STRAIGHT LINES

STRAIGHT LINES

1. DISTANCE FORMULA § ax  bx 2  cx 3 ay1  by 2  cy 3 ·

Incentre I { ¨ 1 , ¸ and
© abc a bc ¹
The distance between the points A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) is
Excentre (to A) I1
2 2
x1  x 2  y1  y 2 .
§  ax1  bx 2  cx 3  ay1  by 2  cy 3 ·
2. SECTION FORMULA {¨ , ¸ and so on.
© a bc a bc ¹

The P(x,y) divided the line joining A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2)

in the ratio m : n, then ;

mx 2  nx 1 my 2  ny1
x ;y
n n

(i) Incentre divides the angle bisectors in the ratio,

(b+c): a; (c+a) : b & (a+b) : c.
(ii) Incentre and excentre are harmonic conjugate of each
other w.r.t. the angle bisector on which they lie.

(i) If m/n is positive, the division is internal, but if m/n is (iii) Orthocentre, Centroid & Circumcentre are always
collinear & centroid divides the line joining
negative, the division is external.
orthocentre & circumcentre in the ratio 2:1.
(ii) If P divides AB internally in the ratio m:n & Q divides
(iv) In an isosceles triangle G, O, I & C lie on the same
AB externally in the ratio m:n then
line and in an equilateral traingle, all these four points
P & Q are said to be harmonic conjugate of each other
coincide.
w.r.t. AB.

2 1 1 4. AREA OF TRIANGLE
Mathematically,  i.e. AP, AB & AQ
AB AP AQ
are in H.P. If A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2), C(x3, y3) are the vertices of triangle
ABC, then its area is equal to

3. CENTROID, INCENTRE & EXCENTRE x1 y1 1

1
'ABC x2 y 2 1 , provided the vertices are
If A(x1, y1), B(x2,y2), C(x3,y3) are the vertices of triangle 2
x3 y3 1
ABC, whose sides BC, CA, AB are of lengths a, b, c
respectively, then the co-ordinates of the special points of considered in the counter clockwise sense.
triangle ABC are as follows :
The above formula will give a (–)ve area if the vertices
§ x  x 2  x 3 y1  y 2  y 3 · (x1, y1), i = 1, 2, 3 are placed in the clockwise sense.
Centroid G { ¨ 1 , ¸
© 3 3 ¹
 STRAIGHT LINES

(ii) Slope-Intercept form : y = mx + c is the equation of a

straight line whose slope is m and which makes an
intercept c on the y-axis.

y 2  y1
(iii) Two point form : y  y1 (x – x1) is the equation
Area of n-sided polygon formed by points x 2  x1
(x1, y1); (x2, y2); ............(xn, yn) is given by : of a straight line which passes through the point (x1,y1) &
(x2,y2)
1 §¨ x 1 x2 x x3 x xn ·
¸
 2  ............ n 1 (iv) Determinant form : Equation of line passing through
2 ¨© y1 y2 y2 y3 y n 1 yn ¸
¹
x y 1
(x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is x 1 y1 1 0
5. SLOPE FORMULA x2 y2 1

If T is the angle at which a straight line is inclined to the

positive direction of x-axis, and 0° d T <180°, Tz 90°, x y
(v) Intercept form :  1 is the equation of a straight
then the slope of the line, denoted by m, is defined by a b
m = tan T. If T is 90°, m does n’t exist, but the line is line which makes intercepts a & b on OX & OY
parallel to the y-axis, If T= 0, then m = 0 and the line is respectively.
parallel to the x-axis.
(vi) Perpendicular/Normal form : xcos D + y sin D = p
If A(x1, y1) & B(x2, y2), x1 zx2, are points on a straight (where p > 0, 0 d D < 2S) is the equation of the straight
line, then the slope m of the line is given by : line where the length of the perpendicular from the origin
O on the line is p and this perpendicular makes an angle
§ y1  y 2 ·
m ¨¨ ¸¸ D with positive x-axis.
© x1  x 2 ¹
(vii) Parametric form : P(r)= (x,y) = (x1 +r cosT, y1+r sinT) or

6. CONDITION OF COLLINEARITY OF x  x1 y  y1
r is the equation of the line is parametric
THREE POINTS cos T sin T
form, where ‘r’ is the parameter whose absolute value is
Points A (x1,y1), B(x2,y2), C(x3,y3) are collinear if : the distance of any point (x,y) on the line from fixed point
(x1,y1) on the line.
§ y  y2 · § y 2  y3 ·
(i) mAB = mBC = mCA i.e. ¨ 1 ¸¸ ¨ ¸
¨x x ¨x x ¸ (viii) General Form : ax + by + c = 0 is the equation of a straight
© 1 2 ¹ © 2 3 ¹

a
line in the general form. In this case, slope of line =  .
x1 y1 1 b
(ii) 'ABC = 0 i.e. x 2 y2 1 0
x3 y3 1 8. POSITION OF THE POINT (x1,y1
RELATIVE OF THE LINE ax + by + c = 0
(iii) AC = AB + BC or AB ~ BC
If ax1 + by1 + c is of the same sign as c, then the point
(iv) A divides the line segment BC in some ratio.
(x1, y1) lie on the origin side of ax + by + c = 0. But if the
7. EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE IN sign of ax1 + by1 + c is opposite to that of c, the point
(x1,y1) will lie on the non-origin side of ax + by + c = 0.
VARIOUS FORMS
In general two points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) will lie on same side
(i) Point-Slope form : y – y1 = m(x – x1) is the equation of a straight or opposite side of ax+by+c=0 according as ax1+ by1+ c and
line whose slope is m and which passes through the point (x1,y1). ax2 + by2 + c are of same or opposite sign respectively.
 STRAIGHT LINES

9. THE RATIO IN WHICH A GIVEN LINE

DIVIDES THE LINE SEGMENT JOINING
TWO POINTS
Let the given line ax + by + c = 0 divides the line segment
joining A(x 1 ,y 1) and B(x2,y 2) in the ratio m:n, then
Let m1, m2, m3 are the slopes of three line L1=0; L2=0; L3=0
where m1> m2> m3 then the interior angles of the 'ABC
found by these lines are given by,

m1  m 2 m  m3 m 3  m1
m ax1  by1  c tan A ; tan B 2 ; and tan C
 . If A and B are on the same side of 1  m1 m 2 1  m 2 m3 1  m 3 m1
n ax 2  by 2  c

the given line then m/n is negative but if A and B are on 13. PARALLEL LINES
opposite sides of the given line, then m/n is positive.
(i) When two straight lines are parallel their slopes are equal.
Thus any line parallel to y = mx + c is of the type
10. LENGTH OF PERPENDICULAR FROM y = mx + d, where d is parameter.
A POINT ON A LINE (ii) Two lines ax+ by+ c=0 and a´x +b´y +c´ = 0 are parallel
a b c
The length of perpendicular from P(x 1 ,y 1) on if : z
a´ b´ c´
Thus any line parallel to ax+ by+ c =0 is of the type
ax 1  by1  c ax+ by+ k =0, where k is a parameter.
ax + by + c = 0 is
a 2  b2 (iii) The distance between two parallel lines with equations
ax + by+ c1 =0 and

11. REFLECTION OF A POINT ABOUT A LINE c1  c 2

ax + by + c2 = 0 is
a 2  b2
(i) The image of a point (x1,y1) about the line ax + by + c = 0 is :
Coefficient of x & y in both the equations must be same.
x  x1 y  y1 ax1  by1  c
2 p1 p 2
a b a 2  b2 (iv) The area of the parallelogram , where p1 and p2 are
Sin T
(ii) Similarly foot of the perpendicular from a point on the line is :

x  x1 y  y1 (ax1  by1  c)
a b a 2  b2

12. ANGLE BETWEEN TWO STRAIGHT

LINES IN TERMS OF THEIR SLOPES
distance between two pairs of opposite sides and T is the
If m1 and m2 are the slopes of two intersecting straight
angle between any two adjacent sides. Note that area of
lines (m1m2 z –1) and T is the acute angle between them, the parallogram bounded by the lines y=m 1x+ c 1 ,
y=m1x+c2. and y = m2x + d1, y= m2x + d2 is given by
m1  m 2
then tan T= . (c1  c 2 ) (d 1  d 2 )
1  m 1m 2
m1  m 2
 STRAIGHT LINES

14. PERPENDICULAR LINES 17. METHODS TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN

THE ACUTE BISECTOR AND THE OBTUSE
(i) When two lines of slopes m1 & m2 are at right angles, the ANGLE BISECTOR
product of their slope is –1 i.e., m1m2 = –1. Thus any line
perpendicular to y = mx + c is of the form.

1
y= – x + d, where d is any parameter..
m

(ii) Two lines ax + by + c = 0 and a´x + b´y+ c´ = 0 are

perpendicular if aa’ + bb’ = 0. Thus any line perpendicular
to ax + by + c = 0 is of the form bx – ay + k = 0, where k
is any parameter.

15. STRAIGHT LINES MAKING ANGLE

a WITH GIVEN LINE

The equation of lines passing through point (x1,y1) and

making angle D with the line y = mx + c are given by
(y – y1) = tan (T–D) (x – x1) & (y – y1) = tan (T+D) (i) If T be the angle between one of the lines & one of the
(x – x1), where tan T= m. bisectors, find tan T if |tan T| <1, then 2T < 90° so that
this bisector is the acute angle bisector. if |tan T| >1, then
we get the bisector to be the obtuse angle bisector
16. BISECTOR OF THE ANGLES BETWEEN
(ii) Let L1=0 & L2=0 are the given lines & u1=0 and u2=0 are
TWO LINES bisectors between L1=0 and L2=0. Take a point P on any
Equations of the bisectors of angles between the one of the lines L1=0 or L2=0 and drop perpendicular on
u1=0 and u2=0 as shown. If.
lines ax + by + c = 0 and a´x+ b´y+ c´ =0 (ab’ z a’ b)
| p | < | q | Ÿ u1 is the acute angle bisector.
are :
| p | > | q | Ÿ u1 is the obtuse angle bisector.
ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´ | p | = | q | Ÿ the lines L1 and L2 are perpendicular.
r
a b
2 2
a´  b´
2 2
(iii) if aa´+ bb´ <0, while c & c´ are postive, then the angle
between the lines is acute and the equation of the bisector

ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´
of this acute angle is 
a b
2 2
a´2  b´2

If, however, aa´ + bb´ > 0, while c and c´ are postive,

then the angle between the lines is obtuse & the equation
of the bisector of this obtuse angle is :
Equation of straight lines through P(x 1,y1) & equally
inclined with the lines a1x+ b1y+ c1=0 and a2x +b2y +c2=0 ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´

are those which are parallel to the bisector between these a b
2 2
a´2  b´2
two lines & passing throught the point P.
The other equation represents the obtuse angle bisector in
both cases.
STRAIGHT LINES

18. TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE BISECTOR

OF THE ANGLE CONTAINING A POINT

To discriminate between the bisector of the angle

(i) If u 1= ax+by+c, u 2 = a´x+b´y+d, u 3= ax+by+c´,
containing the origin & that of the angle not containing
u4= a´x+b´y+d´, then u1= 0; u2= 0; u3= 0; u4= 0; form a
the origin. Rewrite the equation, ax + by + c = 0 & a´x +
parallegoram
b´y + c´ = 0 such that the constant term c, c’ are positive.

ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´
Then ;  gives the equation of
a b
2 2
a´2  b´2

the bisector of the angle containing origin and

ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´
 gives the equation of the
a b2 2
a´2  b´2

bisector of the angle not containing the origin. In general

equation of the bisector which contains the point (DE) is.
The diagonal BD can be given by u2u3– u1u4=0
ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´ ax  by  c a´x  b´y  c´
or  Proof : Since it is the first degree equation in x & y, it is
a 2  b2 a´2  b´2 a 2  b2 a´2  b´2
a straight line. Secondly point B satisfies u2 = 0 and
according as aD +bE + c and a´D+b´E+ c´ having same u1 = 0 while point D satisfies u3 = 0 and u4 = 0. Hence
sign or otherwise. the result. Similarly, the diagonal AC can be given by
u1u2– u3u4 = 0
(ii) The diagonal AC is also given by u1 + Ou 4 =0 and
19. CONDITION OF CONCURRENCY u2+Pu3 = 0, if the two equation are identical for some
real O and P.
Three lines a 1x+ b 1y+ c 1 =0, a 2 x+ b 2y+ c 2 =0 and
a3x+ b3y+ c3=0 are concurrent if [For getting the values of O and P compare the
coefficients of x, y & the constant terms.]
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2 0 21. A PAIR OF STRAIGHT LINES THROUGH ORIGIN
a3 b3 c3
(i) A homogeneous equation of degree two,
Alternatively : If three constants A, B and C (not all zero) ‘‘ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0’’ always represents a pair of straight
can be found such that A (a1x +b1y +c1) + B (a2x + b2y +c2) lines passing through the origin if :
+ C (a3x +b3y + c3) { 0, then the three straight lines are (a) h2 > ab Ÿ lines are real and distinct.
concurrent.
(b) h2 = ab Ÿ lines are coincident.
20. FAMILY OF STRAIGHT LINES (c) h2 < ab Ÿ lines are imaginary with real point
of intersection i.e. (0,0)
The equation of a family of straight lines passing through
(ii) If y = m1x & y = m2x be the two equations represented by
the points of intersection of the lines,
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0, then;
L1 { a1x + b1y +c1=0 & L2 { a2x + b2y +c2=0 is given by
L1 + kL2 = 0 i.e. 2h a
m1 + m2 =  and m1m2 =
(a1x + b1y +c1) + k(a2x + b2y +c2) =0, where k is an arbitray b b
real number.
 STRAIGHT LINES

(iii) If T is the acute angle between the pair of straight lines 22. GENERAL EQUATION OF SECOND
represented by,
DEGREE REPRESENTING A PAIR OF
STRAIGHT LINES
2 h 2  ab
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 =0, then; tan T=
ab
(i) ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = represents a pair of
(iv) The condition that these lines are : straight lines if :

(a) At right angles to each other is a + b = 0 i.e.

co-efficient of x2 + co-efficient of y2 = 0 a h g

(b) Coincident is h2 = ab. abc + 2fgh – af 2 – bg2 – ch2 = 0, i.e. if h b f 0

g f c
(c) Equally inclined to the axis of x is h =0 i.e. coeff. of
xy=0.
(ii) The angle Tbetween the two lines representing by a general
equation is the same as that between two lines represented
by its homogenous part only.

23. HOMOGENIZATION

The equation of a pair of straight lines joining origin to

A homogeneous equation of degree n represents n the points of intersection of the line
straight lines passing through origin.
L { lx + my + n =0 and a second degree curve,
(v) The equation to the pair of straight lines bisecting the
S { ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is
angle between the straight lines,

§ lx  my ·
x 2  y2 xy ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx ¨ ¸
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 =0, is © n ¹
ab h

2
§ lx  my · § lx  my ·
2 f y¨ ¸  c¨ ¸ 0
© n ¹ © n ¹

The equal is obtained by homogenizing the equation of

curve with the help of equation of line.

Equation of any cure passing through the points of

intersection of two curves C1=0 and C2=0 is given by
OC1 + PC2 =0 where O and Pare parameters.