3.2.1.

Basics of Geometry
Graph
A number line is a line on which distances from a point are marked off in equal units,
positively in one direction and negatively in the other. The origin is the zero point from
which distances are measured. The figure below shows a horizontal number line.

Horizontal line

On the other hand, the graph shown in the figure below is formed by combining two number
lines at right angles to each other so that their zero points coincide. The horizontal number line
is called the x-axis, and the vertical number line is the y-axis. The point where the two lines
cross each other is called the origin. A point is located on a graph by its coordinates, which are
its distances from the axes. The abscissa or x-coordinate of a point is its distance from the y-
axis. The ordinate or y-coordinate of a point is its distance from the x-axis. When the
coordinates of a point are stated, the x-coordinate precedes the y-coordinate. Thus, the
coordinates of point P in the figure below are written (4, 3); those for Q are (-4, -3). Note the
parentheses. The quadrants of a graph are the four parts cut off by the axes. These are
numbered I, II, III, and IV in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in figure below.
Midpoint of a Segment
The coordinates (xm, ym) of the midpoint M of the line segment joining P(x1, y1) to Q(x2,
y2) are

X 1 Y 1
m= ¿ ¿ m= ¿¿
2 2
Collinear Points
Collinear points are points which lie on the same straight line. Thus, A, B, and C are collinear
points here as shown i n the figure below:

Locus of Points
A locus of points is the set of points, and only those points, satisfying a given condition.
In geometry, a line or curve (or set of lines or curves) on a graph is the locus of
analytic points that satisfy the equation of the line or curve. Think of the locus as the
path of a point moving according to a given condition or as the set of points satisfying a
given condition.
Area of a Triangle
If one side of a triangle is parallel to either coordinate axis, the length of that side and the length
of the altitude to that side can be found readily. Then the formula A=1/2bh can be used.

If no side of a triangle is parallel to either axis, then either

Area of a Quadrilateral
The trapezoid method described above can be extended to finding the area of a
quadrilateral if its vertices are given.
 

Sample Problem #1
Sample Problem #2