322 Chapter 8 Lines in the coordinate plane 8C

8C Equations of lines
Learning intentions
• Develop equations for horizontal and vertical lines.
• Develop gradient–intercept form and general form equations for lines.
• Develop tests for lines to be parallel and perpendicular.
• Develop and apply the various forms of the equation of a line.

In the coordinate plane, a line is represented by a linear equation in x and y. This section and the next develop
various useful forms for the equation of a line.

Horizontal and vertical lines

All the points on a horizontal line through P(a, b) have the same x-coordinate, but the y-coordinate can take any
value. Hence the equation of the line is y = b.
All the points on a vertical line through P(a, b) have the same x-coordinate a, but the y-coordinate can take any
value. Hence the equation of the line is x = a.

12 Horizontal and vertical lines

The horizontal line through the point P(a, b) has the equation
y = b.
The vertical line through the point P(a, b) has the equation
x = a.
y y
x=a

y=b
P(a,b)
b P(a,b)

a x x

Gradient–intercept form
There is a simple form of the equation of a line whose gradient and y-intercept are known.
Let  have gradient m and y-intercept b, passing through the point B(0, b). y
Let Q(x, y) be any other point in the plane. Q(x,y)
Then the condition for Q to lie on the line  is
B(0,b)
gradient of BQ = m,
y−b
that is, =m (this is the formula for gradient) x
x−0
y − b = mx.
y = mx + b.

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 8C Equations of lines 323

13 Gradient–intercept form
The line with gradient m and y-intercept b is
y = mx + b.

The gradient–intercept formula is often written using c for the y-intercept as:
y = mx + c,
but such a change of pronumeral makes no difference whatsoever.

Example 10 Using gradient–intercept form

a Write down the gradient and the y-intercept of the line  : y = 3x − 2.

b Find the equation of the line that goes through B(0, 5) and is parallel to .
c Find the equation of the line that goes through B(0, 5) and is perpendicular to .

Solution
a The line  : y = 3x − 2 has gradient 3 and y-intercept −2.
b The line through B(0, 5) parallel to  has gradient 3 and y-intercept 5, so its equation is y = 3x + 5.
c The line through B(0, 5) perpendicular to  has gradient − 13 and y-intercept 5, so its equation is y = − 13 x + 5.

General form
It is often useful to write the equation of a line so that all the terms are on the LHS and only zero is on the RHS.
This is called general form.

14 General form
The equation of a line is said to be in general form if it is
ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are constants.

When an equation is given in general form, it should usually be simplified by multiplying out all fractions and
dividing through by all common factors.

Example 11 Converting from general form

a Put the equation of the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0 into gradient–intercept form.

b Hence write down the gradient and y-intercept of the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0.

Solution
a Solving the equation for y, 4y = −3x − 5
3 5
÷4 y = − x − , which is gradient–intercept form.
4 4
b Hence the line has gradient − 34 and y-intercept −1 14 .

CambridgeMATHS NSW Stage 6 – Mathematics Extension 1 ISBN 978-1-009-65480-7 © Pender et al. 2025 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Year 11 Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.
324 Chapter 8 Lines in the coordinate plane 8C

Example 12 Converting to general form

Find, in general form, the equation of the line passing through B(0, −2) and:
a perpendicular to a line  with gradient 23 ,
b having angle of inclination 60◦ .

Solution
a The line through B perpendicular to  has gradient − 32 and y-intercept −2,
so its equation is y = − 32 x − 2 (this is gradient–intercept form)
×2 2y = −3x − 4
3x + 2y + 4 = 0.
√
b The line through B with angle of inclination 60◦ has gradient tan 60◦ = 3,
√
so its equation is y= x 3−2 (this is gradient–intercept form)
√
x 3 − y − 2 = 0.

Exercise 8C FOUNDATION

1 Determine, by substitution, whether the point A(3, −2) lies on the line:
a y = 4x − 10
b 8x + 10y − 4 = 0
c x=3

2 Find the x-intercept and y-intercept of each line.

a 3x + 4y = 12
b y = 4x − 6
c x − 2y = 8

3 Write down the coordinates of any three points on the line x + 3y = 24.

4 Write down the equations of the vertical and horizontal lines through:
a (1, 2)
b (0, −4)
c (5, 0)

5 Write down the gradient and y-intercept of each line.

a y = 4x − 2 b y = 15 x − 3
c y=2−x d y = − 57 x

6 Use the formula y = mx + b to write down the equation of the line with a gradient of −3 and:
a y-intercept 5, b y-intercept − 23 , c y-intercept 0.

7 Use the formula y = mx + b to write down the equation of the line with y-intercept −4 and:
a gradient 5, b gradient − 23 , c gradient 0.

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 8C Equations of lines 325

8 Use the formula y = mx + b to write down the equation of each line, giving your answer in general form.
a line with a gradient of 1 and y-intercept 3 b line with a gradient of −2 and y-intercept 5
c line with a gradient of 1
5 and y-intercept −1 d line with a gradient of − 12 and y-intercept 3.

9 Solve each equation for y and hence write down its gradient m and y-intercept b.
a x−y+3=0 b y+x−2=0
c x − 3y = 0 d 3x + 4y = 5

10 Write down the gradient m of each line. Then use the formula gradient = tan α to find its angle of
inclination α, correct to the nearest minute where appropriate.
a y= x+3 b y = −x − 16
c y = 2x d y = − 34 x

DEVELOPMENT

11 Substitute y = 0 and x = 0 into the equation of each line below to find the points A and B where the line
crosses the x-axis and y-axis respectively. Hence sketch the line.
a 5x + 3y − 15 = 0
b 2x − y + 6 = 0
c 3x − 5y + 12 = 0

12 Find the gradient of the line through each pair of given points. Then find its equation, using gradient–
intercept form. Give your final answer in general form.
a (0, 4), (2, 8)
b (0, 0), (1, −1)
c (−9, −1), (0, −4)

13 Find the gradient of each line below. Hence find, in gradient–intercept form, the equation of a line passing
through A(0, 3) and:
i parallel to it ii perpendicular to it.
a 2x + y + 3 = 0 b 5x − 2y − 1 = 0 c 3x + 4y − 5 = 0

14 In each part, find the gradients of the four lines, and hence state what sort of special quadrilateral they
enclose.
a 3x + y + 7 = 0, x − 2y − 1 = 0, 3x + y + 11 = 0, x − 2y + 12 = 0
b 4x − 3y + 10 = 0, 3x + 4y + 7 = 0, 4x − 3y − 7 = 0, 3x + 4y + 1 = 0

15 Find the gradients of the three lines 5x − 7y + 5 = 0, 2x − 5y + 7 = 0 and 7x + 5y + 2 = 0. Hence show that
they enclose a right-angled triangle.

16 Using a sketch, find the equations of the sides of:

a the rectangle with vertices P(3, −7), Q(0, −7), R(0, −2) and S (3, −2),
b the triangle with vertices F(3, 0), G(−6, 0) and H(0, 12).

CambridgeMATHS NSW Stage 6 – Mathematics Extension 1 ISBN 978-1-009-65480-7 © Pender et al. 2025 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Year 11 Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.