF) = bar0`.
Let `bara, barb, barc, bard, bare, barf` be the position vectors of the points A, B, C, D, E, F respectively.
Since D, E, F are the midpoints of BC, CA, AB respectively, by the midpoint formula
`bard = (barb + barc)/2, bare = (barc + bara)/2, barf = (bara + barb)/2`
∴ `bar(AD) + bar(BE) + bar(CF) = (bard - bara) + (bare - barb) + (barf - barc)`
= `((barb + barc)/2 - bara) + ((barc + bara)/2 - barb) + ((bara + barb)/2 - barc)`
= `1/2barb + 1/2barc - bara + 1/2barc + 1/2bara - barb + 1/2bara + 1/2barb - barc`
= `1/2(barb + barc - 2bara + bar c + bara - 2barb + bara + barb - 2barc)`
= `(bara + barb + barc) - (bara + barb + barc) = bar0`.
By vector method prove that the medians of a triangle are concurrent.

Let A, B and C be vertices of a triangle.
Let D, E and F be the mid-points of the sides BC, AC and AB respectively.
Let `bara, barb, barc, bard, bare` and `barf` be position vectors of points A, B, C, D, E and F respectively.
Therefore, by mid-point formula,
∴ `bard = (barb + barc)/2, bare = (bara + barc)/2` and `barf = (bara + barb)/2`
∴ `2bard = barb + barc, 2bare = bara + barc` and `2barf = bara + barb`
∴ `2bard + bara = bara + barb + barc`, similarly `2bare + barb = 2barf + barc = bara + barb + barc`
∴ `(2bard + bara)/3 = (2bare + barb)/3 = (2barf + barc)/3 = (bara + barb + barc)/3 = barg` ...(Say)
Then we have `barg = (bara + barb + barc)/3 = ((2)bard + (1)bara)/(2 + 1) = ((2)bare + (1)barb)/(2 + 1) = ((2)barf + (1)barc)/(2 + 1)`
If G is the point whose position vector is `barg`, then from the above equation it is clear that the point G lies on the medians AD, BE, CF and it divides each of the medians AD, BE, CF internally in the ratio 2 : 1.
Therefore, three medians are concurrent.
Key Points
Nature of Slope
-
m > 0 → rising line
-
m < 0 → falling line
-
m = 0 → horizontal line
-
m = ∞→ vertical line
Parallel Lines
Two lines are parallel ⇔ , their slopes are equal, m1 = m2
Perpendicular Lines
Two lines are perpendicular ⇔
Collinearity of Three Points
Points A, B, and C are collinear
Method 1: Distance method
AB + BC = AC
Method 2: Slope method
Slope of AB = Slope of BC
-
x-intercept:
Right of origin → positive
Left of origin → negative -
y-intercept:
Above origin → positive
Below origin → negative
Concepts [38]
- Brief Review of Cartesian System of Rectanglar Co-ordinates
- Distance Formula
- Section Formula
- Locus
- Translation of Axes
- Concept of Slope (or, gradient)
- Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
- Intercepts on Axes
- Various Forms of the Equation of a Line
- Intersection of Two Lines
- Angle Between Two Lines
- Conditions for Concurrence of Three Lines
- Distance of a Point from a Line
- Equations of Line in Different Forms
- Equations of Internal and External by Sectors of Angles Between Two Lines Co-ordinate of the Centroid, Orthocentre, and Circumcentre of a Triangle
- Equations of Internal and External by Sectors of Angles Between Two Lines Co-ordinate of the Centroid, Orthocentre, and Circumcentre of a Triangle
- Equation of Family of Lines Passing Through the Point of Intersection of Two Lines
- Equations of a Circle in Standard Form
- Equations of a Circle in General Form
- Equation of a Circle When the Endpoints of a Diameter Are Given
- Point of Intersection of a Line and a Circle
- Equation of Tangent and Condition of Tangency
- Fundamentals of Conic Sections
- Parabola and its types
- Hyperbola and its Types
- Ellipse and its Types
- Condition for Y = mx + c to Be a Tangent and Point(s) of Tangency
- Results of Triangle
- Various Forms of Equation of a Line
- Shortest Distance Between Two Lines
- Bisector of the Angle Between the Two Lines
- Perpendicular Distance of a Point from a Line
- Foot of the Perpendicular
- Position of a Point with Respect to a Line
- Pedal Points
- Pair of Straight Lines
- Advanced Concept of Circle
- Standard Equation of a Circle
