ANALYTIC GEOMETRY

CHAPTER ONE
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
1.1 BASIC CONCEPTS
PAGE 2
Objectives:
1.
Know the definition of Absolute Value
2.
Know the real number line
3.
Know the rectangular coordinate system
4.
How to compute the distance between two
points
5.
Know and be able to use the Pythagorean
theorem

1.1 BASIC CONCEPTS

Directed Line: A line on
which one directed is
chosen as positive and the
opposite direction as
negative.

B
A

Directed Line Segment: A

segment of the line,
consisting of any two points
and the part between.
Note: The positive direction
is noted by the arrowhead.

DEFINITION 1.1

The absolute value of a real number a, denoted by

a, is the real number such that
a = a when a is positive or zero.
a = -a when a is negative.
a = a2

THEOREM 1.1

If A, B, and C are three points of a directed line,

then the directed distance determined by these
points satisfy the equations

AB BC AC, AC CB AB, BA AC BC

THEOREM 1.1

AB AC - BC AC CB

THE REAL NUMBER LINE

The real number system can be visualized as a
horizontal line that extends from a special point
called the Origin in both directions towards infinity.
The number corresponding to a point on the line is
called the coordinate of the point.

RECTANGULAR COORDINATES

Definition 1.2
A pair of numbers (x,y) in which the order of
occurrence of the numbers is distinguished is
an ordered pair of numbers. Two ordered pairs,
(x,y) and (x,y), are equal if and only if x = x and
y = y.

RECTANGULAR COORDINATES

We specify the location of a point by first giving its x

coordinate (the left or right displacement from the
origin), and then the y coordinate (the up or down
displacement from the origin). Thus, every point on the
plane can be identified by a pair of numbers (x, y),
called its coordinates.

The axes naturally divide the plane up into quarters.

We call these quadrants, and number them from one to
four.

Notice that the numbering begins in the upper right

quadrant and continues around in the counterclockwise direction. Notice also that each quadrant can
be identified by the unique combination of positive and
negative signs for the coordinates of a point in that
quadrant.

DEFINITION 1.3

The x-coordinate, or abscissa, of a point P is the

directed distance from the y-axis to the point. The
y-coordinate, or ordinate, of a point P is the directed
distance from the x-axis to the point.

DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

Distance Formula: Given the two points (x1, y1)

and (x2, y2), the distance between these points is
given by the formula:

FIND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE POINTS (

2, 3) AND (4, 4).

FIND ALL POINTS (4, Y) THAT ARE 10 UNITS

FROM THE POINT (2, 1).

This means y = 9 or y = 7, so the two points are (4, 9) and (4, 7).

A TRIANGLE HAS VERTICES A(12,5),

B(5,3), AND C(12, 1). SHOW THAT THE
TRIANGLE IS ISOSCELES.

HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT
PAGE 10 11
Problems: 1, 7, 10, 13,
18, 21, 26, 30, 34, 36,
38.