Line summary

Line most general equation is of the form:

(1)
where A, B and C are any real number and A and B are not both zero. If B ≠ 0 then we can divide
equation (1) by B to obtain the normalized form of a line:
(2)
This is the equation of a line whose slope is:

and

the slope of the line (m) is defined in terms of the inclination
(3)
Note: if the angle α is greater then 90 degrees then the slope is negative.
α (0 - 90) degrees : positive slope
α (90 - 180) degree : negative slope
Necessary condition for two lines to be perpendicular to each other is that their slopes fulfill the
condition:
m1 m2 = − 1
(4)
In order to find the intersection point of two lines we have to solve the system of linear equations representing the lines. A x + B y = −CD x + E y = −F
Basic information about line of the form y = ax + b or Ax + By + C = 0

Slope (m) of the line |
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yintercept (yi) |
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xintercept (xi) |
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tan θ |
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Line angle (θ) from x axis (range 0 ≤ θ < π) |
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Slope (M) of a line perpendicular to a given slope (m) |
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Point (x, y) which divides the line connecting two points (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) in the ratio p:q |
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Point (x, y) which divides the line connecting two points (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) externally at a ratio p:q |
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A point (x, y) which is located at a distance d from a point (x1 , y1) on the line |
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Angle θ between two lines:
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(Slopes)
(2 Points)
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Angle between two lines:
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Line equations summary

Equation of a line passing through a point (x1 , y1) |
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Equation of a line passing through two points (x1 , y1), (x2 , y2) |
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Equation of a line perpendicular to a given slope m and passing through a point (xp , yp) |
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Equation of a line perpendicular to a line which is defined by two points (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) and passing through the point (xp , yp) |
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Equation of a line passing through the intercepts xi , yi |
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Equation of a line passing through the point (xp ,yp) and parallel to a line which is defined by two points (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) |
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Equation of a line parallel to the line Ax + By + C = 0 and at a distance d from it. |
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Equation of the midline between the lines Ax + By + C = 0
Dx + Ey + F = 0
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Equation of a line perpendicular to the line Ax + By + C = 0 |
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Equation of a horizontal line |
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Equation of a vertical line |
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Lines distances y = ax + b Ax + By + C = 0

Distance between two points (D)
Distance between intercepts xi and yi
Distance from a line to the origin
Distance from a line given by two points (x1 ,y1),(x2 , y2) to the origin
Distance from a line given by two points (x1 , y1) , (x2 , y2) to the point (xp , yp)
Distance between two parallel lines
y = ax + by = cx + d
or
Ax + By + C = 0Dx + Ey + F = 0
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Find the distance d of a point P(px , py) from the
line given by the equation Ax + By + C = 0.
And calculate the numerical value of the distance between point (2 , −3) and line y = 4x − 5 |
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The given line can be written in the standard form as 4x − y − 5 = 0
So, we have: A = 4 B = −1 and C = −5 px = 2 py = −3
Substituting these values into the distance equation we get the final solution:
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Find the equation of the line passing through the point (3 , − 1) and is perpendicular to the line
2x − y − 1 = 0 |
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If the intersection point of both lines is needed then we have to solve the equations:
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Find the intersection point of the line 2x − y = 0 and the line passing through the point (5 , 2) and is perpendicular to the given line.
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In order to find the intersection point (Nx , Ny) we have to solve equation (1) and the given line this can be done in direct substitution or by Cramer’s law:
The general intersection of a line and the perpendicular line that passes through a point is:
The given values are A = 2 B = −1 C = 0 Px = 5 Py = 2
Solving the numerical values, we have
x + 2(2x) − 9 = 0
x = 9/5 = 1.8
and y is equal to
y = 18/5 = 3.6
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