DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REGION VII

Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu

QUARTER 1 WEEK 1 MODULE 1

SELF – LEARNING KIT

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 CHAPTER 1: THE CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

Geometry is divided into two kinds, synthetic and analytic. Synthetic

geometry uses straight edge and compass as its basic tools. In this course, we use
algebra like equations, formulas, and algebraic manipulations as our main tool.

Analytic Geometry is a branch of Mathematics which deals with the properties,

behaviors and solutions of points, lines, curves, angle surfaces and solids by means
of algebraic methods in relation to a coordinate system.

Analytic geometry is divided into two parts, Plane Analytic Geometry and
Solid Analytic Geometry. A fundamental goal of Plane Analytic Geometry is to
investigate the properties of configurations involving points, straight lines and curves.
Analytic geometry can be developed from as system of axioms and definitions that is
usually done with synthetic geometry. However, in this course, we do not attempt to
completely separate analytic geometry from synthetic geometry. We shall use freely
few theorems and concepts that you have learned before.

HISTORICAL NOTE

René Descartes (1596-1650) is a

French Mathematician and Philosopher who
published his La Geometrie in 1637, which
introduced a device that is now called
Analytic Geometry. He is one of the co-
founders of this important branch of
Mathematics which links algebra and
geometry. This interaction of algebra and
geometry shows the power of analytic
geometry as a branch of mathematics.

Analytic Geometry and its use of

coordinates provided mathematical tools
which enabled Sir Isaac Newton to develop
another important branch of mathematics
which is called Calculus. This is one of the
reasons why do we have to take analytic
geometry as a pre-requisite course in studying René Descartes (1596-1650)
Calculus.

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 LET’S REVIEW

The Cartesian coordinate system or cartesian plane developed by Rene

Descartes was named after him. The horizontal axis is called
the x-axis while the vertical axis is called the y-axis. The
point of intersection of the two axes is the origin of the
Cartesian plane. The Cartesian plane is composed of four
quadrants. The number corresponding to a point on the line
is called the coordinate of the point (x is called abscissa and
y is called ordinate). Each quadrant represents an ordered
pair with respective sign. Plotting is the process of locating
point/s in the Cartesian Plane.

EXAMPLES

Plot the coordinates of the given points

1. A (2, 3)
B
2. B (-3, 4) A
3. C (6, -8) D
4. D (0, -4)
5. E (-5, -9)
6. F (-6, 0)
F
C
E

LESSON 1: DIRECTED LINE SEGMENTS

Normally, when we’re working with AB it does not matter whether we

consider point A first or point B first and when we talk about its length, we generally
mean the number of units in the line segment. But if AB is a directed line segment, we
will be starting at point A (the initial point) and moving in the direction of point B (the
terminal point).

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒

Slope isline
A directed normally described
segment, by the ratio
is a segment thatof has = 𝑟𝑢𝑛 . and
distance (length)
ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
direction. When a line segment is measured in a definite sense of direction,
it is known to be a directed line segment.

A B
AB (+)

A B
AB (–)
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 EXAMPLES

1. If AB is 12 then it follows that BA is -12.

AB = -BA AB + BA = 0
12 = -(-12) 12 + -12 = 0
12 = 12 0=0

2. If CD is 10 then it follows that DC is -10.

CD = -DC CD + DC = 0
10 = -(-10) 10 + -10 = 0
10 = 10 0=0
3.
A B C D

Given: BC is 3
DC is -1
Give the measurement, initial point and terminal point of the following directed line
segments.

Measurement Initial Point Terminal Point

1. AB 4 A B
2. AC 6 A C
3. BD 3 B D
4. DB -3 D B
5. BA -4 B A
6. AD 7 A D

Do the following operations:

a) AB + BC = 4 + 3 = 7

b) BA – BC + DB = –4 – 3 + (–3) = –10

c) BD + AD – CD = 3 + 7 – 1 = 9

d) DB + CA + AB = –3 + (–6) + 4 = –5

e) DA – BD – DB = –7 – 3 – (–3) = –7

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 EXERCISES

A B C D E F

A. Give the measurement, initial point and terminal point of the following directed
line segments.

Measurement Initial Point Terminal Point

1. BE
2. FD
3. DA
4. CB
5. AC

B. Do the following operations.

1. AB + BC + CA =

2. EC – CE + AF =

3. BC + CD =

4. AE + BC – CB – EA =

5. BC + CD + BD =

6. AB + BC + CD – DE =

7. FE + ED – FD =

8. AB + BA – AC – CA =

9. EB – CA – BC + AD =

10. FD – DF – BC + AC

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 LESSON 2: DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

Consider the points A(1, 3) and B(4, 1). We can join

the points by a straight-line segment of length d units.
Suppose we draw a right-angled triangle with
hypotenuse AB and with sides parallel to the axes.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem which is in every
square of the hypotenuse of the right triangle is always
equal to the sum of the squares of its legs or sides.
Thus, it is clear that
d2 = 32 + 22
d2 = 13
d = √13
The distance from A to B is √13 units.

The Distance Formula

To avoid drawing a diagram each time you find a distance between two
points, a distance formula can be developed. In going from A to B, the x-step = x2 – x1,
and the y-step = y2 – y1.

Now using Pythagorean theorem,

(𝐴𝐵)2 = (𝑥 − 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝)2

𝐴𝐵 = √(𝑥 − 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝)2

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2

If 𝐴(𝑥1, 𝑥2 ) and 𝐵(𝑦1, 𝑦2 ) are two points in a

plane, then the distance between these two
points is given by:

𝒅 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

EXAMPLES
1. Find the distance between the points (4, -2) and (6, 5)
Solution:
Let 𝑥1 = 4, 𝑥2 = 6, 𝑦1 = −2, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 = 5. Then substitute in the formula,
𝒅 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

𝒅 = √(𝟔 − 𝟒)𝟐 + (𝟓 − −𝟐)𝟐

𝒅 = √𝟒 + 𝟒𝟗
𝒅 = √𝟓𝟑
The distance is √53 units.

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 2. Find the distance between the points (3, 2) and (-5, 4)
Solution:
Let 𝑥1 = 3, 𝑥2 = −5, 𝑦1 = 2, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 = 4. Then substitute in the formula,
𝒅 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

𝒅 = √(−𝟓 − 𝟑)𝟐 + (𝟒 − 𝟐)𝟐

𝒅 = √𝟔𝟒 + 𝟒
𝒅 = √𝟔𝟖
𝒅 = √(𝟒)(𝟏𝟕)
𝒅 = 𝟐√𝟏𝟕 The distance is 2√17 units.

3. Show that the points (−3, 0), (−1, −1) and (5, −4) are in the straight line.
Solution:

A(-3, 0)

B(-1, -1)
C(5, -4)

The points are in a straight line if the sum of the two shorter distances, AB and
BC, is equal to the longest distance, AC. Using the distance formula let us solve
the following distances.

𝑨𝑩 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 𝑩𝑪 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

= √(−𝟏 − −𝟑)𝟐 + (−𝟏 − 𝟎)𝟐 = √(𝟓 − −𝟏)𝟐 + (−𝟒 − −𝟏)𝟐

= √𝟒 + 𝟏 = √𝟑𝟔 + 𝟗

𝑨𝑩 = √𝟓 = √𝟒𝟓

𝑨𝑩 = 𝟑√𝟓

𝑨𝑪 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐
𝑨𝑩 + 𝑩𝑪 = 𝑨𝑪
= √(𝟓 − −𝟑)𝟐 + (−𝟒 − 𝟎)𝟐
√𝟓 + 𝟑√𝟓 = 𝟒√𝟓
= √𝟔𝟒 + 𝟏𝟔
𝟒√𝟓 = 𝟒√𝟓
= √𝟖𝟎

𝑨𝑪 = 𝟒√𝟓

7 Since AB + BC = AC, then A, B, and C are in a straight line.

 4. Show that the points A: (5, 0), B: (2, 1), and C: (4, 7) are vertices of a right triangle.
Solution:
Note that the length of the sides of any right triangle will always satisfy the
Pythagorean Theorem. So, to answer the third example we just have to follow
the following steps:
a) Find the length of segments AB, BC, and AC (The sides of the triangle)
b) Determine the shorter sides and the longest side.
c) Show that the sum of the squares of the lengths of the shorter sides is equal
to the square of the length of the longest side. (Pythagorean Theorem)

𝑨𝑩 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 𝑩𝑪 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

= √(𝟐 − 𝟓)𝟐 + (𝟏 − 𝟎)𝟐 = √(𝟒 − 𝟐)𝟐 + (𝟕 − 𝟏)𝟐

= √𝟗 + 𝟏 = √𝟒 + 𝟑𝟔

𝑨𝑩 = √𝟏𝟎 𝑩𝑪 = √𝟒𝟎

𝑨𝑪 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 Show that the sum of the squares of the

lengths of the shorter sides is equal to the
= √(𝟒 − 𝟓)𝟐 + (𝟕 − 𝟎)𝟐 square of the length of the longest side.
= √𝟏 + 𝟒𝟗 (Pythagorean Theorem)

𝑨𝑪 = √𝟓𝟎 𝑨𝑩𝟐 + 𝑩𝑪𝟐 = 𝑨𝑪𝟐

(√𝟏𝟎)𝟐 + (√𝟒𝟎)𝟐 = (√𝟓𝟎)𝟐
𝟏𝟎 + 𝟒𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎

Therefore, A, B, and C are vertices of a right triangle. 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎

5. The vertices of the base of an isosceles triangle are at X (1, 2) and Y (4, -1). Find
the ordinate of the third vertex Z if its abscissa is 6.
Solution:
Let Z (6, y)
Vertices X and Y should be equidistant to the third vertex Z.
𝑿𝒁 = 𝒀𝒁 (Two sides of an isosceles triangle are equal.)
By the distance formula, we have
𝑿𝒁 = 𝒀𝒁
√(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 = √(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐

√(𝟔 − 𝟏)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟐)𝟐 = √(𝟔 − 𝟒)𝟐 + (𝒚 − −𝟏)𝟐

√𝟐𝟓 + 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟒 = √𝟒 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟏

(√𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟐𝟗)𝟐 = (√𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟓)𝟐 Squaring both sides, we obtain

𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟐𝟗 = 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟓
−𝟔𝒚 = −𝟐𝟒
𝒚=𝟒

8 The third vertex is at (6, 4). The ordinate is 4.

 EXERCISES

Find the distance between the points of the following:

1. (1, 5), ( -5, 3)

2. (-2, -4), (1, 6)
3. (-3, 4), (3, 6)
4. (8, 1), (0, -5)
3 5
5. (1, 2 ) and ((−7, − 2)

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

In each problem, draw the figure on a rectangular coordinate paper (graphing

paper).

1. Show that the points (-2, 5), (-2, -1) and (4, -1) all lie on a circle whose center is
at (1, 2). Hint: Just show that the given points are equidistant to the center of the
circle.

2. Show that the points (-1, -2), (2, 1) and (-3, 6) are the vertices of a right triangle.
Hint: Follow the process in example # 4.

3. Show that the points (2, -3), (5, 0), (2, 3) and (-1, 0) are the vertices of a square.
Hint: Identify the distances of the points.

4. Find the area of the quadrilateral having the points (-3, 4), (-2, -1), (4, 4) and (0,
5) as vertices. Hint: Identify the distances of the points and the type of
quadrilateral and use its formula in finding the area.