Remarks
t &RVBUJPOPGx-axis is
y = 0.
t &RVBUJPOPGBMJOF
parallel to x-axis (or
perpendicular to
y-axis) at a distance of
‘b’ from it is y = b.
t &RVBUJPOPG y-axis is
x = 0.
t &RVBUJPOPGBMJOF
parallel to y-axis (or
perpendicular to
x-axis) at a distance
of ‘a’ from it is x = a
EQUATION OF PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR
LINES TO A GIVEN LINE
z Equation of a line which is parallel to ax + by + c = 0
is ax + by + λ = 0
z Equation of a line which is perpendicular to
ax + by + c = 0 is bx – ay + λ = 0
where λ is an arbitrary constant.
GENERAL EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE AND
ITS TRANSFORMATION IN STANDARD FORMS
General equation of a line is ax + by + c = 0. It can be
reduced in various standard forms given below.
z Slope intercept form: y
a
b
x c
b
=−−, slope m a
b
=−
and intercept on y-axis is, C c
b
=−
z Intercept form : x
ca
y
− cb
+
−
=
//
1 , where
x- intercept is ⎛⎝⎜−c⎞⎠⎟
a
and y-intercept is ⎜⎛⎝−c⎞⎠⎟
b
z Normal form : −
−
+
=
+
ax
ab
by
ab
c
(^2222) ab 22
where cosα=−
- a
ab^22
, sinα=−
b
ab^22
and
p c
ab
(^22) +
POINT OF INTERSECTION OF TWO LINES
Let a 1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0 and a 2 x + b 2 y + c 2 = 0 be two
non-parallel lines. If (x′, y′) be the co-ordinates of their
point of intersection, then a 1 x′ + b 1 y′ + c 1 = 0 and
a 2 x′ + b 2 y′ + c 2 = 0
Solving these equations, we get
(, )′′= − ,
−
−
−
⎛
⎝⎜
⎞
⎠⎟
xy bc b c
ab a b
ca c a
ab a b
12 21
12 21
12 21
12 21
⎛
⎝
⎜
⎜
⎜
⎜
⎞
⎠
⎟
⎟
⎟
⎟
bb
cc
aa
bb
cc
aa
aa
bb
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
,
GENERAL EQUATION OF LINES THROUGH THE
INTERSECTION OF TWO GIVEN LINES
If equation of two lines P : a 1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0 and
Q : a 2 x + b 2 y + c 2 = 0, then the equation of the line
passing through the intersection of these lines is
P + λQ = 0 or a 1 x + b 1 y + c 1 + λ(a 2 x + b 2 y + c 2 ) = 0.
ANGLE BETWEEN TWO NON-PARALLEL LINES
z When equations are in slope intercept form
Let θ be the angle between
the lines y = m 1 x + c 1 and
y = m 2 x + c 2
∴
θ= −
tan−^112
(^112)
mm
mm
(^)
(^)
z When equations are in general form
The angle θ between the lines a 1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0
and a 2 x + b 2 y + c 2 = 0 is given by
tanθ= −
ab ab
aa bb
21 12
12 12
.
CONDITIONS FOR TWO LINES TO BE
COINCIDENT, PARALLEL, PERPENDICULAR
AND INTERSECTING
z Two lines a 1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0 and a 2 x + b 2 y + c 2 = 0
are,
(a) Coincident, if
a
a
b
b
c
c
1
2
1
2
1
2
(b) Parallel, if a
a
b
b
c
c
1
2
1
2
1
2
= ≠
(c) Intersecting, if a
a
b
b
1
2
1
2
≠
(d) Perpendicular, if a 1 a 2 + b 1 b 2 = 0
EQUATION OF STRAIGHT LINES THROUGH A
GIVEN POINT MAKING A GIVEN ANGLE WITH
A GIVEN LINE
Let P(x 1 , y 1 ) be a given point and y = mx + c be
the given line. Let α be the angle made by that