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A method for locating points in a plane with the use of ordered pair of numbers is
known as the Cartesian Coordinate System or Rectangular Coordinate System.
1. The system consists of a plane with a horizontal line (called the x-axis) which
intersects a vertical line (called the y-axis) at a point (called the origin).
2. The x and y axes are scaled off uniformly.
3. The axes divide the plane into four quadrants which are named from I to IV in
the counterclockwise direction, beginning from the upper right portion.
4. The plane has infinite points denoted by P(x, y). The x is called the abscissa
and the y is called the ordinate. The signs of the coordinates of points in the
four quadrants are shown in Fig. 1.3.1.
QII ( –, + ) QI ( +, + )
x
QIII ( –, – ) QIV ( +, – )
Fig. 1.3.1
5. To locate the point P(a, b), draw a line parallel to and at a distance of b from
the x-axis and a line parallel to and at a distance of a from the y-axis
(Fig. 1.3.2).
y
a
b P(a, b)
x
a
Fig. 1.3.2
10 Chap 1 Preliminary Concepts
For example, the point A(4, 3) is located 4 units to the right of the y-axis and 3
units above the x-axis. Thus, the abscissa is 4 and its ordinate is 3 (Fig. 1.3.3).
ordinate
abscissa P(4, 3)
3
(0, 3)
x
4
(4, 0)
Fig. 1.3.3
It is interesting to note that any point on the x-axis, the y-coordinate is 0, while
any point on the y-axis, the x-coordinate is 0.
Some plotted points are given in Fig. 1.3.4.
6 C(1, 6)
E(-2, 5) 5
4 D(2, 4)
S(8, 3)
3
B(0, 2)
R(-7, 2)
1
-4 5 A(6, 0) 7
x
-7 -6 -5 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 6 8
-1
H(-4, -1)
-2 I(5, -2)
-3 G(0, -3)
F(-1, -4) -4
K(3, -4)
-5
J(7, -5)
-6
Fig. 1.3.4
Chap 1 Distance on Coordinate Plane 11
Absolute Value
The symbol x , which may be read “absolute value of x”, is defined as
x, if x 0
x = 0, if x 0
- x, if x 0
Distance Formula
The distance between two points P1 ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 ( x 2 , y 2 ) is the number
of units measured along the line between the two points.
i) If the line is parallel to the x-axis, then y1 y2 , and the distance is given by
d P1P2 x 2 x1 x1 x 2
ii) If the line is parallel to the y-axis, then x1 x 2 , and the distance is given by
d P1P2 y 2 y1 y1 y2
iii) If a line is not parallel to either axis as given in the next theorem, then the
distance can be found by the application of the Pythagorean Theorem.
Theorem 1.3.1. The distance between any two points P1 ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 ( x 2
, y 2 ) is given by the formula
d (x 2 x1) ( y2 y1)
2 2
P1
midpoint
[2 (- 1)] [- 2 (- 6)]
2 2 x
32 42 5
Fig. 1.3.6
Note that the order in which the points are
taken is immaterial, i.e.
[2 (-1)]2 (- 1 2)2
[- 2 (- 6)]2 [- 6 (- 2)]2
In general, ( x 1 x 2 ) 2 ( x 2 x 1 ) 2 , and ( y1 y 2 ) 2 ( y 2 y1 ) 2 .
Also, the coordinates of the midpoint ( x , y ) of the two given foregoing points are:
Example 1.3.2. Find the length of the radius of the circle with A(-40, 4) and
B(59, -16) as endpoints of the diameter.
Solution. If r and d denote the radius and diameter of the circle as indicated in
Fig. 1.3.7, then
r d 1 (- 40 59) 2 (4 16) 2
2 2
1 (- 99) 2 (20) 2 y
2 10
A(-40, 4)
1 9801 400
0
x
-40 -30 -20 -10 10 20 30 40 50 60
2 -10
101 50.5
B(59, -16)
-20 r
2
Fig. 1.3.7
Name Score
Section Professor Date
Chap 1 Distance on Coordinate Plane 13
Exercises 1.3
Distance on Coordinate Plane
I. Plot the following points
1a. A(3, 2) b. B(2, 3)
2a. C(0, 2) b. D(-2, 0)
3a. E(1.5, -5) b. F(5, -1.5)
4a. G(-4, -3) b. H(-3, -4)
5a. J(-3, ½) b. K(¾, -2)
y
2a. x = | -7 | b. | x | = -7
3a. | x + 2 | = 6 b. | x – 1 | = 0
IV. Find the distance and midpoint between the given pair of points:
1a. (-7, -2) and (8, -10)