MATH 110 – analytic geometry

Directed Distance from a Line to a Point

The directed distance from a line to a point can be found from the equation of the line and the
coordinates of the point. For a vertical line and a horizontal line, the distances are easily determined. If
the point P( x1, y1) is to the right of the vertical line x  a , then the directed distance from the line to the
point is positive and is equal to x1  a. If P( x1 , y1 ) were to the left of the line x  a , the directed
distance from the line to the point would be negative and it would again equal to x1  a. We see that in

each case, the directed distance from the vertical line x  a to the point P( x1 , y1 ) is given by
d  x1  a
A similar argument readily shows that the directed distance from the horizontal line y  b to a

point P( x1 , y1 ) is given by

d  y1  b
We next consider a slant line L and a point P( x1 , y1 ) . We seek now the perpendicular distance

from L to the point P.

Theorem.
The directed distance from the slant line Ax  By  C  0 to the point P( x1 , y1 ) is given by the
formula

Ax1  By1  C
d
 A2  B 2
where the denominator is given the sign of B. The distance is positive if the point P is above the line,
and negative if P is below the line.

Example 1. Find the distance from the line 5x  12 y  26 to the points P1 3, 5 , P2  4,1 , and

P3  9,0 .

Example 2. Find the distance between the lines 15x  8 y  68  0 and 15x  8 y  51  0 .

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
Example 3. Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of acute angles formed by the lines
x  2 y  1  0 and x  3 y  3  0.

Exercises.

A. Find the directed distance from the line to the point in each of the following:

1. 5x 12 y  3  0 ;  2,1 3. 4x  3 y  7 ; 0,0

2. 3x  4 y  12 ;  2, 1 4. x 3 0

B. Find the distance between the two parallel lines.

3x  4 y  9  0 x  2y  5  0
5. 6.
3x  4 y  3  0 x  2y  4  0

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
C. Answer the following.

7. Find the equation of the line that bisects the first quadrant.

8. Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of obtuse angles formed by the lines x  2 y  1  0 and
x  3 y  3  0.

 
9. A circle has its center at 4, 2 and is tangent to the line 3x  4 y  5  0. What is the radius of the
circle? What is the equation of the diameter that is perpendicular to the line?

 
10. The equation of a gas line is 2 x  y  2. A factory located at the point 6,7 will connect with the

gas line perpendicularly. Find the equation of the connecting line and the length of the pipe required if
the units are miles.

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.