Unit 5: Analytical Geometry

Equation of lines

1. Diagonal line 2. Horizontal line 3. Vertical line

-Slope has steepness. -Slope is equal to 0 (m=0, no -Slope is undefined (no RUN,
RISE) Rise
y = mx + b -> nothing can divide for
0
y=b
m: slope of the line 0)
b: vertical intercept = y
b: vertical intercept = y x=a
intercept
intercept
a: x-intercept
Note: Every coordinate of x all
have the share the same y value. Note: x coordinate of the line
are the same for every y values
Determine the equation of the line.

Passing through the points (5, 1) (9, 3)

y = mx + b

Point, point Point, slope Point, y-intercept Slope, y-intercept

(5, 3) and (1, 4)
1. Find slope
2. Calculate y-intercept
by substitute what know:
slope and a point
3. Write the equation in
y =mx + b
m = 5 and pass through y-intercept of 12 and m = 5 and y-intercept = 6
(1, 2) passing through the point 1. Write the equation in
1. Calculate y-intercept (2, 3) y =mx + b
by substitute what know: 1. Calculate the slope by
slope and point substitute what know:
2. Write the equation in point and y-intercept
y =mx + b 2. Write the equation in
y =mx + b

Ex: Library charges $1.00/ day plus a fixed fee for overdue book. Chuan forgets to return the book for a week,
which cost him $10.00. Find the equation relating charge fee, C, in dollars, and day, d, in day.

Slope = $1.00/ day Fixed fee = y-intercept Independent variable: d Dependent variable: C
Given: a week, which cost $10.00 -> (d, C) -> (7, 10)

Point and slope 10=1 ( 7 )+ b

Find y intercept 10=7+b

y = mx + b, m =1 , (7, 10) 10−7=b

Sub in 3=b -> Fixed fee

C = 1d + 3 or C = d + 3

Parallel lines
-Lines that run in the same direction and never cross

-The slopes of parallel lines are the same, but y-

intercepts are different.

Perpendicular lines
-Lines that intersect at right angles.

-The slopes of perpendicular lines are negative

reciprocals. Y-intercepts can be the same or
different,
 Note: For example:
y = 5x + 1. The
1
reciprocal of 5 is .
5
−1
Negative reciprocal simply add the negative sign in front, so the answer would be
5

−2 2 3
If for example: y = x. The reciprocal of is . Negative reciprocal in this case, since it already has negative
3 3 2
3
sign, takes out the negative sign. The answer would be
2

1
Ex: Find the equation of a line parallel to y= x +7, and passing through the point (6, 8)
2

y = mx + b 1
8= ( 6 ) +b
2
1
m= because the equation of this line is parallel to
2 8=3+b
1
y= x +7 8−3=b
2
5=b
1
Sub in y = mx + b, m = and (6, 8)
2 1
The equation of the line is y= x +5
2

1
Ex: Find the equation of a line perpendicular to y= x +5, and passing through the point (2, 5)
2

y = mx + b 5=−2 ( 2 ) +b

1 5=−4 +b
m =−2 because negative reciprocal to y= x +5
2
5+ 4=b
Sub in y = mx + b, m = −2 and (2, 5)
9=b
The equation of the line is y=−2+ 9

Standard form of a linear equation

y = mx + b

m: slope

b: y-intercept or vertical intercept -> is a point on the graph where x is zero.

Linear Systems
-A linear system is two or more lines. They may intersect to solve a linear system means to determine the point
of intersection.

-When two lines are graphed on the same set of axes, they may cross each other at some point. This point is
called the point of intersection. POI, point of intersection is also known as a solution that satisfies both
equations. When sub in point of intersection into both equations, the left will always be equal to the right side.

-There are three different possible solutions:

Parallel Lines Intersecting Lines Identical Lines

-These Lines never cross -These lines intersect at 1 point -There is an infinite number of
-There is no point that satisfies both -There is 1 point that satisfies both solutions since all points on one
equations. equations line satisfy the equation of the
-There is no solution -There is 1 solution other.

Ex: Find the point of intersection

for both equations

a) -2x + y = 1
- Change it to standard form y =mx + b -> y = 2x +1

m = 2 and y-intercept is 1 y = 2x +1
POI
b) y = -3x + 6

m = -3 and y-intercept is 6

POI = (1, 3)
Left side = Right side check y = -3x + 6

a) 3 = 2(1) + 1 b) 3 = -3 (1) + 6

3=3 3=3

Note: Write the equation corresponded to the line of the graph.