Overview of the Chapter
This chapter introduces students to the fundamental concepts of Coordinate Geometry, which is a branch of mathematics that combines algebra and geometry. It covers the Cartesian plane, plotting points, and understanding the relationship between algebraic equations and geometric figures.
Coordinate Geometry: A system that uses numerical coordinates to represent points, lines, and shapes on a plane.
Key Concepts
- Cartesian Plane and Axes
- Coordinates of a Point
- Plotting Points on the Plane
- Distance Between Two Points
- Section Formula (Midpoint)
Cartesian Plane and Axes
The Cartesian plane consists of two perpendicular number lines intersecting at the origin (0,0). The horizontal line is called the x-axis, and the vertical line is called the y-axis.
Origin: The point (0,0) where the x-axis and y-axis intersect.
Coordinates of a Point
Any point on the Cartesian plane is represented by an ordered pair (x, y), where 'x' is the abscissa (distance from the y-axis) and 'y' is the ordinate (distance from the x-axis).
Plotting Points on the Plane
To plot a point (x, y), move 'x' units along the x-axis and 'y' units parallel to the y-axis. Positive values indicate movement to the right or upward, while negative values indicate movement to the left or downward.
Distance Between Two Points
The distance between two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is calculated using the formula:
Distance Formula: √[(x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²]
Section Formula (Midpoint)
The midpoint of a line segment joining two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is given by:
Midpoint Formula: [(x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2]