Coordinate geometry formulas: distance, gradient and midpoint

Distance between two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$

$ AB $ = $ \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} $

Gradient of line passing through two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$

$ \text{Gradient of } AB $ = $ {y_2 - y_1 \over x_2 - x_1} $

Midpoint of two points $A(x_1, y_1)$ and $B (x_2, y_2)$:

$ \text{Midpoint of } AB $ = $ \left( {x_1 + x_2 \over 2}, {y_1 + y_2 \over 2} \right) $

How to find coordinates of a point given the midpoint

Example

Given that the point $M(2.5, 2.5)$ is the midpoint of the points $C(1, 4)$ and $D$, find the coordinates of point $D$.

Answer: $ D(4, 1) $

Solutions

How to form the equation of a straight line

Equation of a non-vertical straight line

$ \text{Equation: } $$ y = mx + c $

$ m \text{ represents the } $$ \text{gradient of the straight line} $

$ c \text{ represents the } $$ y\text{-intercept of the straight line} $

Equation of a horizontal line

$ \text{Equation of horizontal line passing though } (a, b) \text{:} $$ \phantom{.} y = b $

$ \text{Gradient of line} $ = $ \phantom{0} 0 \phantom{0} $

Equation of a vertical line

$ \text{Equation of vertical line passing though } (a, b) \text{:} $$ \phantom{.} x = a $

$ \text{Gradient of line is} $ $ \text{ undefined } $

Example

The diagram below shows two points, $A(2, 3)$ and $B(1, 1)$.

diagram

(i) State the equation of the horizontal line $l_1$.

Answer: $ y = 3 $

(ii) State the equation of the vertical line $l_2$.

Answer: $ x = 2 $

(iii) Form the equation of the straight line that passes through points $A$ and $B$.

Answer: $ y = 2x - 1 $

Solutions

How to find the angle between a line and the x-axis or y-axis

Example

Line $l$ has gradient of $-2$ and $y$-intercept $2$.

(i) Find the acute angle between line $l$ and the $y$-axis.

Answer: $ 26.6^\circ $

Solutions

(ii) Find the obtuse angle between line $l$ and the $x$-axis.

Answer: $ 116.6^\circ $

Solutions

How to prove that points are collinear

Collinear points

If two or more points are collinear, then they lie on the same straight line. Thus,

  • Gradient between any two points is the same
  • The coordinate of each point must satisfy the equation of the straight line

Example: Prove that points are collinear

Prove that the points $E(1, 2)$, $F(2.5, 3)$ and $G(4, 4)$ are collinear.

Solutions (by finding gradient)

Solutions (by equation of line)

Example: Find the coordinates of collinear point

diagram

The points $A$ and $B$ have coordinates $(-2, 1)$ and $(0, 2)$ respectively. The line $AB$ is produced to point $C$, such that $AB:AC = 1:3$. Find the coordinates of point $C$.

Answer: $ (4, 4) $

Solutions (by column vectors)

Solutions (by similar triangles)

Gradient of parallel lines and of perpendicular lines

Parallel lines

diagram
  • If two lines are parallel, they have the same gradient, i.e. $m_1 = m_2$
  • If two lines are parallel and do not have the same $y$-intercept, they will not intersect

Non-parallel lines

diagram

Since the lines are not parallel, the lines will meet at a point. The coordinates of the point of intersection can be found by solving simultaneous equations using the equation of each line.

Perpendicular lines

diagram

The gradients of both lines are related by, $m_1 \times m_2 = $ $ - 1 $

Example

(i) Form the equation of the straight line that is parallel to the line $2y - 3x = 5$ and passes through the point $(3, 3)$.

Answer: $ y = {3 \over 2}x - {3 \over 2} $

Solutions

(ii) Form the equation of the straight line that is perpendicular to the line $2y - 3x = 5$ and passes through the point $(3, 3)$.

Answer: $ y = -{2 \over 3}x + 5 $

Solutions

How to form the equation of a perpendicular bisector

Example

The points $A$ and $B$ have coordinates $(1, 4)$ and $(5, 2)$ respectively. Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of line segment $AB$.

Answer: $ y = 2x - 3 $

Solutions

How to find area using the shoelace formula

Shoelace formula & steps

$ \text{Area of figure} $ = $ {1 \over 2} \left| \begin{matrix} x_1 & x_2 & ... & x_n & x_1 \\ y_1 & y_2 & ... & y_n & y_1 \end{matrix} \right| $

Steps:

  1. Select the points in anti-clockwise order
  2. Repeat the first point chosen
  3. When calculating the area, go ↘ , then go ↗

Example

diagram

Find the area of the quadrilateral $ABCD$.

Answer: $ 28.5 \text{ units}^2 $

Solutions

O Level past year questions on coordinate geometry

Year & paper Comments
2023 P1 Question 13 Perpendicular bisector
4049 Specimen P1 Question 1 Find the values of constants a and b (involves y = mx + c and distance between two points)
2013 P1 Question 10 Long question
2006 P2 Question 12 Or Long question (Link - Subscription required)
2004 P1 Question 11 Long question (Link - Subscription required)


Logarithms Coordinate geometry: Geometry problems