Coordinate geometry and Relation function and graph

Mathematics D.Hines

Plot the points A(2,1) and B(6,4), connect point A to point to form a straight line

Draw AC parallel to the x-axis, the draw BC parallel to the y-axis.

Find the distance AC and BC

The gradient or slope or ‘m’ of a line

The gradient of a line is a measure of the amount of steepness of the line. The steeper the line; the greater the
gradient.

Gradient may be defined as Rise (measured vertically upwards)

Run (measured horizontally across)

In the case of the line drawn above the gradient of the slope AB or mAB = ¾

Or we could use a formula for calculating the gradient of a straight line, where m = y2 – y1
x2 – x 1

This can also be seen as the difference of y-coordinates

difference of x-coordinates

In the case of the points A (2,1) and B (6,4) the points can be read as (x 1, y1) and (x2, y2).

Parallel lines
If the lines are parallel, they must slope the same way, therefore they must have equal gradients

Example 1
Given that A (5, -3), B (6, 1), C (12, 9), D (11, 5) are four points.
Prove that (i) AB and DC are parallel
(ii) AD and BC are parallel

Perpendicular lines
Two lines are perpendicular if slope of one line = -reciprocal of the slope of the other or product of the two
slopes is -1. That is m1m2 = -1

Reciprocal means we invert the number

The reciprocal of 3/5 is 5/3, the reciprocal of ¼ is 4 and so on.

If a line has a slope or gradient of 7/8, to find the slope of a line which is perpendicular to this line, we find the
negative reciprocal of 7/8 which is -8/7 (we invert then change the sign).

Example 2
What is the gradient of a line that is perpendicular to another line with the points C (2, 5) and D (1, -2)

Length of a line
By length of a line, we mean the distance between the end points of the line

Example 3
If P (-5, 11), and Q (2, -13), find the length of PQ.
The coordinates of the mid-point of a line joining two points

By mid-point of a line we mean the point in the middle of the line joining the two points. The mid-point means the
point on AB which is half-way on the line.

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To find the coordinates of the mid-point, we add the x-coordinates and divide by 2, and add the y-coordinates and
divide by 2.

Example 4
A (6, 12), B (-2, 0) are two points, find the coordinates of the midpoint AB.

Equation of a line
Each line is different from the others, and the property which tells us which line we are dealing with is called the
equation of the line.

 Suppose we plot the points A (2,3), B (2, -2), C (2,1), D (2,2).

After plotting, we can see that they all lie on a straight line.
Notice two properties (i) It is parallel to the y-axis
(ii) All the x-coordinates are 2
Therefore the equation of the line is x = 2, because all the y values are 0

 Suppose we plot the points P (2,3), Q (-3, 3), R (-1, 3)

After plotting, we can see that they all lie on a straight line.
Notice two properties (i) It is parallel to the x-axis
(ii) All the x-coordinates are 3
Therefore the equation of the line is y = 3, because all the x values are 0

Equation of a straight line

If the line is not parallel to the x-axis nor the y-axis, its equation has a different form and it involves both x and y.

Linear Functions
Linear functions are those of the form, f(x) = ax + c, where, a and c are integers, and linear means a straight line.
Recall that, y = f(x)
Therefore, y = ax + c
Where, y is the dependent variable, a is the coefficient of x
x is the independent variable
c is the constant term.
Note also that, y = mx + c, equation of a line
Therefore, y = ax + c = mx + c
Where, m is the gradient of the line (ratio of the vertical rise over the horizontal run)
c is the point at which the line intercepts the y axis.

Having stated the form of linear functions, below is an example of how to draw linear functions.
Example 5
Draw the graph of the linear function, f(x) = 3x + 2, for the domain -2 ≤ x ≤ 2.

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Method 1: The equation of the line can be found from the graph drawn, by identifying the value of the y intercept,
then finding the gradient and finally placing those values in the equation y = mx + c.

Method 2: We can also find the equation of a line if we know a point on the line and the slope or gradient of the
line. Then substituting these values in the equation y = mx + c.

Example 6
Find the equation of the line through the point (-2, 4) with a gradient of 3/5.

Method 3: We can also find the equation of the line passing through two points on a line. Firstly we have to find the
gradient of the two points, then we substitute the values of the x-coordinate and y-coordinate using of any of the two
points into the equation of the line (y= mx + c). Then write the equation of the line

Example 7
Find the equation of the line passing through the points (5, -2) and (-1, 3).

Using the values from the equation of the line to find the gradient and the y-intercept

In order to do this make y the subject of the formula first

State the gradient and y-intercept of the following terms

1. y = 3x + 4
2. y = -x + 2
3. y = -5x -3
4. 2y = 7x – 6
5. 3x + 5 = -4y
6. 3y + 4x – 8 = 0

Given the equation of the line, the gradient or slope and the y-intercept can be found.

Example 8
Prove the lines 5y – 2x + 3 = 0 and 10y = 4x + 1 are parallel
Hint: parallel lines have equal gradient

Example 9
Show the lines 3y = 4x – 7 and 6x + 8y = 0 are perpendicular to each other
Hint: The product of the two gradients is equal to negative one.

Example 10
Find the equation of the line which passes through the point (-4, 1) and is parallel to the line 3y – 4x +2 = 0.

Example 11
A line passes through the point (0,4) and is perpendicular to the line 5y + 4x – 3 = 0. Find the equation of the line.

Drawing graphs
If the graph is straight line, the points must be connected using a straight edge such as a ruler. But if a graph is not a
straight line the then a straight edge is not to be used and the cure must be drawn free-handed or by use of a flexi-
curve or a French curve.

Quadratic Functions
Quadratic functions are those of the form, f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
Where, a, b and c are all integers
And, f(x) or y is the dependent variable
a is the coefficient of x2
b is the coefficient of x
c is the y intercept
x is the independent variable

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 Graph in the form ax2 +bx + c

The roots or the x intercept is the point where the graph cuts the x axis. Roots are also called x-intercepts or zeros
The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola. The axis of symmetry of a parabola is a
vertical line that divides the parabola into two congruent halves. The axis of symmetry always
passes through the vertex of the parabola . The x -coordinate of the vertex is the equation of the
axis of symmetry of the parabola.

Example 12
Draw the graph of the quadratic function, f(x) = x2 – 2x -3, for the domain -2 ≤ x ≤ 4.
Solution:
The set of (x, y) values to be plotted and connected in forming the graph representing the quadratic function, parabola (a
smooth curve), are found by substituting the values given for x in the domain (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,4), in the function, solving for
the respective f(x)/ y values.

Example 13

(v) values of x for which x2 + 2x – 3 = 0 or roots of the graph

(vi) the value of the minimum point
(vii) the coordinates of the minimum point on the graph