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COORDINATE GEOMETRY

  • Sums based on Distance formula

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  1. Find the values of y for which the distance between the

points P (2, –3) and Q (10, y) is 10 units.

Soln.

PQ

=

10

Now

(10

2)

2

+

[y

2

(–3)

]

10

=

8

2

+

(y

2

+

3)

10

=

100

=

64

+

(y

+

3)

2

100

=

y

+

6y

+

9

2

64

y

+

6y

+

9

2

36

=

0

y

+

6y

2

27

=

0

y

+

9y

3y

2

27

=

0

y

(y

+

9)

3

(y

+

9)

=

0

(y

+

9)

(y

3)

=

0

y

=

–9

or

y

=

3

P(2, –3), Q(10, y)

x1 = 2,

y1 = –3

x2 = 10,

y2 = y

[Squaring throughout]

Let the coordinates of Q be (x2, y2).

Let the coordinates of P be (x1, y1).

+

(

)

(

)

x2

x1

y2

y1

2

2

PQ

=

What is the formula to find distance between two points ?

+

(

)

(

)

x2

x1

y2

y1

2

2

3 of 3

P

(x,y)

A

(2,–5)

B

(–2,9)

Q. Find the point on the x– axis which is equidistant from

(2, –5) and (–2, 9).

X

(x

2)2

=

+

By distance formula,

[0

(–5)]2

[x

(–2)]2

+

(0

9)2

Sol. Let, A (2, –5) B (–2, 9)

(x,0)

AP

=

BP

AP = BP

x2 = x,

y2 = 0

x1 = 2 ,

y1 = –5

x1 = –2,

y1 = 9

x2 = x,

y2 = 0

(x

2)

2

+

(5)

2

=

(x

+

2)

2

+

(–9)

2

x

4x

+

4

2

+

25

=

x

+

4x

+

4

2

+

81

– 4x

4x

=

85

29

–8x

=

56

The coordinates of P are (–7,0) .

– 4x

+

29

=

4x

+

85

=

x

56

–8

=

–7

7

Squaring on both sides

Let the coordinates of A be (x1, y1)

Let the coordinates of P be (x2, y2)

Let the coordinates of B be (x1, y1)

Let the coordinates of P be (x2, y2)

Which is the formula to find length of AP and BP?

+

(

)

(

)

x2

x1

y2

y1

2

2

What do we know about any point on x-axis ?

Its y co-ordinate is zero.

Let P be the point on x-axis

Let A (2,–5) and B (–2,9)

Here, point P is on x-axis

So, y = 0

Let the co-ordinates of P be (x,y)

We need to find

co-ordinates of point P.

EQUIDISTANT means ‘Equal Distance’.