Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 13

Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry

1. Distance, Gradient, and Midpoint

A point in the Cartesian plane can be represented by its coordinates (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦).

1. Distance between 𝐵𝐵(𝑥𝑥1 , 𝑦𝑦1 ) and 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥2 , 𝑦𝑦2 ) is:

𝑑𝑑 = �(𝑥𝑥1 − 𝑥𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦𝑦1 − 𝑦𝑦2 )2

2. Gradient of the line segment 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is:

𝑦𝑦2 − 𝑦𝑦1
𝑚𝑚 =
𝑥𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑥1

3. Midpoint of the line segment 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is:

𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑥𝑥2 𝑦𝑦1 + 𝑦𝑦2
� , �
2 2

Note that parallel lines have the same gradient.

Example 3.1: The gradient of the line segment joining 𝐴𝐴(2, 𝑘𝑘) and 𝐵𝐵(𝑘𝑘, 2𝑘𝑘 + 1) is −2.
Find the value of the constant 𝑘𝑘.

Solution: The gradient of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is:

(2𝑘𝑘 + 1) − 𝑘𝑘
= −2.
𝑘𝑘 − 2
Solving the above, we obtain 𝑘𝑘 = 1.

Example 3.2: The coordinates of three points are 𝐴𝐴(𝑘𝑘 − 5, −15), 𝐵𝐵(10, 𝑘𝑘), 𝐶𝐶(6, −𝑘𝑘).
Find the two possible values of 𝑘𝑘 if 𝐴𝐴, 𝐵𝐵, and 𝐶𝐶 are collinear.

Solution: If 𝐴𝐴, 𝐵𝐵, 𝐶𝐶 are collinear, then they lie on the same line. Therefore, gradient of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is equal to
the gradient of 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵, giving:
𝑘𝑘 − (−15) −𝑘𝑘 − 𝑘𝑘
=
10 − (𝑘𝑘 − 5) 6 − 10
2
This simplifies into 𝑘𝑘 − 13𝑘𝑘 + 30 = 0. which can be solved to give 𝑘𝑘 = 3 or 𝑘𝑘 = 10.

Exercise 3A

1. The coordinates of three points are 𝐴𝐴(5, 8), 𝐵𝐵(𝑘𝑘, 5) and 𝐶𝐶(−𝑘𝑘, 4). Find the value of 𝑘𝑘 if 𝐴𝐴, 𝐵𝐵, 𝐶𝐶
are collinear.
Ans: 𝑘𝑘 = 5/7.

2. 𝑃𝑃 is the point (𝑎𝑎, 𝑎𝑎 − 2) and 𝑄𝑄 is the point (4 − 3𝑎𝑎, −𝑎𝑎).

a. Find the gradient of the line 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 in terms of 𝑎𝑎.
b. Given that the distance 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 is 10√5, find the two possible values of 𝑎𝑎.
Ans: (b) 𝑎𝑎 = 6 or 𝑎𝑎 = −4.
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 14

2. Equation of a Straight Line

In general, a line has equation 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 + 𝑐𝑐, where 𝑚𝑚 is the gradient and 𝑐𝑐 is a constant.
A vertical line (with 𝑚𝑚 = ∞) has equation 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎, while a horizontal line (with 𝑚𝑚 = 0) has equation
𝑦𝑦 = 𝑏𝑏, for some constants 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏.
The coordinates of the 𝑥𝑥-intercept of a line is found by inserting 𝑦𝑦 = 0, while the coordinates of the
𝑦𝑦-intercept is found by inserting 𝑥𝑥 = 0.

The equation of a line with gradient 𝑚𝑚, passing through (𝑥𝑥1 , 𝑦𝑦1 ) is: 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑚(𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥1 ).
The point of intersection between two lines is found by solving the two equations simultaneously (by
elimination or substitution method).

The perpendicular bisector of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is the line perpendicular to the segment 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, passing through the
midpoint of 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵.

For a parallelogram 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, we have:

𝑥𝑥𝐴𝐴 + 𝑥𝑥𝐶𝐶 = 𝑥𝑥𝐵𝐵 + 𝑥𝑥𝐷𝐷
𝑦𝑦𝐴𝐴 + 𝑦𝑦𝐶𝐶 = 𝑦𝑦𝐵𝐵 + 𝑦𝑦𝐷𝐷
i.e. sum of the coordinates between a pair of opposite vertices are equal.

Gradients of parallel lines are equal: Gradients of perpendicular lines are related by:
𝑚𝑚1 = 𝑚𝑚2 𝑚𝑚1 ⋅ 𝑚𝑚2 = −1

Example 3.3: Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining 𝐴𝐴(−5, 1)
and 𝐵𝐵(7, −2).

−2−1 1
Solution: Gradient of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is = − , and so gradient of the perpendicular bisector is 4.
7−(−5) 4
−5+7 1+(−2) 1
Midpoint of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is � , � = �1, − �. The equation of perpendicular bisector is:
2 2 2
1
𝑦𝑦 − �− � = 4(𝑥𝑥 − 1)
2
which simplifies to 2𝑦𝑦 = 8𝑥𝑥 − 9.
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 15

Example 3.4: The following diagram shows points 𝐴𝐴, 𝐵𝐵, and 𝐶𝐶 lying on the line 2𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 + 4. The point
𝐴𝐴 lies on the 𝑦𝑦-axis and 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵. The line from 𝐷𝐷(10, −3) to 𝐵𝐵 is perpendicular to 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴. Find the
coordinates of 𝐵𝐵 and 𝐶𝐶.

Solution:
First, note that the gradient of line 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is 1/2 from the given equation. Then 𝑚𝑚𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = −2 since 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 ⊥
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴. Equation of line 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 is 𝑦𝑦 − (−3) = −2(𝑥𝑥 − 10) or 𝑦𝑦 = −2𝑥𝑥 + 17.
Solve the equation of line 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 simultaneously to get 𝑥𝑥 = 6, 𝑦𝑦 = 5. So 𝐵𝐵(6, 5).

Next, 𝐴𝐴 is the 𝑦𝑦-intercept of line 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, so put 𝑥𝑥 = 0 to get 𝑦𝑦 = 2.

Also, 𝐵𝐵 is the midpoint of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, therefore:
0 + 𝑥𝑥𝐶𝐶 2 + 𝑦𝑦𝐶𝐶
= 6 and =5
2 2
and so 𝐶𝐶(12, 8).

Exercise 3B

1. The perpendicular bisector of the line joining 𝐴𝐴(−10, 5) and 𝐵𝐵(−2, −1) intersects the 𝑥𝑥-axis at
𝑃𝑃 and 𝑦𝑦-axis at 𝑄𝑄. Find the length of 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃.
Ans: 12.5.

2. The equations of two of the sides of triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 are 𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 8 and 2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 1. Given that 𝐴𝐴
is the point (2, −3) and that angle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 90°, find the equation of the third side and the
coordinates of the point 𝐵𝐵.
Ans: 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 − 7 and 𝐵𝐵(4.4, 1.8).

3. The line 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 − 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎, where 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏 are positive constants, meets the 𝑥𝑥-axis at 𝑃𝑃 and the 𝑦𝑦-
axis at 𝑄𝑄. The gradient of the line 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 is 2/5 and the length of the line 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 is 2√29.
Find the value of 𝑎𝑎 and the value of 𝑏𝑏.
Ans: 𝑎𝑎 = 10, 𝑏𝑏 = 4.

4. The line 𝑙𝑙1 has equation 2𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑦𝑦 = 10.

The line 𝑙𝑙2 passes through the point 𝐴𝐴(−9, −6) and is perpendicular to the line 𝑙𝑙1 .
(a) Find the equation of the line 𝑙𝑙2 .
(b) Given that the lines 𝑙𝑙1 and 𝑙𝑙2 intersect at the point 𝐵𝐵, find the area of triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, where
𝑂𝑂 is the origin.
Ans: (a) 2𝑦𝑦 = 5𝑥𝑥 + 33, (b) 33.
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 16

3. Equation of a Circle

The following diagram shows a circle, with centre (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘) and radius 𝑟𝑟.

For a circle with centre (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘) and radius 𝑟𝑟, its equation is:
(𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2 = 𝑟𝑟 2
If the equation is still in expanded form, complete the square to simplify it to the above form.

A few basic properties of circle are often required to solve problems, namely:
1. The tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius.
2. The perpendicular bisector to a chord passes through the centre.
3. Given three points, at least two chords can be drawn. Perpendicular bisectors to these chords will
meet at the centre.

Example 3.5: A is the point (3, 0) and 𝐵𝐵 is the point (7, −4). Find the equation of the circle that has
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 as a diameter.

3+7 0+(−4)
Solution: The centre of the circle 𝐶𝐶 is the midpoint of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, which is 𝐶𝐶 � , � = (5, −2).
2 2
The radius of the circle the distance 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = �(5 − 3)2 + (−2 − 0)2 = √8.
So, the equation of the circle is (𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦𝑦 + 2)2 = 8.

Example 3.6: Find the centre and the radius of the circle 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 10𝑥𝑥 − 8𝑦𝑦 − 40 = 0.

Solution: The equation is 𝑥𝑥 2 + 10𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 2 − 8𝑦𝑦 − 40 = 0. We can complete the square:

(𝑥𝑥 + 5)2 − 52 + (𝑦𝑦 − 4)2 − 42 − 40 = 0
which simplifies to (𝑥𝑥 + 5) + (𝑦𝑦 − 4)2 = 81. Therefore, the centre is (−5, 4) and the radius is 9.
2

Example 3.7: Find the equation of the tangent line to the circle 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 10𝑥𝑥 at the point 𝐴𝐴(9, 3).

Solution: The equation of the circle can be written as

𝑥𝑥 2 − 10𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 0
which by completing square can be turned into
(𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 52 .
This is a circle with centre 𝐶𝐶(5, 0) and radius 5.
The gradient of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is 3/4. The tangent at 𝐴𝐴 is perpendicular to the radius, and so the gradient of the
tangent is −4/3.
4
The equation of this tangent line is: 𝑦𝑦 − 3 = − (𝑥𝑥 − 9), which simplifies to 4𝑥𝑥 + 3𝑦𝑦 = 45.
3
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 17

Exercise 3C

1. A circle passes through the points (3, 2) and (7, 2) and has radius 2√2. Find the two possible
equations for this circle.
Ans: (𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 8 and (𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦𝑦 − 4)2 = 8.

2. Find the centre and the radius of the circle with equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 − 8𝑥𝑥 + 20𝑦𝑦 + 110 = 0.
Ans: (4, −10), 𝑟𝑟 = √6.

3. Find the equation of the circle that passes through the points (7, 3) and (11, −1) and has its
centre lying on the line 2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 7.
Ans: (𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦𝑦 + 3)2 = 40.

4. Find the set of values of 𝑚𝑚 for which the line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 + 1 intersects the circle (𝑥𝑥 − 7)2 +
(𝑦𝑦 − 5)2 = 20 at two distinct points.
2
Ans: − < 𝑚𝑚 < 2.
29
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 18

Exam-Style Practice 3: Coordinate Geometry

1. (F/M 2016 P12) Two points have coordinates 𝐴𝐴(5, 7) and 𝐵𝐵(9, −1).
(i) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴. [3]
(ii) The line through 𝐶𝐶(1, 2) parallel to 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 meets the perpendicular bisector of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 at the point
𝑋𝑋. Find, by calculation, the distance 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵. [5]

2. (M/J 2015 P11) The line with gradient −2 passing through the point 𝑃𝑃(3𝑡𝑡, 2𝑡𝑡) intersects the 𝑥𝑥-
axis at 𝐴𝐴 and the 𝑦𝑦-axis at 𝐵𝐵.
(i) Find the area of triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 in terms of 𝑡𝑡. [3]
(ii) The line through 𝑃𝑃 perpendicular to 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 intersects the 𝑥𝑥-axis at 𝐶𝐶. Show that the midpoint of
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 lies on the line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥. [4]

3. (M/J 2015 P13) The point 𝐴𝐴 has coordinates (𝑝𝑝, 1) and the point 𝐵𝐵 has coordinates (9, 3𝑝𝑝 + 1),
where 𝑝𝑝 is a constant.
(i) For the case where the distance 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is 13 units, find the possible values of 𝑝𝑝. [3]
(ii) For the case in which the line with equation 2𝑥𝑥 + 3𝑦𝑦 = 9 is perpendicular to 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, find the
value of 𝑝𝑝. [4]

4. (M/J 2010 P11)

The diagram shows a triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 in which 𝐴𝐴(3, −2) and 𝐵𝐵(15, 22). The gradients of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
and 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 are 2𝑚𝑚, −2𝑚𝑚 and 𝑚𝑚 respectively, where 𝑚𝑚 is a positive constant.
(i) Find the gradient of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 and deduce the value of 𝑚𝑚. [2]
(ii) Find the coordinates of 𝐶𝐶. [4]
The perpendicular bisector of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 meets 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 at 𝐷𝐷.
(iii) Find the coordinates of 𝐷𝐷. [4]

5.

The diagram shows a rectangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 in which point 𝐴𝐴 is (0, 8) and point 𝐵𝐵 is (4, 0). The
diagonal 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 has equation 8𝑦𝑦 + 𝑥𝑥 = 64. Find, by calculation, the coordinates of 𝐶𝐶 and 𝐷𝐷. [7]
 Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry 19

𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
6. (O/N 2016 P12) The line + = 1, where 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏 are positive constants, intersects the 𝑥𝑥- and
𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏
𝑦𝑦- axes at the points 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 respectively. The mid-point of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 lies on the line 2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 10 and
the distance 𝐴𝐴𝐵𝐵 = 10. Find the values of 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏. [6]

7. (M/J 2016 P13) Triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 has vertices at 𝐴𝐴(−2, −1), 𝐵𝐵(4, 6), 𝐶𝐶(6, −3).
(i) Show that triangle 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is isosceles and find the exact area of this triangle. [6]
(ii) The point 𝐷𝐷 is the point on 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 such that 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 is perpendicular to 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴. Calculate the 𝑥𝑥-
coordinate of 𝐷𝐷. [6]

8. (AQA) A circle with centre 𝐶𝐶 has equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 − 8𝑥𝑥 + 6𝑦𝑦 = 11.

(a) By completing the square, express this equation in the form (𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎)2 + (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑏𝑏)2 = 𝑟𝑟 2 .
Hence, write down the coordinates of 𝐶𝐶 and the radius of the circle. [3]
(b) The point 𝑂𝑂 has coordinates (0, 0). Find the length of 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶. [2]
(c) Hence determine whether the point 𝑂𝑂 lies inside or outside the circle, giving a reason for
your answer. [2]

9. (AQA) A circle has equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 − 4𝑥𝑥 − 14 = 0.

(a) Find the coordinates of the centre of the circle and the exact radius of the circle. [3]
(b) A chord of the circle has length 8. Find the perpendicular distance from the centre of the
circle to this chord. [2]
(c) A line has equation 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑘𝑘 − 𝑥𝑥, where 𝑘𝑘 is a constant.
Find the values of 𝑘𝑘 for which the line is tangent to the circle. [4]

10. (OCR)

The diagram shows a circle which passes through 𝐴𝐴(2, 9) and 𝐵𝐵(10, 3). 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is a diameter of the
circle.
(i) Calculate the radius of the circle. [2]
(ii) Find an equation of the straight line through 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵. [3]
(iii) Show that the tangent to the circle at 𝐵𝐵 has equation 4𝑥𝑥 − 3𝑦𝑦 − 31 = 0. [3]

11. 𝐴𝐴 is the point (−3, 6) and 𝐵𝐵 is the point (9, −10).

(i) Find the equation of the line through 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵. [3]
(ii) Show that the perpendicular bisector of the line 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is 3𝑥𝑥 − 4𝑦𝑦 = 17. [3]
(iii) A circle passes through 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 has its centre on the line 𝑥𝑥 = 15. Find the equation of this
circle. [4]