Chapter 3: Coordinate Geometry
Worked Examples for Every Topic
IGCSE & O Level Mathematics | Grade 9–10
"Every line has a story. Learn to read it." — Detective Sam
Coordinates
3.1 Cartesian plane · Plotting & reading points · Quadrants
The Cartesian plane has two axes: the horizontal x-axis and vertical y-axis. Every point is written as
(x, y) — x first, y second.
✏️ Plot and identify: A(3, 5), B(−2, 4), C(−3, −1), D(4, −2)
A(3, 5): 3 right, 5 up → Quadrant I (+, +)
B(−2, 4): 2 left, 4 up → Quadrant II (−, +)
C(−3, −1): 3 left, 1 down → Quadrant III (−, −)
D(4, −2): 4 right, 2 down → Quadrant IV (+, −)
✏️ A point lies on the x-axis with x-coordinate 5. Write its coordinates.
On the x-axis: y = 0 always
Answer: (5, 0)
Examiner Trap
(3, 5) is NOT the same as (5, 3). x always comes first. Swapping coordinates puts you in the
wrong position entirely — a classic careless mark loss!
Drawing Linear Graphs
3.2 Making a table of values · Plotting · Extending the line
✏️ Draw the graph of y = 2x − 3 for −1 ⩽ x ⩽ 3
Step 1 — table of values:
x : −1 0 1 2 3
y : −5 −3 −1 1 3
Step 2: Plot each (x, y) pair on the grid
Step 3: Draw a straight line through ALL points and extend with arrows
✏️ Draw the graph of 3x + 2y = 12
Find x-intercept (set y = 0): 3x = 12 → x = 4 → (4, 0)
Find y-intercept (set x = 0): 2y = 12 → y = 6 → (0, 6)
Plot both intercepts: Draw a straight line through (4, 0) and (0, 6)
💡 Detective Sam's Tip
For any straight line, you only need 2 points to draw it. But always plot a 3rd as a check — if it
doesn't lie on your line, you've made a calculation error!
⚠️ Vertical & Horizontal Lines
x = 3 is a VERTICAL line (all points have x = 3). y = −2 is a HORIZONTAL line. Neither is of
the form y = mx + c.
Gradient of Linear Graphs
3.3 Rise over run · From two points · Positive & negative gradients
Gradient Formula
m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) = rise / run
✏️ Find the gradient of the line through A(1, 2) and B(5, 10)
Label: x₁=1, y₁=2, x₂=5, y₂=10
m = (10 − 2) / (5 − 1) = 8 / 4 = 2
Interpret: For every 1 unit right, the line rises 2 units
✏️ Find the gradient of the line through P(−2, 5) and Q(4, −1)
m = (−1 − 5) / (4 − (−2)) = −6 / 6 = −1
Interpret: Negative gradient — line slopes downward left to right
✏️ Find the gradient from a graph where the line passes through (0, 1) and (4, 9)
Rise: 9 − 1 = 8
Run: 4 − 0 = 4
m = 8 / 4 = 2
Examiner Trap
Gradient = rise/run — NOT run/rise. And always subtract in the same order: (y₂−y₁)/(x₂−x₁).
Mixing the order gives you the negative of the correct answer!
⚠️ Special Gradients
Horizontal line: gradient = 0. Vertical line: gradient is UNDEFINED (division by zero). These
come up in exams constantly!
Length and Midpoint
3.4 Distance formula · Midpoint formula · Applications
Distance & Midpoint Formulas
Length = √[(x₂−x₁)² + (y₂−y₁)²] Midpoint = ((x₁+x₂)/2 ,
(y₁+y₂)/2)
✏️ Find the length and midpoint of segment joining A(1, 3) and B(7, 11)
Length:
= √[(7−1)² + (11−3)²] = √[36 + 64] = √100 = 10
Midpoint:
= ((1+7)/2 , (3+11)/2) = (4, 7)
✏️ M(3, 5) is the midpoint of AB. A is (1, 2). Find B.
Let B = (x, y):
(1+x)/2 = 3 → x = 5
(2+y)/2 = 5 → y = 8
So B = (5, 8)
✏️ Show that A(0,0), B(4,0), C(4,3) form a right triangle and find its perimeter.
AB: √[(4−0)²+(0−0)²] = 4
BC: √[(4−4)²+(3−0)²] = 3
AC: √[(4−0)²+(3−0)²] = √25 = 5
Check: 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25 = 5² ✓ Right triangle (Pythagoras)
Perimeter: 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 units
💡 Detective Sam's Tip
The distance formula is just Pythagoras! (x₂−x₁) is the horizontal leg, (y₂−y₁) is the vertical
leg, and the distance is the hypotenuse.
Equations of Linear Graphs
3.5 y = mx + c form · Finding equation from graph · From two points
Equation of a Straight Line
y = mx + c m = gradient c = y-intercept
✏️ Find the equation of the line with gradient 3 passing through (2, 7)
Use y = mx + c: y = 3x + c
Substitute (2, 7): 7 = 3(2) + c → 7 = 6 + c → c = 1
Equation: y = 3x + 1
✏️ Find the equation of the line through (1, 5) and (3, 11)
Step 1 — gradient: m = (11−5)/(3−1) = 6/2 = 3
Step 2 — use y = mx + c with (1, 5): 5 = 3(1) + c → c = 2
Equation: y = 3x + 2
✏️ Rearrange 4x − 2y + 6 = 0 into y = mx + c and state the gradient and y-intercept
Rearrange: 2y = 4x + 6
Divide by 2: y = 2x + 3
Gradient: m = 2
y-intercept: c = 3 → (0, 3)
Examiner Trap
In y = mx + c, c is the y-intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis), NOT the x-intercept.
Students often read the wrong intercept from a graph!
Parallel Lines
3.6 Parallel lines have equal gradients (m₁ = m₂)
Key Rule for Parallel Lines
Parallel lines → m₁ = m₂ (same gradient, different c)
✏️ Find the equation of the line parallel to y = 4x − 1 passing through (2, 3)
Parallel means: same gradient → m = 4
Use y = 4x + c with (2, 3): 3 = 4(2) + c → 3 = 8 + c → c = −5
Equation: y = 4x − 5
✏️ Are the lines 2x + y = 7 and y = −2x + 3 parallel?
Rearrange 1st line: y = −2x + 7 → m = −2
2nd line: m = −2
Same gradient? YES → Lines are parallel ✓
Examiner Trap
Parallel lines have the SAME gradient but DIFFERENT y-intercepts. If c is also the same, the
lines are identical — not parallel!
Perpendicular Lines
3.7 Negative reciprocal gradients (m₁ × m₂ = −1)
Key Rule for Perpendicular Lines
m₁ × m₂ = −1 → m₂ = −1/m₁
✏️ Find the equation of the line perpendicular to y = 3x + 2 through (6, 1)
Original gradient: m₁ = 3
Perpendicular gradient: m₂ = −1/3
Use y = −1/3 x + c with (6, 1): 1 = −1/3(6) + c → 1 = −2 + c → c = 3
Equation: y = −x/3 + 3
✏️ Line L: y = −2x + 5. Find the gradient of any perpendicular line.
m₁ = −2
m₂ = −1/m₁ = −1/(−2) = 1/2
Check: (−2) × (1/2) = −1 ✓
✏️ Show that A(0,1), B(4,3), C(3,5) form a right angle at B
Gradient AB: (3−1)/(4−0) = 2/4 = 1/2
Gradient BC: (5−3)/(3−4) = 2/(−1) = −2
Product: 1/2 × (−2) = −1 ✓ Perpendicular at B
Examiner Trap
The perpendicular gradient is the NEGATIVE RECIPROCAL. From m = 2: flip to get 1/2, then
negate to get −1/2. Do BOTH steps — just flipping gives the wrong sign!
💡 Detective Sam's Tip
Quick check: multiply the two gradients. If the answer is −1, they're perpendicular. If it's 1,
they're parallel. If it's anything else, they're neither.