MATHEMATICS FORM 2

CHAPTER 8: COORDINATES
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8.1 COORDINATES
Identifying the x-axis , y-axis and the origin on a Cartesian plane

The Cartesian system is a system used to determine the position of a point on a plane by
using two number lines which intersect each other at right angles.

In the Cartesian system, the horizontal line is called the x-axis and the vertical line is
called the y-axis. The intersection point of the x-axis and the y-axis is called the origin.


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Plotting points on the Cartesian plane
1. The location of a point on a Cartesian plane is represented by an ordered pair (a, b)
known as the coordinates of the point.


2. To plot a point with coordinates (a, b) :
Along the x-axis, starting from the origin, move to the right for the value of positive 'a
and to the left for the value of negative 'a'.
Followed by moving up for the value of positive 'b' and down for the value of negative
'b' parallel to the y-axis.

QUESTION 1
Plot the following points on a Cartesian plane.
A(3, 2) B(- 2, 3) C(- 4, - 3) D(6, - 4)


















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Stating the coordinates of the points on a Cartesian plane
The x-coordinate of a point is the distance of the point from the y-axis while the y-coordinate of the
point is the distance of the point from the x-axis.

The Cartesian plane consists of four quadrants. The values of the x-coordinates and y-coordinates in
each of the four quadrants of the Cartesian plane are as follows:

The coordinates of the origin is (0, 0).
(a) The x-coordinate of any point on the y-axis is always 0 (zero).
(b) The y-coordinate of any point on the x-axis is always 0 (zero).

QUESTION 1
The diagram shows a Cartesian plane. State the coordinates of points P, Q and R.


SOLUTION:


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8.2 SCALES FOR THE COORDINATES AXES
Scales used on the Coordinate axes



1 unit on the x-axis represents 2 units.
1 unit on the y-axis represents 2 units.
Therefore, the scale for x and y-axis is 1 : 2.

1 unit on the x-axis represents 5 units.
1 unit on the y-axis represents 3 units.
Therefore, the scale for the x-axis is 1 : 5 and the scale for the y-axis is 1 : 3.


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Values on the x-axis and y-axis based on given scales for both axes
QUESTION:
Mark the values on the x-axis and the y-axis on a Cartesian plane if the scale for the x-axis is 1 : 3
and the scale for the y-axis is 1 : 5.

SOLUTION:



Stating the coordinates of a point based on given scales for both axes
QUESTION:
State the coordinates of each point marked on the Cartesian plane.


SOLUTION:

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Plotting points with given coordinates based on given scales
QUESTION:
Plot points A(1, 5) and B(-2, 20) on a Cartesian plane if the scale for the x-axis is 1 : 1 and the scale
for the y-axis is 1 : 5.

SOLUTION:



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8.3 DISTANCES BETWEEN TWO POINTS
The distance between two points is the length of the straight line which joins the two points.
Finding the distance between two points
1. Points with common y-coordinates
The straight line which joins two points that have the same y-coordinates is parallel to the x-axis.
Therefore, the distance between two points, with common y-coordinates is the difference
between their x-coordinates.

QUESTION:

Based on the Cartesian plane above, fine the distance
between:
(a) point A and point B.
(b) point C and point D.
(c) point E and point F.

2. Points with common x-coordinates
The straight line which joins two points that have the same x-coordinates is parallel to the y-axis.
Therefore, the distance between two points with common x-coordinates is the difference between
their y-coordinates.


SOLUTION:

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QUESTION:
Find the distance between these points.
(a) A(-3, 5) and B(- 3, 1)
(b) C(1, - 1) and D(1, - 3)
(c) E(4, 3) and F(4, - 2)

SOLUTION:



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Finding the distance between two points using Pythagoras' theorem
The distance between any two points with different x-coordinates and y-coordinates is the
length of the straight line joining the two points.
The straight line is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle where its two other sides are
parallel to the x-axis and y-axis respectively.
For example:


We can use the Pythagoras' theorem to find the distance between these two points. The
formula for the distance between two points (a, b) and (c, d) is


QUESTION:
Find the distance between point A (2, 2) and point B (10, 8).



SOLUTION:

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Solving problems involving the distance between two points

QUESTION:

The diagrams show the location of a bank (B), a library (P), Ali's house (A) and a school (S).
Calculate the distance between:
(a) The school and the library
(b) The bank and Ali's house
(c) Ali's house and the school

SOLUTION:

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8.4 MIDPOINT
Identifying the Midpoints of Straight Lines
The midpoint of a line joining two points is the point that divides the line into two equal
parts.


The Midpoint of a Straight Line Joining Two Points with a Common y-coordinate



In the above diagram, the point (0, 2) is the midpoint of the straight line joining points A(-2, 2) and
B(2,2).

QUESTION:
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of a line joining points A (3, 6) and B(-7, 6).

SOLUTION:




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The Midpoint of a Straight Line Joining Two Points with a Common x-coordinate

In the diagram on the right, point (1, 0) is the midpoint of the straight line joining points A(1, 2) and
B(1, -2).

QUESTION:
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line joining points P(1, 0) and Q(1, - 4).

SOLUTION:









Coordinates of the Midpoint of a Line Joining Two Points





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QUESTION:
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line joining point M (-1, 5) to point N (3, - 2).

SOLUTION:




QUESTION:
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line joining F (8, 2) and G (0, -6).

SOLUTION:



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The diagram above show points E, F and H on a Cartesian plane. If the midpoint of FH and EG is
the same point, find the coordinates of G.



Join point E to the midpoint of FH. Extrapolate the straight line until it is of equal length to the
line joining point E and the midpoint. Point G is the point where the line ends.

Therefore, the coordinates of point G is (4, 3)







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Diagram above shows points marked on a grid of equal squares with sides 1 unit. Which of the point
A, B, C or D, are 5 units from point T.?



Distance of D from T





Distance of D from T