Distance between Two Points

Distance between two points P1P2 can be expressed in terms of their coordinates by the theorem of Pythagoras.
Let the two points be denoted by the letters x, y with the subscripts:P1 (X1, Y1) and P2 (X2,Y2).

3 Case:
If the line segment P1P2 , is parallel to the y-axis, then x1 = x2
D=

|Y 1Y 2|

If the line segment P1P2 , is parallel to the x-axis, then y1 = y2

D= |X 1 Y 2|
If the line segment P1P2 is not parallel to either x- or y-axis.
x

2x
1 )2+( y 2 y 1)2
D= (

Examples:
1. Show that the points A(2,4), B(5,1) and (6,5) are vertices of an isosceles triangle.
Solution: We need to show that at least two sides of ABC are equal. We solve
for the length of each side.
2
2
AB= (52 ) + ( 14 )
AB=

3 + (3 )

AC=

( 62 ) + ( 54 )

AC=

4 2+12

BC=

( 65 ) + ( 51 )

BC=

12+ 42

9+9

18

3 2

16+1

=
2

17

16+1

17

2. Show that the points A (3, -4), B (1, 0), C (-5, 12) are collinear.
Solution: We will show that AB +BC =AC
4
0()

AB=

( 13 )2 +

AB=

22+ 42

BC=

(51 ) + (120 )

BC=

6 2+122

4+ 16

20

180

2 5

36+144

65

AC=

(53 ) +( 12(4))

AC=

8 2+16 2

Since

2 5

64+256

=
65

8 5 ,

320

= 8 5

then points A, B, and C are collinear.

3. Show that the points A (1,4), B (10,6), C(2,2) are vertices of a right triangle.
Solution: We find the lengths of each side of ABC, then apply the Pythagorean
Theorem.
2
2
AB= (101 ) + ( 64 )
AB=

92 +22

BC=

(102 ) +( 62 )

BC=

82 +4 2

AC=

( 21 ) + ( 24 )

AC=

12+22

1+5

Since

( 80 )

81+ 4

=
2

=
+

64+16

85

( 5)

80

( 85 )

then

ABC is a right triangle.

4. Find the distance between the points P1 (3,2) and P2 (-5, 4).
2
2
P1P2= (53 ) + ( 42 )
P1P2=

(8 ) +2
2

64+ 4

68

2 17

5. Find the distance between the point C (-3,-2) and the point D (-3,4)
Solution: Since the abscissas of points C and D are the same, we have a choice of
two techniques. In this special case, the distance is equal to the absolute value of
the difference between the ordinates and can be found simply, without calculation,
by counting the boxes traversed by DC. The general formula for distance between
two points could also be used. Both methods will be shown here.
Method 1: D=

| y 1 y 2|

D= |24|
Method 2: D=

by substitution,

|6|

( x x ) +( y y )
2

D=

(3(3 ) ) +( 4(2 ) )

D=

02 +62

6
by substitution,

36

= 6

Midpoint of a line segment Let P: (x,y) be the midpoint of the segment joining the
points P1(x1,y1), P2(x2,y2).

Midpoint Formula: X =

1
2

(x1+ x2)

1
2

Y=

(y1+ y2)

Division of line segment

Let P1 (x1,y1) and P2(x2,y2) be any two points. The point P(x, y) is said to lie in the line segment P 1P2
internally if it is a point of P1P2. It is said to lie externally if it is not a point of P1P2 but it is a point o

f a line that passes through P1P2.

Division of line segment Formula: X=

r 2 x 1r 1 x2
r 2r 1

Y=

r 2 y 1r 1 y 2
r 2r 1

Examples:
1. The line segment determined by points P1 (-6,9) and P2(11,-2) is trisected. Find the
point of division nearer P2.
Solution:
P1 P2
P P2 =

2
1

1 ( 9 ) +2(2)
2+ 1

r1= 2 and r2= 1 we have,

X=

1 (6 ) +2(11)
2+1

16
3

and Y=

= 3
The point of division nearer P2 is at

16 5
, )
3 3

2. The directed line segment from (-2, 3) to (5,10) is extended by its own length. Find
the terminal point nearer P1.
Solution:
P1 P
r 1
1
=
=
r1=1 and r2= 2
2
P P2
r2
Solving for X:
2 (2 )1(5)
X=
21
=

610
1

Solving for Y:
45
=
1

9
= 1

= 9

y=

2 ( 3 ) 1(10)
21

4
=4
1

Hence, the terminal point nearer P1 is (-9,-4).

Since the two midpoints coincide, the problem is solved.
3. Find the coordinate of the midpoint of the line segment which joins the point
R(4,6) and the point S (8,-2).
Solution: By a theorem, we know that the coordinates of the midpoint of a line
segment are equal to one-half the sum of the corresponding x and y coordinates of
the endpoints of the line segment. Let M= (Xm,Ym), the midpoint of segment RS.
Also let R= (x1,y1) where x1= 4, y1= 6 and S= (x2,y2) where x2= 8, y2= -2
1
1
1
Then, xm= 2 ( x 1+ x2 )
= 2 (4+8) = 2 (12) = 6

1
And, ym= 2 ( y 1 + y )

= 2 (62) = 2 ( 4)

=2

Therefore, the coordinates of midpoint of line segment RS are x= 6, y= 2 or (6, 2)

4. Find the coordinates of the midpoints AC and BC, of triangle ABC, with coordinates
A(6, 7), B(-11, 0), C (1, -5).
Solution: Recall the midpoint formula. For the points (x1,y1), the midpoint
coordinates (x0,y0) are given by:
1
1
X0= 2 ( x 1+ x 2 ) , Y0= 2 ( y 1+ y 2 )
For the midpoint D of AC we have,
1
7
1
XD= 2 ( 6+1 )= 2 , YD= 2 ( 7+(5) )=1
For the midpoint E of BC, we find,
1
1
5
XE = 2 (11+ 1 )=5 , YE = 2 ( 05 )= 2
7
5
Hence, D has coordinates ( 2 , 1 ), and E has ( 5, 2 )
5. Show that a quadrilateral with vertices P1(-1,0), P2(5,2), P3(8,7) and P4(2,5) is a
parallelogram.
Solution: We will use the theorem which states that a quadrilateral whose
diagonals bisect each other is a parallelogram.
For the midpoint of P1P3:
1
7
1
7
( 81 )=
( 7+0 ) =
X= 2
y=
2
2
2
7
The midpoint of P1P3 is at ( 2
For the midpoint of P2P4:
1
7
( 5+2 )=
X= 2
2

7
, 2 ).

y=

7
The midpoint of P2P4 is at ( 2

1
7
( 2+ 5 )=
2
2

7
, 2 ).

Slope
Slope of a line is defined as the tangent of the angle of inclination. It is usually denoted
by m.
Joining the points P1(x1,y1) and P2(x2,y2) is given by,
m=

y2 y1
x2 x1

From the definition of a slope, the tangent of the angle of inclination is given by
tan =

opposite side
adjacent side

Note: If the slope m is positive, the line slants to the right. If the slope m is negative, the
line slants to the left. If the slope is zero, the line is horizontal. If the line is vertical, there
is no defined slope.
Parallel lines Two non-vertical lines are parallel if and only if their slopes are equal.
Perpendicular lines- If two non-vertical lines are perpendicular, the slope of one of the
lines is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the other line.
Examples:
1. Prove that the points A(1,4), B(10,6) and C(2,2) are the vertices of a right triangle.
Solution:
42
2
MAC= 12 = 1 =2
MBC=

62
4 1
=
=
1 02
8 2

Therefore, triangle ABC is a right .

2. A line through P1(-4, 5) and P2(4, -5) is perpendicular to the line through (x,-1) and
(8,3). Find the value of X.
Solution: Solving for the slope m1 of the line passing through P1 and P2, m1 =
10 5

8
4
Getting the negative reciprocal of m1, m2=

4
5

Finding the value of x, we have

4 3+1
=
5 8x
X= 3
3. Show that the points A(-1,1), B(4,0) and C (-6,2) are collinear
10

21

mAB= 14 = 5 = 5
mBC= 6+1 = 5 = 5
20

mBC= 64 = 10 = 5

4. Find the slope of the line passing through the points C (-3,1) and D(-1,4)
Solution: If we let C= (x1,y1) = (-3,1) and D = (x2,y2) = (-1,4)
41
3
3
Slope of CD= 1(3) = 2
therefore, the slope of CD is 2 .

5. Show by means of slope, whose vertices are the points with A(1,1), B(3,-2) and
C(4,1) and D(2,4), is a parallelogram.
Solution: If we can prove that the opposite sides of ABCD are parallel, then we can
conclude that ABCD is a parallelogram. To prove that the members of a pair of
opposite sides are parallel, it is sufficient to show that they have the same slope.
AD and BC are one pair of opposite sides, and AB and DC are the other pair. The
slope formula is given
y2 y1
m = x x
2
1
Let:
A = (x1,y1) = (1,1)
B = (x2,y2) = (3,-2)
C = (x3,y3) = (4,1)
D = (x4,y4) = (2,4)
y2 y1
x2 x1

Then, Slope of AB =

21 3
= 31 = 2

y 4 y 3
x 4x 3

Slope of DC =

41 3
=
24 2
Therefore, AB || DC
Slope of AD =

y 4 y 1
x 4x 1

41

= 21 = 1 =3

Slope of BC=

y3 y2
x3 x 2

1(2) 3
= =3
43
1
Therefore, AD || BC
Since the opposite sides ABCD are parallel to each other, we can conclude that ABCD is a
parallelogram.
Angles between two lines