CO-ORDINATE GEOMETRY

CONTENTS Axes of Co-ordinates

In the figure OX and OY are called as x-axis and
 Definition y-axis respectively and both together are known
as axes of co-ordinates.
 Cartesian Co-ordinates Origin

 Sign system for Co-ordinates Quadrants It is point O of intersection of the axes of co-ordinates.
Co-ordinates of the Origin
 Mirror Image of Co-ordinates of a point It has zero distance from both the axes so that its
abscissa and ordinate are both zero. Therefore, the
 Application of Section Formula coordinates of origin are (0, 0).
Abscissa
 Area of Triangles The distance of the point P from y-axis is called its
abscissa. In the figure OM = PN is the Abscissa.
Ordinate
CO-ORDINATE GEOMETRY
The distance of the point P from x-axis is called
It is a branch of geometry which sets up a definite its ordinate. ON = PM is the ordinate in the figure.
correspondence between the position of a point in Quadrant
a plane and a pair of algebraic numbers, called co-
ordinates. The axes divide the plane into four parts. These
four parts are called quadrants. So, the plane
 CARTESIAN CO-ORDINATES consists of axes and quadrants. The plane is called
(RECTANGULAR CO-ORDINATES)  the cartesian plane or the coordinate plane or the

 In Cartesian co-ordinates the position of a point P xy-plane. These axes are called the co-ordinate axes.
is determined by knowing the distances from two 1
perpendicular lines passing through the fixed A quadrant is part of a plane divided by
4
point. Let O be the fixed point called the origin co-ordinate axes.
and XOX and YOY, the two perpendicular lines
through O, called Cartesian or Rectangular co- Y
ordinates axes.
Y II O I
N P(x,y) X' III IV X

y Y'
M (i) XOY is called the first quadrant
X' O x X
(ii) YOX the second.
Y'
Draw PM and PN perpendiculars on OX and OY (iii) XOY the third.
respectively. OM (or NP) and ON (or MP) are (iv) YOX the fourth
called the x-coordinate (or abscissa) and as marked in the figure.
y-coordinate (or ordinate) of the point P respectively.
  RULES OF SIGNS OF CO-ORDINATES Sol. (i) Abscissa of the point P = – NP = –OM = – a

 (ii) Ordinate of the point P = MP = ON = b
(i) In the first quadrant, both co-ordiantes i.e.,
abscissa and ordinate of a point are positive. (iii) Co-ordinates of point P = (abscissa, ordinate)
(ii) In the second quadrant, for a point, abscissa is = (–a, b)
negative and ordinate is positive. Ex.3 Write down the (i) abscissa (ii) ordinate (iii)
(iii) In the third quadrant, for a point, both Co-ordinates of P, Q, R and S as given in the
abscissa and ordinate are negative. figure.
(iv) In the fourth quadrant, for a point, the abscissa Y
is positive and the ordinate is negative. 2
Q
Y
2 P
II I 4
(–,+) (+,+) 3
X' III O IV X X' O X
(–,–) (+,–) 3 1
Y' 5 S
R
5
Quadrant x-co-ordinate y-cordinate Point Y'
First quadrant + + (+,+)
Sol. Point P
Second quadrant – + (–,+)
Third quadrant – – (–,–) Abscissa of P = 2; Ordinate of P = 3
Fourth quadrant + – (+,–) Co-ordinates of P = (2, 3)
Point Q
EXAMPLES 
Abscissa of Q = – 2; Ordinate of Q = 4
Ex.1 From the adjoining figure find Co-ordinate of Q = (–2, 4)
Y Point R
N P Abscissa of R = – 5; Ordinate of R = – 3
Co-ordinates of R = (–5, –3)
4
Point S
X' O M X Abscissa of S = 5; Ordinate of S = – 1
3
Y' Co-ordinates of S = (5, – 1)
(i) Abscissa Ex.4 Draw a triangle ABC where vertices A, B and
(ii) Ordinate C are (0, 2), (2, – 2), and (–2, 2) respectively.
(iii) Co-ordinates of a point P Sol. Plot the point A by taking its abscissa O and
Sol. (i) Abscissa = PN = OM = 3 units ordinate = 2.
(ii) Ordinate = PM = ON = 4 units Similarly, plot points B and C taking abscissa
(iii) Co-ordinates of the point P = (Abscissa, 2 and –2 and ordinates – 2 and 2 respectively.
ordinate) = (3, 4) Join A, B and C. This is the required triangle.
Ex.2 Determine (i) Abscissa (ii) ordinate Y
(iii) Co-ordinates of point P given in the
following figure. C(–2, 2) A(0, 2)
Y

P N X' X
O
b
X' M O X
a B(2, –2)
Y'
Y'
Ex.5 Draw a rectangle PQRS in which vertices P, y
Q, R and S are (1, 4), (–5, 4), (–5, –3) and
(1, – 3) respectively. P1(–3, 1) Q2(5, 2)
Sol. Plot the point P by taking its abscissa 1 and
ordinate – 4. x' x
O
Similarly, plot the points Q, R and S taking
abscissa as –5, –5 and 1 and ordinates as 4, – Q1(–3,–1) P2(5, –2)
3 and –3 respectively.
Join the points PQR and S. PQRS is the y'
required rectangle. P1 (–3, 1) & P2 (5, –2) are two points in II & IV
quadrant respectively then their images are
Y
Q1 (–3, –1) & Q2 (5, 2) in III & I quadrant
respectively.
Q(–5, 4) P(1, 4)  With respect to y axis :
In image of a point P(x, y) the change in sign of
X' X its abscissa so the image is Q(–x, y).
O
y
R(–5, –3) S(1, –3)
P1(–1, 2) Q1(1, 2)
Y'
x' x
Ex.6 Draw a trapezium ABCD in which vertices A,
B, C and D are (4, 6), (–2, 3), (–2, –5) and
 3 
(4, –7) respectively. P2   ,  3  Q2  3 ,  3 
 2  2 
Sol. Plot the point A taking its abscissa as 4 and
y'
ordinate as 6.
Similarly plot the point B, C and D taking P1 (–1, 2) image
 Q1 (1, 2)
abscissa as – 2, –2 and 4 and ordinates as 3, –  3  3 
5, and –7 respectively. Join A, B, C and D P2   ,  3  image
 Q2  ,  3 
 2  2 
ABCD is the required trapezium.
Y EXAMPLES 

A(4, 6) Ex.7 Find the images of the following points with

B(–2, 3) respect to x axis,
3 4  2 
X' X (1, 2),  , ,   , 3  , (2, 5), (5, 0),
O 8 3  3 
C(–2, –5)
(0, 7), (– 3, – 4)
D(4, –7) 3 4  2 
Sol. The images are (1, –2),  ,   ,   ,  3  ,
Y' 8 3  5 
(2, –5), (5, 0), (0, –7), (–3, 4) respectively.
MIRROR IMAGE OF COORDINATES OF
A POINT Ex.8 Find the images, of points (0, 0), (3, 0), (0, 2),
(5, 1), (–2, 3), (–3, –3), (6, –7) with respect to
 With respect to x axis : y axis.
In image of a point P(x, y) with respect to x axis,
Sol. The images are (0, 0), (–3, 0), (0, 2), (–5, 1),
the change in only sign of ordinate of point so the
(2, 3), (3, –3), (–6, –7) respectively.
image is Q(x, –y).
 EXERCISE

A. Short Answer Type Questions Q.5 Write down

Q.l In the adjoining figure find (i) abscissa
(i) abscissa (ii) ordinates and
(ii) ordinate (iii) co-ordinates of the points P, Q, R and S
(iii) co-ordinates of point P. in the given figure.
Y Y
P Q
5
P
X' O X 5
2 3
O
X' X
Y' 3
5 1 7
Q.2 Determine R
8 S
(i) abscissa 8
(ii) ordinate Y'
(iii) co-ordinate of point P in this given
figure. Q.6 Draw X-axis and Y-axis and mark the poiont
Y A (3, 9), B (4, – 7), C (–8, 9), D (– 3, – 5),
E (4, – 2) and F (7, 5)
P
2
Q.7 Draw a trignale PQR whose vertices are
X' O X
5 P = (1, – 6), Q = (7, 4) and R = (– 4, 4).

Y' Q.8 Draw a triangle ABC whose vertices A, B,

and C are (– 3, 0), (3, 3) and (– 3, 3)
Q.3 Determine respectively.
(i) abscissa
(ii) ordinate Q.9 Draw a rectangle ABCD such that its vertices
(iii) coordinates of point P, in the figure. A, B, C and D are (4, 3), (4, – 2), (– 7, – 2)
Y and (– 7, 3) respectively.

4 Q.10 Draw a rectangle KLMN such that its vertices

X' O X K, L, M, and N are (5, 0), (5, 3), (0, 3) and
3 (0, 0) respectively.
P
Y'
Q.11 Construct a square ABCD such that its
Q.4 In the given figure find vertices A, B, C, and D are (1, 2,) (– 7, 2),
(i) abscissa (– 7, – 6) and (1, – 6) respectively.
(ii) ordinate
Q.12 Construct a square PQRS whose vertices P,
(iii) co-ordinates of point P.
Q, R and S are (0, 0), (– 4, 0), (– 4 , – 4) and
Y
(0, – 4) respectively
6 Q.13 Draw a parallelogram ABCD whose vertices
X' X
3O A, B, C, and D are (– 4, 8), (– 4, 2), (6, – 7)
P and (6, – 1) respectively.
Y'
Q.14 Construct a trapezium PQRS in which
vertices P, Q, R and S are (3, 0), (7, 9), (– 6, 9)
and (– 2, 0) respectively.
Q.15 Draw a rhombus ABCD whose vertices A, B,
C and D are (1, 4·5), (– 1, 0) (1, – 4·5) and
(3, 0) respectively
Q.16 Find the co-ordinates of the vertices of the
square ABCD (side 2a)
D C
A B
(i) Taking AB and AD as axis,
(ii) Taking the centre of the square as origin
and axes parallel to the sides AB, AD.
Q.17 Show that the points (– 4, – 1), (– 2, – 4),
(4, 0) and (2, 3) are the vertices points of a
rectangle.
Q.18 Show that the points A (1, – 2), B (3, 6),
C (5, 10) and D (3, 2) are the vertices of a
parallelogram.
Q.19 Prove that the points (2, 3), (– 4, – 6) and
(1, 3/2) do not form a triangle
Q.20 Without plotting the given points on a graph
paper indicate the quadrants in which they lie,
if
(a) ordinate = 6, abscissa = –3
(b) ordinate = –6, abscissa = 4
(c) abscissa = –5, ordinate = –7
(d) ordinate = 3, abscissa = 5
Q.21 Plot the point P(–6, 3) on a graph paper.
Draw PL x-axis and PM y-axis. Write the
coordinates of L and M.
Q.22 Plot the points A(–5, 2), B(3, –2), C(–4, –3)
and D(6, 0) on a graph paper.
B. Long Answer Type Questions
Q.23 The three vertices of ABC are A(1, 4),
B(–2, 2) and C(3, 2). Plot these points on a
graph paper and calculate the area of ABC.
Q.24 The three vertices of a rectangle ABCD are
A(2, 2), B(–3, 2) and C(–3, 5). Plot these
points on a graph paper and find the
coordinates of D. Also, find the area of
rectangle ABCD.
Q.25 The three vertices of a square ABCD are
A(3, 2), B(–2, 2) and D(3, –3). Plot these
points on a graph paper and hence, find the
coordinates of C. Also, find the area of square
ABCD.
C. Fill in the blanks type Questions
Q.26 The horizontal & the vertical lines drawn in
the Cartesian plane to determine the position
of a point are respectively, the……..and
the…….
Q.27 The point of intersection of the x-axis and the
y-axis in the Cartesian plane is ………
Q.28 The x-axis and the y-axis divide the Cartesian
plane in …………quadrants
Q.29 The abscissa of a point on the y-axis is ……...
Q.30 The ordinate of a point on the x-axis is……..
Q.31 If ‘A’ be point on the negative half of the
x-axis such that the distance between A and
the origin O is 5 units, then the coordinates of
point A are ………
Q.32 If the perpendicular distance of a point P from
the x-axis is 7 units along the negative
direction of the y-axis then the ordinate of P
is…….
 ANSWER KEY
A. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: 23. 5 Y
4 A
1. (i) 2 (ii) 5 (iii) (2, 5)
3
2. (i) –5 (ii) 2 (iii) (–5, 2)
2
3. (i) –4 (ii) –3 (iii) (–4, –3) B C
1
4. (i) 6 (ii) –3 (iii) (6, –3) X' X
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 O 1 2 3 4 5
5. (i) 1, –3, –8, 8 (ii) 3, 5, –5, –7 –1
(iii) P(1, 3), Q (–3, 5), R(–8, –5), S(8, –7) –2
Y'
6.
12 Area = 5 sq. units.
10
C A 24. D(2, 5), 15 sq units
 8
6 C(–3,5) Y
M D
5
B 4 
 2 F 4
3
–8 –6 –4 –2 2 4 6 8 2 A(2, 2)
–2  B(–3, 2) L
E 1
–4
D
–6
–8 X' –4 –3 –2 –1 O 1 2 3 4 X
–1
Y'

16. (i) A(0, 0), B(2a, 0), C (2a, 2a), D (0, 2a) 25. C(–2, –3), 25 sq units
(ii) A (–a, –a), B(a, – a), C(a, a), D(–a, a) 4 Y
3
B(–2, 2) A(3, 2)
20. (a) II (b) IV (c) III (d) I 2
y 1
X' X

P M 3 –4 –3 –2 –1 O L 1 2 3 4
–1
21. 2
–2
L 1
x' x
–6 –4 –2 O –3
C –4 Y' D(3, –3)
y'
L(–6, 0), M(0, 3)
26. x-axis, y-axis
y
27. Origin O
3
A(–5, 2)
2 28. 4
22. 1 29. 0
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
x' x
D(6, 0) 30. 0
–1
31. (–5, 0)
–2
B(3, –2) 32. –7
–3
C(–4, –3)
y'