Straight Line

Straight Line Important Formulae
Slope: \[m = \dfrac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\] Slope-Intercept form: \[y = mx + b\] Slope Point Format: \[y - y_{1} = m (x - x_{1})\] Angle between two lines: \[\alpha = \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{m_{2}-m_{1}}{1+ m_{1}m_{2}}\right)\] \[d = \sqrt{(x_{2}- x_{1})^{2} + (y_{2}- y_{1})^{2} + (z_{2}- z_{1})^{2}}\]
After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Find and interpret equation of a straight line in various forms.
  • Perform slope calculations including parallel and perpendicular lines.
  • Find angle between two coplanar, non-parallel lines.
  • Calculate distance between two points in space.

Slope of a Straight Line

Slope of a straight line gives you an idea about its inclination with reference to x-axis. Slope is also referred as gradient.

\[\mathrm{Slope \ of \ a \ straight \ line} = \dfrac{\mathrm{Rise}}{\mathrm{Run}} = \dfrac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}\]

Equation of a Straight Line

The equation of a straight line (or any curve) is the relation between the x and y (and z) coordinates of all points lying on it.
The general form of the equation of a straight line is:


Various forms of equations of Straight Line

Slope Point Format:



where \(x_{1}\) and \(y_{1}\) are the coordinates of the point through which the line passes.

Slope Intercept Format:


where m = slope and b = y-intercept
For the above line, y-intercept = 1, and
slope = \(\dfrac{\mathrm{Rise}}{\mathrm{Run}}\) = \(\dfrac{2}{4}\) = \(\dfrac{1}{2}\)
So the equation will be, \[y = 0.5x + 1\] \[2y = x + 2\] \[x - 2y + 2 = 0\]

Double Intercept Format:


\[\dfrac{x}{a}+\dfrac{y}{b} = 1\]

where a = x intercept and b = y intercept

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

For parallel lines slopes are equal i.e. \(m_{1} = m_{2}\)
For perpendicular lines
\[m_{1} * m_{2} = -1\] or,


Slopes of perpendicular lines
Brigban, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Angle between Two Lines

Angle between two straight lines is given by:


Distance Formula

Distance between two points in the space \(P_1\) \((x_1,y_1,z_1)\) and \(P_2\) \((x_2,y_2,z_2)\) is given by:

This can be proved by repeated application of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Distance Formula
Jim.belk, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Given the slope-intercept form of a line as y = mx + b, which one of the following is true?



Solution:
For the straight line y = mx + b, m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
To get x-intercept,
We will have to substitute y=0: \begin{align*} y &= mx + b\\ 0 &= mx + b\\ \dfrac{-b}{m} &= x \end{align*}

Correct Answer: D

The maximum degree (power) of x and y terms in an equation of straight line is:



Solution:

In an equation of a straight line, the maximum power of x and y terms is one. In an equation of a conic section (ellipse, parabola and hyperbola), the maximum power of x and y terms is two.

Correct Answer: B

Two non-vertical lines are parallel if and only if they have the same:



Solution:

Parallel lines have same slope. (m$_1$ = m$_2$)

Perpendicular lines have product of their slopes = -1

Correct Answer: A

The slope of a straight line passing through origiin and a point (x$_1$, y$_1$) is given by:



Solution:
Since the line is passing through Origin (0,0). The slope will be: \[\mathrm{Slope} = \dfrac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} = \dfrac{0 - y_1}{0 - x_1} = \dfrac{y_1}{x_1}\]

Correct Answer: D

The distance formula can be extended to find the distance between two points in:



Correct Answer: C

The distance between the points (0,0) and (a,b) is = b. This means:



Correct Answer: B

The angle between lines 2x- 9y + 16=0 and x + 4y + 5 = 0 is given by:



Solution:
First let's find out slopes of each line. \begin{align*} 2x- 9y + 16 &= 0\\ y &= \dfrac{2}{9}x+\dfrac{16}{9} \end{align*} which means slope m$_1$ =$\dfrac{2}{9}$ Similarly, slope of the second line, m$_2$ = $\dfrac{-1}{4}$ The angle between two lines is given by: \begin{align*} \alpha &= \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{m_{2}-m_{1}}{1+ m_{1}m_{2}}\right )\\ &= \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{\dfrac{-1}{4}-\dfrac{2}{9}}{1+ \dfrac{2}{9}\times \dfrac{-1}{4}}\right )\\ &=\tan^{-1} \left( {\dfrac{ \dfrac{-17}{36}}{\dfrac{34}{36}}}\right )\\ &=\tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{-1}{2}\right) \end{align*}

Correct Answer: C

What is the equation of the straight line which passes through the point (1, 2) and cuts off equal intercepts from the axes ?



Solution:
Method I: Use double intercept form \[\dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} = 1\] But both intercepts are equal. \[\dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{a} = 1\] But the line passes through (1,2) \[\dfrac{1}{a} + \dfrac{2}{a} = 1\] \[1 + 2 = a\] \[3 = a\] Substituting, \[\dfrac{x}{3} + \dfrac{y}{3} = 1\] \[x + y = 3\] Method II: Since it cuts equal intercepts, the slope will be m = -1.

It passes through (1,2). \begin{align*} y- y_1 &= m(x- x_1)\\ y- 2 &= (-1)(x- 1)\\ y - 2 &= -x + 1\\ x + y -3 &= 0\\ x + y &= 3\\ \end{align*}

Correct Answer: A

What is the equation of the straight line which is perpendicular to y = x and passes through (3, 2)?



Solution:
Slope of the given line y = x: m$_1$ = 1
Slope of the perpendicular line: m$_2$ = $\dfrac{-1}{m_1}$ = -1
\[y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)\] But it passes through (3,2) \begin{align*} y - 2 &= (-1)(x - 3)\\ y - 2 &= -x + 3)\\ x + y &= 5\\ \end{align*}

Correct Answer: B

If the co-ordinates of the middle point of the portion of a line intercepted between coordinate axes (3,2), then the equation of the line will be:





Solution:

As shown in the figure, the coordinates of intersection point of the straight line with x- axis will be:

B (2$\times$3, 0)= B (6,0)

and y-axis will be:

A(0, 2$\times$2) = A(0,4).

So, x-intercept = a = 6, y-intercept = b= 4
Using double -intercept form of straight line equation, \begin{align*} \dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} &= 1\\ \dfrac{x}{6} + \dfrac{y}{4} &= 1\\ 2x+3y &= 12 \end{align*}

Correct Answer: A

The area of triangle formed by the lines $x =0, y =0\ \mathrm{and}\ \dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} =1$, is:



Solution:

The equation of the line $\dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} =1$ is in double intercept form. This line makes an intercept 'a' on the x-axis and 'b' on the y-axis.

Area of the right angled triangle is = $\dfrac{1}{2}$ $\times$ (base) $\times$ (Height) = $\dfrac{1}{2}$ $\times$ a $\times$ b.

Correct Answer: B

The slope of a straight line which makes 30$^\circ$ angle with x-axis is:



Solution:
\[\mathrm{Slope} = \tan \theta = \tan 30^\circ = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\]

Correct Answer: B

The distance between the points (-5,-5,7) and (3,0,5) is:



Solution:

\begin{align*} d &=\sqrt {\left( 3-(-5)\right) ^{2}+\left( 0-(-5)\right) ^{2}+\left( 5-7\right) ^{2}}\\ &=\sqrt {93}\\ &=9.643 \end{align*}

Correct Answer: C

If the distance between the points (3, 4) and (a, 2) is 8 units then find the value of a:



Solution:
The distance between the points (3, 4) and (a, 2) is 8. \begin{align*} \sqrt{(3-a)^2 + (4 - 2)^2} &= 8\\ (3-a)^2 + (4 - 2)^2 &= 8^2\\ (3-a)^2 + 4 &= 64\\ (3-a)^2 &= 60\\ (3-a) &= \pm 2\sqrt{15}\\ 3 \pm 2\sqrt{15} &= a \end{align*}

Correct Answer: A