Mathematics

Straight Line

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Table of Content

1. Definition.
2. Slope (gradient) of a line.
3. Equations of straight line in different forms.
4. Equation of parallel and perpendicular lines to a given
line.
5. General equation of a straight line and its transformation
in standard forms.
6. Selection of co-ordinates of a point on a straight line.
7. Point of intersection of two lines.
8. General equation of lines through the intersection of two
given lines.
9. Angle between two non-parallel lines.
10. Equation of straight line through a given point making a
given angle with a given line.
11. A line equally inclined with two lines.
12. Equations of the bisectors of the angles between two
straight lines.
13. Length of perpendicular.
14. Position of a point with respect to a line.
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15. Position of two points with respect to a line.
16. Concurrent lines.
17. Reflection on the surface.
18. Image of point in different cases.
19. Some important results.

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1. Definition.

The straight line is a curve such that every point on the line segment joining any two points on it lies on
it. The simplest locus of a point in a plane is a straight line. A line is determined uniquely by any one of
the following:
(1) Two different points (because we know the axiom that one and only one straight line passes through
two given points)
(2) A point and a given direction.

Y Y
Y

45o 45º 45º 45º 45º

O X O X
Unique line through Unique line through a given O X
two given points Infinite number of lines
point with a given direction Infinite number of lines
with a given direction
through a given point

Thus, to determine a line uniquely, two geometrical conditions are required.

2. Slope (Gradient) of a Line.

The trigonometrical tangent of the angle that a line makes with the positive direction of the x-axis in
anticlockwise sense is called the slope or gradient of the line. Y Y
The slope of a line is generally denoted by m. Thus, m = tan 
B
 
(1) Slope of line parallel to x – axis is m  tan 0  0 . o
X
B
O
X O X

A Y X Y A
(2) Slope of line parallel to y – axis is m  tan 90 o   .

(3) Slope of the line equally inclined with the axes is 1 or –1.

y 2  y1
(4) Slope of the line through the points A(x 1 , y 1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 ) is taken in the same order.
x 2  x1

a
(5) Slope of the line ax  by  c  0, b  0 is  .
b

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(6) Slope of two parallel lines are equal.
(7) If m 1 and m 2 be the slopes of two perpendicular lines, Then m1 .m 2  1 .


Note: m can be defined as tan  for 0     and  
2
 If three points A, B, C are collinear, then
Slope of AB = Slope of BC = Slope of AC

3. Equations of Straight line in Different forms.

(1) Slope form: Equation of a line through the origin and having slope m is y = mx.
Y
B
(2) One point form or Point slope form: Equation of a line through the point
(x1 , y1 ) and having slope m is y  y1  m(x  x1 ) .  c
X' X
A O

(3) Slope intercept form: Equation of a line (non-vertical) with slope m and Y'

cutting off an intercept c on the y-axis is y = mx + c.

The equation of a line with slope m and the x-intercept d is y  m(x  d )

(4) Intercept form: If a straight line cuts x-axis at A and the y-axis at B then OA and OB are known as the
intercepts of the line on x-axis and y-axis respectively.
Y
The intercepts are positive or negative according as the line meets with positive
or negative directions of the coordinate axes. B

In the figure, OA = x-intercept, OB = y-intercept. b

A
Equation of a straight line cutting off intercepts a and b on x–axis and y–axis X'
O a
X

x y
respectively is   1 . Y'
a b
Note: If given line is parallel to X axis, then X-intercept is undefined.
 If given line is parallel to Y axis, then Y-intercept is undefined.

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(5)Two point form: Equation of the line through the points A (x1 , y1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 ) is
y 2  y1
(y  y1 )  (x  x 1 ) . In the determinant form it is gives as:
x 2  x1
x y 1
x1 y1 1 = 0 is the equation of line. (x2, y2)

x2 y2 1
O
(x1,y1)

(6) Normal or perpendicular form: The equation of the straight line upon Y
which the length of the perpendicular from the origin is p and this perpendicular
makes an angle  with x-axis is x cos  y sin   p .

Y' BpP X
O A

Y'

(7) Symmetrical or parametric or distance form of the line: Equation of a line passing through
(x 1 , y1 ) and making an angle  with the positive direction of x-axis is
Y
x  x 1 y  y1
 r, (x1,y1) r
cos  sin  A  P(x, y)

Where r is the distance between the point P (x, y) and A(x 1 , y1 ) .

X' 
The coordinates of any point on this line may be taken as O
X

(x1  r cos  , y1  r sin  ) , known as parametric co-ordinates, ‘r’ is called the

Y'
parameter.

Note: Equation of x-axis  y = 0

Equation a line parallel to x-axis (or perpendicular to y-axis) at a distance ‘b’ from it  y  b
Y

b
X' X
O

Y

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Equation of y-axis  x = 0
Equation of a line parallel to y-axis (or perpendicular to x-axis) at a distance ‘a’ from it  x  a
Y

a
X' X
O

Y’

4. Equation of Parallel and Perpendicular lines to a given Line.

(1) Equation of a line which is parallel to ax  by  c  0 is ax  by    0

(2) Equation of a line which is perpendicular to ax  by  c  0 is bx  ay    0

The value of  in both cases is obtained with the help of additional information given in the problem.

5. General equation of a Straight line and its Transformation in Standard

forms.

General form of equation of a line is ax  by  c  0 , its

a c a c
(1) Slope intercept form: y   x  , slope m   and intercept on y-axis is, C  
b b b b

x y  c  c
(2) Intercept form:   1 , x intercept is =    and y intercept is =   
c/a c/b  a   b

(3) Normal form: To change the general form of a line into normal form, first take c to right hand side
and make it positive, then divide the whole equation by a 2  b 2 like
ax by c a b c
   , where cos    , sin    and p 
a2  b 2 a2  b 2 a2  b 2 a2  b 2 a2  b 2 a2  b 2

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6. Selection of Co-ordinate of a Point on a Straight line.

(1) If the equation of the straight line be ax  by  c  0 , in order to select a point on it, take the x co-
a  c
ordinate according to your sweet will. Let x   ; then a  by  c  0 or y   ;
b

 a  c 
   ,  is a point on the line for any real value of  . If   0 is taken then the point will be
 b 
 c
 0,  .
 b

 c 
Similarly a suitable point can be taken as   ,0  .
 a 

(2) If the equation of the line be x  c then a point on it can be taken as (c,  ) where  has any real
value.

In particular (c, 0) is a convenient point on it when   0 .

(3) If the equation of the line be y  c then a point on it can be taken as (, c) where  has any real
value.

In particular (0, c) is a convenient point on it when   0 .

7. Point of Intersection of Two lines.

Let a1 x  b1y  c1 =0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 be two non-parallel lines. If (x , y ) be the co-ordinates of their
point of intersection, then a1 x   b1y  c1  0 and a2 x   b 2 y   c 2  0
 b1 b2 c1 c2 
 
 b c  b 2 c1 c1 a 2  c 2 a1   c1 c2 a1 a2 
Solving these equation, we get (x , y )   1 2  
a 2 
, ,
 a1 b 2  a 2 b1 a1 b 2  a 2 b1   a1 a2 a1
 b1 b2 b1 b 2 


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Note: Here lines are not parallel, they have unequal slopes, then a1b2  a2b1  0 .
In solving numerical questions, we should not remember the co-ordinates (x , y ) given above, but we solve the
equations directly.

8. General equation of Lines through the Intersection of Two given Lines.

If equation of two lines P  a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and Q  a2 x  b2 y  c 2  0 , then the equation of the lines

passing through the point of intersection of these lines is P   Q  0 or a1 x  b1 y  c 
(a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2 )  0 ; Value of  is obtained with the help of the additional information given in the
problem.

9. Angle between Two non-parallel Lines.

Let  be the angle between the lines y  m 1 x  c1 and y  m 2 x  c 2 .

and intersecting at A.
y=m1x + c1

Where, m 1 = tan  and m 2 = tan  y=m2x + c2

         
O
tan   tan 
 tan  
1  tan  tan 

m1  m 2
   tan 1 .
1  m1m 2

(1) Angle between two straight lines when their equations are given: The angle  between the lines
a2 b1  a1b 2
a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 is given by, tan   .
a1a2  b1b 2

(i) Condition for the lines to be parallel: If the lines a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are
a1 a2 a b
parallel then, m1  m 2    1  1 .
b1 b2 a2 b 2

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(ii) Condition for the lines to be perpendicular: If the lines a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0
a1 a2
are perpendicular then, m1m 2  1    1  a1a2  b1b2  0 .
b1 b2

(iii) Conditions for two lines to be coincident, parallel, perpendicular and intersecting: Two lines
a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are,
a1 b c
(a) Coincident, if  1  1
a2 b 2 c 2

a1 b c
(b) Parallel, if  1  1
a2 b 2 c 2

a1 b
(c) Intersecting, if  1
a2 b 2

(d) Perpendicular, if a1a2  b1b2  0

10. Equation of Straight line through a given point making a given Angle with a
given Line.

Since straight line L makes an angle (   ) with x-axis, then equation of line L is
y  y1  tan(   )(x  x1 ) and straight line L makes an angle (   ) with x-
L
axis, then equation of line L is
 y  y1  tan(   )(x  x1 ) y = mx+c

Where m  tan  

L
 ( – )
Hence, the equation of the straight lines which pass through a given point O X

(x1 , y1 ) and make a given angle  with given straight line y  mx  c are
m  tan 
y  y1  (x  x 1 )
1  m tan 

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11. A Line equally inclined with two lines.

Let the two lines with slopes m 1 and m 2 be equally inclined to a line with slope m
 m m   m m 
then ,  1    2  m2
m
 1  m1m   1  m 2m 

m1
Note: Sign of m in both brackets is same. 

12. Equations of the bisectors of the Angles between two Straight lines.

The equation of the bisectors of the angles between the lines a1 x  b1y  c1  0 and a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 are
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2
given by,  .....(i)
a12  b12 a22  b22

Algorithm to find the bisector of the angle containing the origin:

Let the equations of the two lines a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 and a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2  0 . To find the bisector of the
angle containing the origin, we proceed as follows:

Step I: See whether the constant terms c 1 and c 2 in the equations of two lines positive or not. If not,
then multiply both the sides of the equation by –1 to make the constant term positive.

a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2
Step II: Now obtain the bisector corresponding to the positive sign i.e.,  .
a12  b12 a 22  b 22

This is the required bisector of the angle containing the origin.

Note: The bisector of the angle containing the origin means the bisector of the angle between the lines which
contains the origin within it.

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(1) To find the acute and obtuse angle bisectors

Let  be the angle between one of the lines and one of the bisectors given by (i). Find tan  . If| tan  |  1 ,
then this bisector is the bisector of acute angle and the other one is the bisector of the obtuse angle.

If | tan  | > 1, then this bisector is the bisector of obtuse angle and other one is the bisector of the acute
angle.

(2) Method to find acute angle bisector and obtuse angle bisector
(i) Make the constant term positive, if not. (ii) Now determine the sign of the expression a1 a 2  b1 b 2 .

(iii) If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the bisector corresponding to “+” sign gives the obtuse angle bisector and
the bisector corresponding to “–” sign is the bisector of acute angle between the L1
lines.
Acute bisector
(iv) If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the bisector corresponding to “+” and “–” sign given P(x, y)
the acute and obtuse angle bisectors respectively.
L2
Note: Bisectors are perpendicular to each other. Obtuse bisector

If a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the origin lies in obtuse angle and if a1 a 2  b1 b 2  0 , then the origin lies in acute
angle.

Length of Perpendicular.

(1) Distance of a point from a line: The length p of the perpendicular from the point (x 1 , y1 ) to the line
| ax1  by1  c |
ax  by  c  0 is given by p  .
a2  b 2
c
Note: Length of perpendicular from origin to the line ax  by  c  0 is .
a2  b 2
Length of perpendicular from the point (x 1 , y1 ) to the line x cos   y sin   p is x 1 cos   y 1 sin   p .

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(2) Distance between two parallel lines: Let the two parallel lines be ax  by  c1  0 and ax  by  c 2  0 .
| c1  c 2 |
First Method: The distance between the lines is d  . ax + by + c1 = 0
(a  b )
2 2

ax + by + c2 = 0


Second Method: The distance between the lines is d  , where ax + by + c1 = 0
(a  b 2 )
2

(i)  | c1  c 2 | if they be on the same side of origin.

(ii)  | c1 |  | c 2 | if the origin O lies between them. ax + by + c2 = 0

.O (0, 0)

Third method: Find the coordinates of any point on one of the given line, preferably putting x  0 or
y  0 . Then the perpendicular distance of this point from the other line is the ax + by + c1 = 0
required distance between the lines.
.O (0, 0)

Note:: Distance between two parallel lines ax  by  c1  0 and kax  kby  c 2  0 is

ax + by + c2 = 0
c
c1  2
k
a2  b 2
Distance between two non-parallel lines is always zero.

13. Position of a Point with respect to a Line.

Let the given line be ax  by  c  0 and observing point is (x 1 , y1 ) , then

(i) If the same sign is found by putting in equation of line x  x 1 , y  y1 and x  0 , y  0 then the point
(x 1 , y1 ) is situated on the side of origin.
(ii) If the opposite sign is found by putting in equation of line x  x 1 , y  y1 and x  0 , y  0 then the
point (x 1 , y1 ) is situated opposite side to origin.

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14. Position of Two points with respect to a Line.

Two points (x 1 , y 1 ) and (x 2 , y 2 ) are on the same side or on the opposite side of the straight line
ax  by  c  0 according as the values of ax1  by 1  c and ax 2  by 2  c are of the same sign or
opposite sign.

15. Concurrent Lines.

Three or more lines are said to be concurrent lines if they meet at a point.

First method: Find the point of intersection of any two lines by solving them simultaneously. If the point
satisfies the third equation also, then the given lines are concurrent.

Second method: The three lines a1 x  b1y  c1  0 , a2 x  b2 y  c2  0 and a3 x  b3 y  c3  0 are

a1 b1 c1
concurrent if, a2 b2 c2  0
a3 b3 c3

Third method: The condition for the lines P  0 , Q  0 and R  0 to be concurrent is that three
constants a, b, c (not all zero at the same time) can be obtained such that aP  bQ  cR  0 .

i.e.,  1 , 1 
1 1
They pass through the intersection of the lines 4 x  1  0 and 3 y  1  0 i.e., x  , y 
4 3 4 3

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16. Reflection on the Surface.

Here IP = Incident Ray N

I R
PN = Normal to the surface

Normal
PR = Reflected Ray Reflected ray
Incident ray
 
Then, IPN  NPR  
Tangent
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection P
Surface

17. Image of a Point in Different cases.

(1) The image of a point with respect to the line mirror: The image of A (x1, y1)
A(x1 , y1 ) with respect to the line mirror ax  by  c  0 be B (h, k) is given by, ax+by+c = 0

h  x1 k  y1  2(ax1  by1  c)
 
a b a2  b 2

B (h, k)

(2) The image of a point with respect to x-axis: Let P(x , y) be any point and P (x , y) its image after
reflection in the x-axis, then
x = x (  O is the mid point of P and P ) Y
P(x, y)
y = – y

O

O P(x, y) X

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(3) The image of a point with respect to y-axis: Let P(x , y) be any point and P(x , y) its image after
reflection in the y-axis
then x  x (  O is the midpoint of P and P ) Y
y  y P (x,y) P(x, y)
O

X O X
Y

(4) The image of a point with respect to the origin: Let P(x , y) be any
point and P(x , y) be its image after reflection through the origin, then Y P(x, y)

x   x (  O is the mid point of P and P )

y   y N
X P(x,y) O M X

Y
(5) The image of a point with respect to the line y = x: Let P(x , y) be any point and P(x , y) be its
image after reflection in the line y  x , then
P(x, y)
x  y (  O is the midpoint of P and P ) Y
y=x O
y  x 45º
P(x, y)

X O X

(6) The image of a point with respect to the line y = x tan  :

P(x, y)

Let P(x , y) be any point and P(x , y) be its image after reflection in the line Y O
y=x tan 
y  x tan then 
P(x, y)

x   x cos 2  y sin 2 ( O is the midpoint of P and P )

X O X
y  x sin 2  y cos 2
Y

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18. Some Important Results.
1 (c1  c 2 )2
(1) Area of the triangle formed by the lines y  m1 x  c1 , y  m 2 x  c 2 , y  m 3 x  c3 is  .
2 m1  m 2

c2
(2) Area of the triangle made by the line ax  by  c  0 with the co-ordinate axes is .
2 | ab |

2c 2
(3) Area of the rhombus formed by the lines ax  by  c  0 is
ab

(4) Area of the parallelogram formed by the lines a1 x  b1 y  c1  0 ; a2 x  b 2 y  c 2  0 , a1 x  b1 y  d 1

(d1  c1 )(d 2  c 2 )
and a2 x  b 2 y  d 2  0 is .
a1b 2  a 2 b1

(5) The foot of the perpendicular (h, k ) from (x 1 , y1 ) to the line ax  by  c  0 is given by
h  x 1 k  y1  (ax1  by1  c)
  . Hence, the coordinates of the foot of perpendicular is
a b a2  b 2
 b 2 x 1  aby1  ac a 2 y1  abx1  bc 
 , 
 a2  b 2 a2  b 2 
 

p1 p 2
(6) Area of parallelogram A  , where p 1 and p 2 are the distances between parallel sides and  is
sin 
the angle between two adjacent sides.

x y
(7) The equation of a line whose mid-point is (x 1 , y1 ) in between the axes is  2
x 1 y1

(8) The equation of a straight line which makes a triangle with the axes of centroid (x 1 , y1 ) is
x y
 1.
3 x 1 3 y1

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