15

Rectangular Axis

Coordinate Geometry
The branch of mathematics in which we study the position of any
object lying in a plane with the help of two mutually perpendicular
lines in the same plane, is called coordinate geometry.

Rectangular Axis
Let XOX ′ and YOY ′ be two fixed straight lines, which meet at right
angles at O. Then,
Y

P (x, y)
X' X
O

Y'

(i) X ′OX is called axis of X or abscissa or the X-axis.

(ii) Y ′ OY is called axis of Y or ordinate or the Y-axis.
(iii) The ordered pair of real numbers ( x , y ) is called cartesian
coordinate.
(iv) Coordinates of the origin are ( 0, 0).
(v) y-coordinate of a point on X-axis is zero.
(vi) x-coordinate of a point on Y -axis is zero.
 Rectangular Axis 161

Quadrants
The X and Y-axes divide the coordinate plane into four parts, each part
is called a quadrant which is given below
Y

(–, +) (+, +)
II Quadrant I Quadrant
x < 0, y > 0 x > 0, y > 0
X' X
(–, –) (+, –)
III Quadrant IV Quadrant
x < 0, y < 0 x > 0, y < 0

Y'

Polar Coordinates
In ∆OPQ,
Y
P (x, y)
r
y
θ
X′ X
O x Q

Y′

x y
cosθ = and sinθ = ⇒ x = r cosθ and y = r sinθ
r r
 y
where, r = x 2 + y 2 and θ = tan-1  
 x
The polar coordinate is represented by the symbol P (r , θ ).

Distance Formulae
(i) Distance between two points P ( x1 , y1 ) and Q ( x2 , y2 ), is
PQ = ( x2 - x1 )2 + ( y2 - y1 )2 .

P (x1, y1) Q (x2, y2)

(ii) If points are (r1 , θ1 ) and (r2 , θ 2 ), then distance between them is
r12 + r22 - 2 r1r2 cos(θ1 - θ 2 ).
162 Handbook of Mathematics

(iii) Distance of a point ( x1 , y1 ) from the origin is x12 + y12 .

(iv) If the coordinate axes are inclined at an angle ω, then distance
between ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is
= ( x1 - x2 )2 + ( y1 - y2 )2 + 2 ( x1 - x2 )( y1 - y2 ) cos ω

Section Formulae
(i) The coordinate of the point which divides the joint of ( x1 , y1 ) and
( x2 , y2 ) in the ratio m1 : m2 internally, is
 m1x2 + m2x1 m1 y2 + m2 y1 
 , 
 m1 + m2 m1 + m2 
A R C
(x1, y1) m1 m2 (x2, y2)

 m x - m2x1 m1 y2 - m2 y1 
and externally is  1 2 , .
 m1 - m2 m1 - m2 
(ii) X-axis divides the line segment joining ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) in the
ratio - y1 : y2.
Similarly, Y-axis divides the same line segment in the ratio
- x1 : x2.
 x + x2 y1 + y2 
(iii) Mid-point of the joint of ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is  1 , .
 2 2 
(iv) Centroid of ∆ABC with vertices ( x1 , y1 ), ( x2 , y2 ) and ( x3 , y3 ), is
 x1 + x2 + x3 y1 + y2 + y3 
 , .
 3 3 
(v) Circumcentre of ∆ABC with vertices A( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ) and
C( x3 , y3 ), is
 x1 sin 2 A + x2 sin 2B + x3 sin 2C y1 sin 2 A + y2 sin 2B + y3 sin 2C 
 , .
 sin 2 A + sin 2B + sin 2C sin 2 A + sin 2B + sin 2C 
(vi) Incentre of ∆ ABC with vertices A ( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ) and C ( x3 , y3 )
and whose sides are a , b and c, is
 ax1 + bx2 + cx3 ay1 + by2 + cy3 
 , .
 a+ b+ c a+ b+ c 
 Rectangular Axis 163
(vii) Excentre of ∆ABC with vertices A ( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ), C ( x3 , y3 ) and
whose sides are a, b and c, is given by
 - ax1 + bx2 + cx3 - ay1 + by2 + cy3 
I1 =  , ,
 - a+ b+ c - a+ b+ c 
 ax - bx2 + cx3 ay1 - by2 + cy3 
I2 =  1 , 
 a- b+ c a- b+ c 
 ax + bx2 - cx3 ay1 + by2 - cy3 
and I3 =  1 , 
 a+ b- c a+ b- c 
(viii) Orthocentre of ∆ABC with vertices A( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ) and
C( x3 , y3 ), is
 x1 tan A + x2 tan B + x3 tan C y1 tan A + y2 tan B + y3 tan C 
 , .
 tan A + tan B + tan C tan A + tan B + tan C 

Area of Triangle/Quadrilateral
(i) Area of ∆ABC with vertices A( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ) and C( x3 , y3 ), is
A (x1, y1)

B (x2, y2) C (x3, y3)

x1 y1 1
1 1 x1 - x3 x2 - x3
∆= x2 y2 1 =
2 2 y1 - y3 y2 - y3
x3 y3 1
These points A, B and C will be collinear, if ∆ = 0.
(ii) Area of the quadrilateral formed by joining the vertices
1 x1 - x3 x2 - x4
( x1 , y1 ), ( x2 , y2 ), ( x3 , y3 ) and ( x4 , y4 ) is .
2 y1 - y3 y2 - y4

(iii) Area of trapezium formed by joining the vertices

( x1 , y1 ),( x2 , y2 ),( x3 , y3 ) and ( x4 , y4 ) is
1
|[( y1 + y2 )( x1 - x2 ) + ( y2 + y3 )( x2 - x3 ) + ( y3 + y4 )( x3 - x4 )
2
+ ( y4 + y1 )( x4 - x1 )]|
164 Handbook of Mathematics

Shifting of Origin/Rotation of Axes

Shifting of Origin
Let the origin is shifted to a point O ′ ( h , k). If P ( x , y ) are coordinates of
a point referred to old axes and P ′ ( X , Y ) are the coordinates of the
same points referred to new axes, then
Y Y
P' (X, Y)
P (x, y)
X′ X
O' (h, k)

X′ X
O

Y′ Y′

x = X + h, y = Y + k

Rotation of Axes
Let ( x , y ) be the coordinates of any point P referred to the old axes and
( X , Y ) be its coordinates referred to the new axes (after rotating the old
axes by angle θ). Then,
X = x cos θ + y sin θ and Y = y cos θ - x sin θ
Y

Y P X
θ
O M
θ
θ
X' X
O

Y'
X'

Y'
Note If origin is shifted to point (h, k) and system is also rotated by an angle θ
in anti-clockwise, then coordinate of new point P′ ( x ′ , y′ ) is obtained by
replacing
x ′ = h + x cos θ + y sin θ
and y′ = k - x sin θ + y cos θ
 Rectangular Axis 165

Locus
The curve described by a point which moves under given condition(s) is
called its locus.

Equation of Locus
The equation of curve described by a point, which moves under given
conditions(s), is called the equation of locus.

Step Taken to Find the Equation of Locus of a Point

Step I Assume the coordinates of the point say (h,k) whose locus is to be
found.
Step II Write the given condition in mathematical form involving h, k.
Step III Eliminate the variable(s), if any.
Step IV Replace h by x and k by y in the result obtained in step III. The equation
so obtained is the locus of the point, which moves under some stated
condition(s).