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2a-2_Parallel_and_perpendicular_lines (1)

The document provides a scheme of work focusing on straight-line graphs, specifically parallel and perpendicular lines. It includes key points about the gradients of parallel and perpendicular lines, along with multiple examples and practice problems for finding equations of lines based on given conditions. Additionally, it offers answers to the practice problems to aid in understanding.

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kimleong ang
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8 views4 pages

2a-2_Parallel_and_perpendicular_lines (1)

The document provides a scheme of work focusing on straight-line graphs, specifically parallel and perpendicular lines. It includes key points about the gradients of parallel and perpendicular lines, along with multiple examples and practice problems for finding equations of lines based on given conditions. Additionally, it offers answers to the practice problems to aid in understanding.

Uploaded by

kimleong ang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parallel and perpendicular lines

A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 2a. Straight-line graphs, parallel/perpendicular, length and area problems

Key points
• When lines are parallel they have the same
gradient.
• A line perpendicular to the line with equation
y = mx + c has gradient − 1 .
m

Examples
Example 1 Find the equation of the line parallel to y = 2x + 4 which passes through
the point (4, 9).

y = 2x + 4 1 As the lines are parallel they have


m=2 the same gradient.
y = 2x + c 2 Substitute m = 2 into the equation of
a straight line y = mx + c.
9=2×4+c 3 Substitute the coordinates into the
equation y = 2x + c
9=8+c 4 Simplify and solve the equation.
c=1
y = 2x + 1 5 Substitute c = 1 into the equation
y = 2x + c

Example 2 Find the equation of the line perpendicular to y = 2x − 3 which passes through
the point (−2, 5).

y = 2x − 3 1 As the lines are perpendicular, the


m=2 gradient of the perpendicular line
1 1 1
− =− is − .
m 2 m
1 1
y =− x+c 2 Substitute m = − into y = mx + c.
2 2
1 3 Substitute the coordinates (–2, 5)
5 = − × (−2) + c 1
2 into the equation y = − x + c
2
5=1+c 4 Simplify and solve the equation.
c=4
1 1
y=− x+4 5 Substitute c = 4 into y = − x + c.
2 2
Example 3 A line passes through the points (0, 5) and (9, −1).
Find the equation of the line which is perpendicular to the line and passes through
its midpoint.

x1 = 0 , x2 = 9 , y1 = 5 and y2 = −1 1 Substitute the coordinates into the


y − y1 −1 − 5 y − y1
m= 2 = equation m = 2 to work out
x2 − x1 9−0 x2 − x1
−6 2 the gradient of the line.
= =−
9 3
2 As the lines are perpendicular, the
1 3 gradient of the perpendicular line
− =
m 2 1
is − .
m
3 3 Substitute the gradient into the
y= x+c
2 equation y = mx + c.

⎛ 0 + 9 5 + (−1) ⎞ ⎛ 9 ⎞ 4 Work out the coordinates of the


Midpoint = ⎜ , ⎟ = ⎜ , 2⎟
⎝ 2 2 ⎠ ⎝2 ⎠ midpoint of the line.
3 9
2= × +c 5 Substitute the coordinates of the
2 2 midpoint into the equation.
19
c=− 6 Simplify and solve the equation.
4
19
3 19 7 Substitute c = − into the equation
y= x− 4
2 4
3
y = x+c.
2

Practice

1 Find the equation of the line parallel to each of the given lines and which passes through each of
the given points.
a y = 3x + 1 (3, 2) b y = 3 – 2x (1, 3)
c 2x + 4y + 3 = 0 (6, –3) d 2y –3x + 2 = 0 (8, 20)

1 Hint
2 Find the equation of the line perpendicular to y = x – 3 which
2 If m = then the negative
passes through the point (–5, 3).
reciprocal

3 Find the equation of the line perpendicular to each of the given lines and which passes through
each of the given points.
1 1
a y = 2x – 6 (4, 0) b y= − x+ (2, 13)
3 2
c x –4y – 4 = 0 (5, 15) d 5y + 2x – 5 = 0 (6, 7)
4 In each case find an equation for the line passing through the origin which is also perpendicular
to the line joining the two points given.
a (4, 3), (–2, –9) b (0, 3), (–10, 8)

Extend
5 Work out whether these pairs of lines are parallel, perpendicular or neither.
a y = 2x + 3 b y = 3x c y = 4x – 3
y = 2x – 7 2x + y – 3 = 0 4y + x = 2

d 3x – y + 5 = 0 e 2x + 5y – 1 = 0 f 2x – y = 6
x + 3y = 1 y = 2x + 7 6x – 3y + 3 = 0

6 The straight line L1 passes through the points A and B with coordinates (–4, 4) and (2, 1),
respectively.
a Find the equation of L1 in the form ax + by + c = 0

The line L2 is parallel to the line L1 and passes through the point C with coordinates (–8, 3).
b Find the equation of L2 in the form ax + by + c = 0

The line L3 is perpendicular to the line L1 and passes through the origin.
c Find an equation of L3
Answers
1 a y = 3x –7 b y = –2x + 5
3
c y= –1 x d y= x +8
2 2

2 y = −2x – 7

3 a y= –1 x+ 2 b y = 3x + 7
2
5
c y = –4x + 35 d y= x –8
2

4 a y=–1x b y = 2x
2

5 a Parallel b Neither c Perpendicular


d Perpendicular e Neither f Parallel

6 a x + 2y – 4 = 0 b x + 2y + 2 = 0 c y = 2x

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