Mathematics

Title: Equations of Straight Line

y

x O

Student Name: Ma Lai Har Student I.D. No.: 98041880 Course Code: EDD 5161F Lecturer: Dr. Lee Fong Lok Dr. Leung Chi Hong

Introduction
The target audience of this package is Form Three Students whose level is intermediate (Band 3). The package is used in the classroom for lecturing or selflearning. After the simple introduction of each form of equation of straight line, an example is given. Therefore, students can have a deeper understanding with the topic..

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

Two-Point Form
y Given a straight line which passes through the points A and B, then Slope of AB =

B x2 , y2
x x x

y 2  y1 x2  x1

P x, y

If P(x, y) is any point on the line AB, then Slope of PA =

Ax1 , y1
O x

y  y1 x  x1

Since PA and AB are parts of the same straight line, then

Slope of PA = Slope of AB

y 2  y1 y  y1 i.e. = x2  x1 x  x1
This equation is known as the Two-Point (Go to Example 1) Form of the straight line.

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

Point-Slope Form
y Given a straight line which passes through the point A and has m as its slope. If P(x, y) is any point on the line , then Slope of PA = Slope = m x

P x, y

y  y1 x  x1

Ax1 , y1
O x

Since slope of PA equals to the slope of the straight line, then

y  y1 = m x  x1

i.e.

y  y1 ! mx  x1

This equation is known as the Point-Slope (Go to Example 2) Form of the straight line.

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

Slope-Intercept Form
Given a straight line which cuts the y-axis at A and with slope m . (Note: c is called the y-intercept of the straight line.) If P is any point on the line, then A(0, c) y x P(x, y)

x c x

Slope of PA =

yc x0

O Slope = m

Since slope of PA is equal to the slope of the line, then by Point-Slope Form

(y - c) = m(x 0) i.e.

y = mx + c

This equation is known as the Slope-Intercept (Go to Example 3) Form of the straight line.

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

Intercept Form
Given a straight line which cuts the x-axis at A and y-axis at B. (Note: a is called the x-intercept of the straight line.) b0 Slope of AB = 0a = y

x B(0, b) b O x a P(x, y) A(a, 0) x x

b a

If P is any point on the line, then Slope of PA =

y0 xa

Since the slope of PA equals to the slope of AB, then

y0 b = a xa
bx + ay = ab

Dividing both sides by ab, we have

x y  !1 a b

This equation is known as the Intercept (Go to Example 4) Form of the straight line.

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

General Form
It should be noted that all the different standard forms of the equation of a straight line can be reduced to the form

Ax + By + C = 0
where A, B and C are constants with A and B not both zero.

This equation is known as the General Form of a straight line.

Standard Forms of A Straight Line A. Two-Point Form B. Point-Slope Form C. Slope-Intercept Form D. Intercept Form E. General Form

Mathematics
Title: Equations of Straight Line
y

x O

Example 1 (Two-Point Form)

Find the equation of the straight line. The required equation: y B(5, 6) x x x A(1, 3) x

y3 6 3 ! x 1 5 1
4(y 3) = 3(x 1)

P x, y

i.e. 3x 4y + 9 = 0

(Note: The answer is in General Form)

Example 2 (Point-Slope Form)

Find the equation of the straight line. The required equation: y Slope = 2 x P(x, y)

y 3 = 2(x 1)

i.e. 2x y + 1 = 0
O

x A(1, 3) x

(Note: The answer is in General Form)

Example 3 (Slope-Intercept Form)

Find the equation of the straight line. The required equation: A(0, 4) y P(x, y) x

y = 2x + 4

x x

i.e. 2x y + 4 = 0

O Slope = 2

(Note: The answer is in General Form)

Example 4 (Intercept Form)

Find the equation of the straight line. The required equation: y

x y  !1 7 5

x B(0, 5) x P(x, y) O A(7, 0) x x

5x + 7y = 35

i.e. 5x + 7y 35 = 0

(Note: The answer is in General Form)