5.

1 Lines
(MAT 049-PreCalculus)

NESTOR G. ACALA, PhD

Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City
[email protected]
Lines

Slope of a Line
A line L, not parallel to the x −axis, intersects it and the angle α measured
counter clockwise from the positive direction of the x −axis to the line is called
the angle of inclination or simply inclination of L. Using inclination, we now
define the slope of a line as follows:
If a line L has inclination α then the slope m of L is given by

m = tan α.
If L is horizontal, α = 0◦ and m = tan 0◦ = 0. Hence, all lines parallel to the
x −axis have slope equal to 0. If L is vertical, α = 90◦ and m = tan 90◦ . From
trigonometry, m = tan 90◦ is undefined. Hence, all lines parallel to the y −axis
have no (undefined) slope.

We can always find the slope of a line if we know two points in it. Suppose
P (x1 , y1 ) and Q (x2 , y2 ) are two points of a line L. Then, to find the slope of L,
draw a horizontal line through P and a vertical line through Q forming a right
triangle PQR as shown in the next figure.
The angle α at P is the same as the inclination of L so that
|QR | y2 − y1
m = tan α = =
|PR | x2 − x1
Thus, we have the following algebraic definition of the slope of a line.

The slope m of a line through the points P1 (x1 , y1 ) and P2 (x2 , y2 ) is given by
the formula
y2 − y1
m= .
x2 − x1
 Example: Find the slope of the line passing through the points (4, −2) and
(7, 3).

Solution: With x1 = 4, y1 = −2, x2 = 7, and y2 = 3, we have

3 − (−2) 5 5
m= = . Thus, the slope is equal to .
7−4 3 3

Remark: The slope m is independent of the choice of the points. That is,
whichever we choose as P1 and P2 , m is unaffected. For example, if we let
−2 − 3 5
x1 = 7, y1 = 3, x2 = 4, and y2 = −2, then m = = .
4−7 3
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Let L1 with inclination α1 be parallel to L2 with inclination α2 . Since parallel

lines have the same inclination, α1 = α2 . Thus,

tan α1 = tan α2 =⇒ m1 = m2 .

On the other hand, suppose L1 and L2 are any two lines having the same slope
m1 = m2 = m. Then, considering the graph of the tangent function in Figure 5,
we see that there is only one angle β between 0◦ and 180◦ such that tan β = m.
Hence, L1 and L2 have the same inclination β so that L1 and L2 are parallel.
Theorem
Two lines L1 and L2 with slopes m1 and m2 , respectively, are parallel, written
L1 //L2 if and only if m2 = m2 .

Figure: Parallel lines

When are two lines perpendicular? Note that if a line L is parallel to the x −axis,
that is, its slope is zero, then any line parallel to the y −axis is perpendicular to L
and its slope is undefined. Now, suppose a line L1 with slope m1 and a line L2
with slope m2 be such that L1 is perpendicular to L2 .

Figure: Perpendicular Lines

Note that α1 + 90◦ + β = 180◦ . Hence, with β + α2 = 180◦ , we have

α1 + 90◦ + 180◦ − α2 = 180◦

α1 + 90◦ = α2 .
Hence, we get

tan α2 = tan(α1 + 90◦ )

sin(α1 + 90◦ )
=
cos(α1 + 90◦ )
sin α1 cos 90◦ + sin 90◦ cos α1
=
cos α1 cos 90◦ − sin α1 sin 90◦
cos α1 1 1
= = =− .
− sin α1 sin α1 tan α1
−
cos α1
 1
Thus, we get m2 = . With this, we get the following important result about
−m1
perpendicular lines:
Theorem
Two lines L1 and L2 with slopes m1 and m2 , respectively, are perpendicular if and
1
only if m2 = .
−m1
 Example: Show that the line through the points P1 (3, −4) and Q1 (−2, 6) is
parallel to the line through the points P2 (−3, 6) and Q2 (9, −18).

Solution: Let m1 be the slope of the line L1 through the points P1 and P2 and
m2 be the slope of the line L2 through the points P2 and Q2 . Then
6 − (−4)
m1 = = −2
−2 − 3
−18 − 6
m2 = = −2.
9 − (−3)

Thus, m1 = m2 and so L1 //L2 .

 Example: Determine whether or not the points P (−1, −5), Q (1, 3), and
R (7, 12) lie on the same line.

Solution: Let m1 be the slope of the line L1 through the points P (−1, −5) and
3 − (−5)
Q (1, 3) so that m1 = = 4. Also, let m2 be the slope of the line L2
1 − (−1)
12 − 3 9
through the points Q (1, 3) and R (7, 12) so that m2 = = . Thus,
7−1 6
m1 6= m2 and so L1 is not parallel to L2 and thus the three points do not lie on
the same line.
Equation of a Line

Let L be a line passing through the point P (x1 , y1 ) having slope m. Suppose
Q (x , y ) is an arbitrary point on L different from P. Then the slope of L
y − y1
computed using the points P and Q must be equal to m. That is, m =
x − x1
so that y − y1 = m(x − x1 ). Thus, we have this point-slope form of a line:
Point-Slope Form
The equation of a line through the point P (x1 , y1 ) having slope m is given by

y − y1 = m(x − x1 )

.
Remark
In the case when two points P (x1 , y1 ) and Q (x2 , y2 ) are given, the slope m can
y2 − y1
be determined using the formula m = . Then using any of the points P
x2 − x1
or Q together with the slope m, the equation of L can be obtained using the
point-slope form.
 Example: Find the equation of the line passing through the point P (3, −2)
having slope 23 .

Solution: With x1 = 3, y1 = −2, and m = 23 , we have

2
y − (−2) = (x − 3) =⇒ 3y + 6 = 2x − 6
3
=⇒ 2x − 3y − 12 = 0 .
 Example: Find the equation of the line L1 passing through the point
P (−2, 5) and perpendicular to the line L2 with slope −2.

Solution: Since the line L1 is perpendicular to the line L2 with slope −2, the
slope of L1 is − −12 = 12 . So, with x1 = −2, y1 = 5, and m = 12 , we have

1
y − 5 = [x − (−2)] =⇒ 2y − 10 = x + 2
2
=⇒ x − 2y + 12 = 0 .
 Example: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (−1, 3)
and (2, 4).

4−3
Solution: Computing the slope, we obtain m = . Using the point
2 − (−1)
P (x1 , y1 ) = (−1, 3), we obtain from the Point-Slope form the equation
1 1
y − 3 = [x − (−1)] =⇒ y − 3 = (x + 1)
3 3
=⇒ 3y − 9 = x + 1
=⇒ x − 3y − 10 = 0 .

Note: If we use P (x1 , y1 ) = (2, 4), we obtain the same equation.

Let L be a line with y −intercept b. That is, L intersects the y −axis at the point
(0, b). If L has slope m, then by Point-Slope form, we get

y − y1 = m(x − x1 )
y − b = m(x − 0)
y = mx + b.

This is the slope-intercept form of the equation of a line.

Slope-Intercept Form
Let L be a line with slope m and y −intercept b. Then, the equation of L is given
by
y = mx + b.
 Example: Find the equation of the line with slope 3 and y −intercept 4.

Solution: With m = 3 and b = 4, we have

y = mx + b
y = 3x + 4.
Consider the equation Ax + By + C = 0 where A and B are not both zero. If
B = 0, we obtain Ax + C = 0 so that x = − CA . This is a vertical line passing
through the point ( CA , 0). If B 6= 0, we obtain y = − BA x − CB . This is a line with
slope − BA and y −intercept − CB . Thus, we have the following:

Every equation of the form Ax + By + C = 0, where A and B are not both

zero, is a line in the xy − plane with slope m = − BA . This is the standard
form of the equation of a line.
 Example: Given the equation 2x − y + 3 = 0, find the slope and the
y −intercept.

Solution: To find the slope and the y −intercept, we solve for y in terms of x so
that we have y = 2x + 3. Thus, the slope is 2 and the y −intercept is 3.
 Example: Find the equation of the line L passing through the point (3, −4)
and parallel to the line with equation x + 3y + 1 = 0.

A 1
Solution: The slope of x + 3y + 1 = 0 is m = − = − . Hence, the slope of
B 3
1
line L is also m = − . Using point-slope form, we obtain
3
y − y1 = m(x − x1 )
1
y − (−4) = − (x − 3)
3
3y + 12 = −x + 3
x + 3y + 9 = 0.
Distance From a Point to a Line
Consider a line L given by Ax + By + C = 0 and a point P (x0 , y0 ) not on L.
Through P, construct a line L1 perpendicular to L. The distance from P to L is
the length of the line segment from P to the point of intersection Q (x , y ) of L
and L1 . See figure below
 To derive the distance d from P (x0 , y0 ) to the line L given by Ax + By + c = 0,
we do the following suggested steps:
(S1) Find the equation of the line L1 passing through P (x0 , y0 ) and perpendicular
to L. Note that mL = − BA . Hence, the equation of L1 is
y − y0 = BA (x − x0 ) which is equivalent to

Bx − Ay − Bx0 + Ay0 = 0.

(S2) Solving the equations L and L1 simultaneously, we obtain the point of

intersection Q (x , y ) as

B 2 x0 − ABy0 − AC −ABx0 + A2 y0 − BC
x= , y= .
A2 + B 2 A2 + B 2
(S3) Using the distance formula between two points, we find the distance d from
P (x0 , y0 ) to Q (x , y ) as

|Ax0 + By0 + C |
d= √ .
A2 + B 2

Theorem
The distance of the point P (x0 , y0 ) from the line L : Ax + By + C = 0 is given by

|Ax0 + By0 + C |
d= √ .
A2 + B 2
 Example: Find the distance from the point P (2, −1) to the line
L : y = 32 x + 52 .

Solution: Writing the equation in standard form, we obtain 3x − 2y + 5 = 0.

Hence, with A = 3, B = −2, C = 5, x0 = 2, and y0 = −1, we get
|3(2) + (−2)(−1) + 5|
d = p
32 + (−2)2
√
|6 + 2 + 5| 13 13 √
= √ = √ · √ = 13.
13 13 13
 Example: Find the distance from the point P (1, −3) to the line through the
points Q (3, −4) and R (−1, 2).

Solution: Let L be the line through the points Q (3, −4) and R (−1, 2). Applying
two-point form equation of the line, we get
2 − (−4)
y − (−4) = (x − 3)
−1 − 3
6 3
y +4 = (x − 3) = − (x − 3)
−4 2
−2y − 8 = 3x − 9 =⇒ 3x + 2y − 1 = 0 . (1)
Thus, the distance of the point P (1, −3) from the line L : x + 2y − 1 = 0 is
√ √
|3(1) + 2(−3) − 1| 4 13 4 13
d= √ =√ ·√ = .
9+4 13 13 13
 Example: Find two points in the plane whose x −coordinate is 2 and whose
distance from the line 3x − 4y + 1 = 0 is 1.

Solution: With x0 = 2, A = 3, B = −4, C = 1 and d = 1, we have

|Ax0 + By0 + C |
d = √
A2 + B 2
|3(2) − 4y0 + 1|
1 = √
9 + 16
5 = |7 − 4y0 |
±5 = 7 − 4y0
Note that ±5 = 7 − 4y0 implies that either 7 − 4y = 5 or 7 − 4y = −5. Now,
1
7 − 4y0 = 5 =⇒ 4y0 = 2 =⇒ y0 =
2

7 − 4y0 = −5 =⇒ 4y0 = 12 =⇒ y0 = 3.

Thus, if x0 , we have either y0 = 3 or y0 = 21 . Therefore, the desired two points

are (2, 3) and (2, 21 ).
Exercise: Do as directed. Show all the necessary solutions.
1. Determine whether the the line through the points P1 and Q1 is parallel
or perpendicular to the line through the points P2 and Q2 .
a. P1 (−1, 1), Q1 (0, 3), P2 (−1, −2) and Q2 (1, 2)
b. P1 (1, 1), Q1 (2, 2), P2 (1, 3) and Q2 (−1, 5)
2. Find the equation of the line with the given conditions:
a. Passing through the point P (2, −1) with slope −3.
b. Passing through the point P (−1, −2) and parallel to the line passing through
the points Q (1, 4) and R (−2, 3).
c. Passing through the point P (3, 2) and perpendicular to the line with equation
3x + 4y − 4 = 0.
3. Find the distance from the point P (2, 5) to the line x − 2y − 3 = 0.
4. Find two points on the y −axis which are at a distance 3 from the line
12x + 5y + 9 = 0.