Summary 165

Chapter 2 SUMMARY

Section 2.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System

and Midpoint Formula
Key Concepts Examples
Graphical representation of numerical data is often Example 1
helpful to study problems in real-world applications.
A rectangular coordinate system is made up of a
y-axis
horizontal line called the x-axis and a vertical line called
6
the y-axis. The point where the lines meet is the origin. 5
The four regions of the plane are called quadrants. Quadrant II 4 Quadrant I
The point 1x, y2 is an ordered pair. The first element (24, 2) 3
2
in the ordered pair is the points horizontal position 1 Origin x-axis
from the origin. The second element in the ordered pair 26 25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5 6
is the points vertical position from the origin. 21
22
Quadrant III 23 Quadrant IV
24
25
26

Example 2
The midpoint between two points is found by using the Find the midpoint between (23, 1) and (5, 7).
formula
a b 5 11, 42
23 1 5 1 1 7
,
a b
x1 1 x2 y1 1 y2 2 2
,
2 2
166 Chapter 2 Linear Equations in Two Variables

Section 2.2 Linear Equations in Two Variables

Key Concepts Examples
A linear equation in two variables can be written in the Example 1
form Ax 1 By 5 C, where A, B, and C are real num-
3x 2 4y 5 12
bers and A and B are not both zero.
The graph of a linear equation in two variables is a Complete a table of ordered pairs.
line and can be represented in the rectangular coordi-
nate system. x y y

0 23 5
4
4 0 3
9 2
1 2 1
4 x
25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5
21
22
23
24
25

Example 2
Given the equation, 2x 1 3y 5 8
An x-intercept is a point (a, 0) where a graph in- x-intercept: 2x 1 3102 5 8
tersects the x-axis. To find an x-intercept, substitute 0
2x 5 8
for y in the equation and solve for x.
x54 14, 02
A y-intercept is a point (0, b) where a graph inter- y-intercept: 2102 1 3y 5 8
sects the y-axis. To find a y-intercept, substitute 0 for x
3y 5 8
in the equation and solve for y.
a0, b
8 8
y5
3 3

A vertical line can be written in the form x 5 k. Example 3 Example 4

A horizontal line can be written in the form y 5 k. y y
5 5
4 4
3 3
y53
2 2
1 1
x x
25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5 25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5
21 21
22 22
23 23
24 24
25 25
x 5 22
 Summary 167

Section 2.3 Slope of a Line

Key Concepts Examples
The slope of a line m between two distinct points 1x1, y1 2 Example 1
and 1x2, y2 2 is given by The slope of the line between (1, 23) and (23, 7) is
7 2 1232
y2 2 y1
m5 , x2 2 x1 0 10 5
x2 2 x1 m5 5 52
23 2 1 24 2

The slope of a line may be positive, negative, zero, Example 2

or undefined.

Positive slope Negative slope

Zero slope

Undefined slope

Two parallel (nonvertical) lines have the same slope: Example 3

m1 5 m2. The slopes of two lines are given. Determine whether
the lines are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
Two lines are perpendicular if the slope of one line
is the opposite of the reciprocal of the slope of the other a. m1 5 27 and m2 5 27 Parallel
line: 1
b. m1 5 2 and m2 5 5 Perpendicular
21 5
m1 5 or equivalently, m1m2 5 21.
m2 3 2
c. m1 5 2 and m2 5 2 Neither
2 3
168 Chapter 2 Linear Equations in Two Variables

Section 2.4 Equations of a Line

Key Concepts Examples
Standard Form: Ax 1 By 5 C (A and B are not both Example 1
zero) Find the slope and y-intercept. Then graph the
equation.
Horizontal line: y 5 k
7x 2 2y 5 4 Solve for y.
Vertical line: x 5 k
22y 5 27x 1 4
Slope-intercept form: y 5 mx 1 b
Point-slope formula: y 2 y1 5 m1x 2 x1 2
7
y5 x22 Solve-intercept form
2
Slope-intercept form is used to identify the slope
and y-intercept of a line when the equation is given. The slope is 72; the y-intercept is 10, 222.
Slope-intercept form can also be used to graph a line.
Right 2
y
5
4
3
2
Up 7
x
25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5
(0, 22)
22
Start here
23
24
25

The point-slope formula can be used to construct Example 2

an equation of a line, given a point and a slope. Find an equation of the line passing through the
point (2, 23) and having slope m 5 24.
Using the point-slope formula gives
y 2 y1 5 m1x 2 x1 2
y 2 1232 5 241x 2 22
y 1 3 5 24x 1 8
y 5 24x 1 5
 Summary 169

Section 2.5 Applications of Linear Equations

and Graphing
Key Concepts Examples
A linear model can often be constructed to describe Example 1
data for a given situation. The graph shows the average per capita income in
the United States for 19802005.
The year 1980 corresponds to x 5 0 and income
is measured in dollars.

Average per Capita Yearly Income in

y United States (19802001)
25,000
20,000

Dollars ($)
(20, 22,346)
15,000
10,000
(5, 11,013)
5,000
0 x
0 5 10 15 20 25
Year (x 5 0 corresponds to 1980)

Given two points from the data, use the point-slope Write an equation of the line, using the points
formula to find an equation of the line. (5, 11,013) and (20, 22,346).
22,346 2 11,013 11,333
Slope: 5 < 756
20 2 5 15
y 2 11,013 5 7561x 2 52
y 2 11,013 5 756x 2 3780
y 5 756x 1 7233
Interpret the meaning of the slope and y-intercept in The slope m < 756 indicates that the average in-
the context of the problem. come has increased by $756 per year.
The y-intercept (0, 7233) means that the aver-
age income in 1980 1x 5 02 was $7233.

Use the equation to predict values. Predict the average income for 2010 1x 5 302.
y 5 7561302 1 7233
y 5 29,913
According to this model, the average income in 2010
will be approximately $29,913.