Coordinates

By Muralee.V.

Distance between Two Points

- The distance between two points on a Cartesian plane refers to the length of a
straight line that connects the two points.
- The distance is always in positive value.
- Distance between the two points with common y-coordinates = the difference
between their x-coordinates.

Example 1
Calculate the distance between P(3, 5) and Q(6, 5)

Solution
y

6 3 units P Q
5 ● 6 units ●
4
3 Difference = 6 – 3
= 3 units
2
1
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6

The distance from y-axis to P = 3 units

The distance from y-axis to Q = 6 units
Therefore, the distance between P and Q = 6 units – 3 units
= 3 units

- Distance between the two points with common x-coordinates = the difference
between their y-coordinates.

Example 2
Calculate the distance between A(5, 6) and B(5, 2).

1st
quadran
Solution
y

6 ●A
5 Difference = 6 – 2
4 6 units = 4 units
3
2 ●B
1 2 units
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6

The distance from x-axis to A = 6 units

The distance from x-axis to B = 2 units
Therefore, the distance between P and Q = 6 units – 2 units
= 4 units

Example 3
Calculate the distance between M(4, -4) and N(4, -12).

Solution
y

x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6
-2
-4 ●M
-6
-8
-10
-12 ●N

The distance between M and N = -4 –(-12)

= -4 + 12
= 8 units

Example 4
Calculate the distance between P(4, 6) and N(4, -6).

1st
quadran
Solution
y

10
8
6 ●P
4
2
O
1 2 3 4 5 6
-2
-4
-6 ●Q
-8
-10

PQ = 6 –(--6)
=6+6
= 12 units

Smart tip
When calculating the distance of two given points, always minus the small number from the large
number.(by using this, positive value can be obtained)

Example
P(6, -3) and Q(6, -18)
Large number = -3
Small number = -18
Therefore, PQ = -3 – (-18)
= -3 + 18
= 15 units

- Pythagoras’s theorem is used to find the distance between two points when the
given points are not common x or y coordinates.

Example 5
Given the points P(-2, -4) and Q(6, 2), what is the distance of PQ?

Solution
1. Plot the points P and Q on square grid.
2. Draw a straight line to connect points P and Q
3. Identify the hypotenuse ( PQ ).
4. Draw a right-angled triangle as shown in the diagram.
 y

5
4
3
2 ● Q(6, 2)
1
x
O
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
-2
-3
P(-2, -4) ● -4 S (6, -4)
-5

PS = 6 – (-2)
= 8 units
QS = 2 – (-4)
= 6 units

Using the Pythagoras’ theorem,

PQ 2 = PS 2 + QS 2
=82 +62
= 64 + 36
=100
PQ = 100
= 10 units

Therefore, the length of PQ = 10 units

Midpoint
- The midpoint is middle point between two given points.

Example 6
Locate the coordinates of the mid-point of the straight line joining the points M and N
shown in the following diagram.
 y

6
5
4 M N
3 ● ●
2
1
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Solution
y

6
Mid-point
5
4 M(2, 3) N(8, 3)
3 ● ●
2
1
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Length of MN = 8 – 2
= 6 units
1
Middle of MN = MN
2
= 3 units
Mid-point of MN is 3 units from M or N
Therefore, mid-point of MN = (5, 3)

Example 7
Given the points S(1, 1) and T(9, 5), find the mid-point of ST.

1st
quadran
Solution
y

M SU
6 T(9, 5)
5 ●
4 M ST
M TU ●
3
2 S(1, 1)
1 ● U
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Method I
1. Form a right angled triangle.
2. Draw perpendicular line from middle of SU(M SU) and TU(M TU).
3. The intersection point of two lines M SU and M TU is the mid-point of ST or
(M ST) = (5, 3)
4. Therefore, the mid-point of ST = (5, 3)

Method II
1. Calculate the average of the point S and T.
1 9 1 5 
2. Mid-point = , 
 2 2 
 10 6 
= , 
 2 2 
Smart tip = (5, 3)
 The Pythagoras’ theorem is used to find the distance between two points especially when the x-
coordinates and y-coordinates are different.
 Always form right-angled triangle before using the Pythagoras’ theorem.
 x1  x 2 y1  y 2 
 The mid-point of the line AB where A(x 1 , y 1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 ) =  , 
 2 2 

Test yourself

1. Calculate the distance of the following refer to the Cartesian plane below.
a) AB b) CD c) GH d) PQ e) RS
 y

●C ●D 10 ●P
8 ●A ●B
●S 6
4
2 ●Q
x
O
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-2
●R -4
-6
●G -8 ●H
-10

2. Given the points A(3, 2) and B(-1, -1), calculate the length of AB.
3. Find the mid-point of the following pairs of points.
a) (1, 6) and (11, 6)
b) (-3, -2) and (-3, 10)
c) (2, 4) and ( -8, -2)