“Teach A Level Maths”

Vol. 1: AS Core Modules

1: Straight Lines and

Gradients

© Christine Crisp
 Straight Lines and Gradients

Module C1

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 Straight Lines and Gradients

• The equation of a straight line is y  mx  c

m is the gradient of the line
c is the point where the line meets the y-axis,
the y-intercept
e.g. y  2 x  1 has gradient m = 2
and y-intercept, c = 1

y  2x  1

gradient = 2
intercept on
y-axis
 Straight Lines and Gradients

x( 4, 7 )

y  2x  1
x
gradient = 2
intercept on y-axis

• The coordinates of any point lying on the line

satisfy the equation of the line
e.g. Substituting x = 4 in y  2 x  1 gives
y  2(4)  1  y  7
showing that the point ( 4,7 ) lies on the line.
 Straight Lines and Gradients
 Finding the equation of a straight line when we
know
• its gradient, m and
• the coordinates of a point on the line.
Using y  mx  c , m is given, so we can find c by
substituting for y, m and x.
e.g. Find the equation of the line with gradient 2
passing through the point (  1, 3 )
Solution: y  3, m  2 and x   1
y  mx  c  3  2( 1)  c
(-1, 3)
 5c x

Notice that to find c,So, y  2 x  5has been solved

the equation
y but
from right to left. This takes a bit of practice 2x  5
reduces the chance of errors.
 Straight Lines and Gradients

If we don’t know the gradient, we have to find it

using two points on the line.

To do this, we can use a formula.

We develop the formula by reminding ourselves

about the meaning of a gradient.
 Straight Lines and Gradients

e.g.

4
m  m2
2
 Straight Lines and Gradients

( 2, 3 )

3  ( 1)  4

( 0,  1 )
202

3  ( 1) 4
m  m  m2
20 2
Straight Lines and Gradients

( (x22,,3y)2 )

y 2  y1

((x01, ,y11))
x 2  x1

y 2  y1
m
x 2  x1
 Straight Lines and Gradients

 The gradient of the straight line joining the points

( x1 , y1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 )
y 2  y1
is m
x 2  x1
To use this formula, we don’t need a diagram!
e.g. Find the gradient of the straight line joining the
points ( 0,  1 ) and ( 2, 3 )
Solution: ( x1 , y1 ) ( x2 , y2 )
y 2  y1 3  (1)
m  m
x 2  x1 2 0
4
 m  m2
2
 Straight Lines and Gradients
 To find the equation of a straight line given 2
points on the line.
e.g. Find the equation of the line through the points
( 2, 3) and ( 1, 3)
Solution: First find the gradient:
y 2  y1 3  ( 3 )
m
Now
 m
x 2  x1 ( 1)  2
6
 m  m  2
3
on the line:
y  mx c  y  2 x  c
( 2,  3)   3  2( 2)  c
 1c
 Equation of line is y  2 x  1
 Straight Lines and Gradients

SUMMARY

 Equation of a straight line

y  mx  c
where m is the gradient and c is the intercept
on the y-axis

y 2  y1
 Gradient of a straight line m 
x 2  x1
where ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) are points on the line
 Straight Lines and Gradients
Exercise
1. Find the equation of the line with gradient 2 which
passes through the point (4 ,  1).
Solution: y  mx  c  y  2 x  c
(4,  1) on line   1  2(4)  c   9  c
So, y  2 x  9

2. Find the equation of the line through the points

( 1, 2) and (1,  4)
y 2  y1 4  2
Solution: m   m  3
x 2  x1 1  ( 1)
y  mx  c  y  3 x  c
( 1, 2 ) on line  2  3( 1)  c   1  c
So, y  3 x  1
 Straight Lines and Gradients

We sometimes rearrange the equation of a straight

line so that zero is on the right-hand side ( r.h.s. )
e.g. can be written as
y  2 x  1 2x  y  1  0
We must take care with the equation in this form.
e.g. Find the gradient of the line with equation
4x  3 y  7  0
Solution: Rearranging to the form y  mx  c :
4x  3 y  7  0   3 y  4 x  7
 4x 7 4
 y  so the gradient is
3 3 3
( y  mx  c )
 Straight Lines and Gradients

 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

If 2 lines have gradients m1 and m 2 , then:

 They are parallel if m 2  m1

1
 They are perpendicular if m2  
m1
 Straight Lines and Gradients

1 Find the equation of the line parallel to y  2x  1

which passes through the point (  1,  3 )

Solution: The given line has gradient 2. Let m1  2

For parallel lines,
m 2  m1  m2  2
Using y  mx  c  y  2x  c
is the equation of any line parallel to y  2 x  1
(  1,  3 ) on the line   3  2( 1)  c
 1  c
 y  2x  1
 Straight Lines and Gradients
.g. Find the equation of the line perpendicular to
y  2 xpassing
1 through the point (1., 4)
Solution: The given line has gradient 2. Let m1  2
1 1
Perpendicular lines: m 2    m2  
m1 2
Equation of a straight line: y  mx  c
1 9
( 1, 4 ) on the line 4   (1)  c   c
2 2
1 9
 y x
2 2
We don’t usually leave fractions ( or decimals ) in
equations. So, multiplying by 2:
2y  x  9 or x  2y  9  0
 Straight Lines and Gradients
SUMMARY
 Method of finding the equation of a straight line:

• If the gradient isn’t given, find the gradient

using either parallel lines: m 2  m1
1
or perpendicular lines: m 2  
m1
y 2  y1
or 2 points on the line: m
x 2  x1
• Substitute for y, m and x in into y  mx  c
to find c.
 Straight Lines and Gradients
Exercise
1. Find the equation of the line parallel to the line
y  2 x  1  0 which passes through the point ( 2 ,  3).
Solution: y  2x  1  0  y  2 x  1  m  2
Parallel line is y  2 x  c
( 2,  3) on line   3  2( 2)  c  1  c
So, y  2 x  1
2. Find the equation of the line through the
point (1, 2), perpendicular to the line 2 y  x  3  0
Solution: 2 y  x  3  0  y   1
2
x  32  m 1   12
1
m2    m2  2 So, y  2 x  c
m1
(1, 2 ) on line  2  2  c  0  c
So, y  2 x
 Straight Lines and Gradients

A Second Formula for a Straight Line ( optional )

Let ( x, y ) be any point on the line

x ( x, y)

y  y1

( x 1 , y1 ) x
x  x1
Let ( x1 , y1 ) be a fixed point on the line
y  y1
m  y  y1  m ( x  x1 )
x  x1
 Straight Lines and Gradients
To use the formula y  y1  m ( x  x1 ) we need to
be given
either: one point on the line and the gradient
or: two points on the line
e.g. Find the equation of the line through the points
( 2,  3) and ( 1, 3)
Solution: First find the gradient
y 2  y1 3  ( 3) 6
m  m  m  m  2
x 2  x1 ( 1)  2 3
Now use with
y  y1  m ( x  x1 ) x1  2 and y1  3
We could use the 2nd point,
 y  ( 3)  ( 2)( x  2) (-1, 3) instead of (2, -3)
 y  3  2 x  4  y  2 x  1
Straight Lines and Gradients
The following slides contain repeats of
information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as “Handouts” with up to 6 slides per sheet.
 Straight Lines and Gradients
SUMMARY
 Equation of a straight line
y  mx  c
where m is the gradient and c is the intercept
on the y-axis
y 2  y1
 Gradient of a straight line m 
x 2  x1
where ( x 1 , y1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) are points on the line

 If 2 lines have gradients m1 and m 2 , then:

 They are parallel if m 2  m1

1
 They are perpendicular if m2  
m1
 Straight Lines and Gradients

e.g. Find the equation of the line through the points

( 2, 3) and ( 1, 3)
Solution: First find the gradient:
y 2  y1 3  ( 3)
m 
Now x  x
 m
2 1
( 1)  2
6
 m  m  2
3
on the line:
y  mx c  y  2( x )  c
( 2,  3)   3  2( 2)  c
 1c
 Equation of line is y  2 x  1
 Straight Lines and Gradients
.g. Find the equation of the line perpendicular to
y  2 xpassing
1 through the point (1., 4)

Solution: The given line has gradient 2. Let m1  2

1 1
Perpendicular lines: m2    m2  
m1 2
Equation of a straight line: y  mx  c
1 9
( 1, 4 ) on the line 4   (1)  c   c
2 2
1 9
 y x
2 2
We don’t usually leave fractions ( or decimals ) in
equations. So, multiplying by 2:
2y  x  9 or x  2y  9  0