Family of lines The general equation of the family of lines through the point of intersection of two given lines

is L + L = 0, where L = 0 and L = 0 are the two given lines, and is a parameter. Illustration: A variable line through the point of intersection of the lines x/a + y/b = 1 and x/b + y/a = 1 meets the coordinate axes in A and B. Show that the locus of the midpoint of AB is the curve 2xy(a + b) = ab(x + y). Solution: Let (h, k) be the midpoint of the variable line AB. The equation of the variable line AB is (bx + ay ab) + (ax + by ab) = 0

Coordinates of A are (ab(1+)b+a). Coordinate of B are (0, ab(1+)b+a). Mid point of AB is (ab(1+)2(b+a), ab(1+)2(a+b)) h = ab(1+)2(b+a); b+a/ab(1+); 1/2k = a+b/ab(1+) k = ab(1+)2(a+b) 1/2h =

1/2h + 1/2k = a+b/ab (h + k)ab = 2hk (a + b). Hence the locus of the midpoint of AB is (x + y) ab = 2xy (a + b). To find the equation to the straight lines which pass through a given point (x1, y1) and make equal angles with the given straight line y = m1x + c. If m is the slope of the required line and is the angle which this line makes with the given line, then tana = + m1m/1+m1m.

(i)

The above expression for tan, gives two values of m, say mA and mB.

(ii) The required equations of the lines through the point (x1, y1) and making equal angles with the given line are y y1 = mA (x x1), y y1 = mB(x x1). Illustration: Find the equations to the sides of an isosceles right-angled triangle, the equation of whose hypotenuse is 3x + 4y = 4 and the opposite vertex is the point (2, 2). Solution: The problem can be restated as: Find the equations to the straight lines passing through the given point (2, 2) and making equal angles of 45o with the given straight line 3x + 4y 4 = 0 Slope of the line 3x + 4y 4 = 0 is m1 = 3/4

tan 45o = + m1m/1+m1m, i.e., 1 = + m+3/4/13/4m

So that mA = 1/7,

and

mB = 7.

Hence the required equations of the two lines are y 2 = mA (x 2) and y 2 = mB(x 2). 7y x 12 = 0 and 7x + y = 16. Illustration: The straight lines 3x + 4y = 5 and 4x 3y = 15 intersect at the point A. On these lines points B and C are chosen so that AB = AC. Find the possible equations of the line BC passing through (1, 2). Solution: The two given straight lines are at right angles. Since AB = AC, the triangle is an isosceles right angled triangle. The required equation is of the form y 2 = m(x 1) with tan 45o = + m+3/4/13m/4 = + m4/3/1+4m/3 1 = + m+3/4/13m/4 = + m4/3/1+4m/3 m = 7, 1/7. Substitute the value of m in (1). We get the required equations. Illustration: Find the equation of the straight line passing through (2, 7) and having intercept of length 3 units between the straight lines 4x + 3y = 12 and 4x + 3y = 3. Solution: Distance AC between the two given parallel lines = |c1c2/a2+b2| = 123/16+9 = 9/5. (1)

Let AB be the intercept of length 3 units. 3/4. BC = 12/5. If is the angle between BC and AB, then tan = 9/12 = Slope of the parallel lines = 4/3 = m2. If m1 is the slope of the required line, then tan = m1m/1+m1m 3/4 = + m1 4/3/1+4/3m1 i.e. m1 + 4/3 = 3/4 (1 4/3 m1) and m1 + 4/3 = 3/4 (1 4/3 m1). The slopes are (i) m1 = 7/24 (ii) m1 = (the line is parallel to the y-axis). The required equations of the lines are 7x + 24y + 182 = 0 and x + 2 = 0. Alternative solution: Equation of the line, through P(2, 7) and making angle with the x-axis, is x+2/cos = y+7/sin = r. If this line intersects the given lines at A and B, with AB = 3, the points A and B are A(2 + r1 cos , 7 + r1 sin ) and B (2 + (r1 + 3) cos , 7 + (r1 + 3) sin ). Since A and B lie on the lines 4x + 3y = 3 and 4x + 3y = 12, we have 4r1 cos + 3r1 sin = 32 and 4r1 cos + 3r1 sin + 12 cos + 9 sin = 41, so that

12 cos + 9 sin = 0 or 4 cos + 3 sin = 3. Solving this equation we find that = /2 and tan = 7/24. Hence the required lines are x + 2 = 0 and y + 7 = 7/24 (x + 2) i.e. 7x + 24y + 182 = 0. Concurrency of Straight Lines The condition for 3 lines a1x + b1y + c1 = 0, a2x + b2y + c2 = 0, a3x + b3y + c3 = 0 to be concurrent is

(i)

= 0.

(ii) There exist 3 constants l, m, n (not all zero at the same time) such that IL1 + mL2 + nL3 = 0, where L1 = 0, L2 = 0 and L3 = 0 are the three given straight lines. (iii) The three lines are concurrent if any one of the lines passes through the point of intersection of the other two lines. Illustration: Check if lines a1 x + b1 y + c1 = 0 a2 x + b2 y + c2 = 0 (2a1 3a2)x + (2b1 3b2)y + (2c1 3c2) = 0 are concurrent? Solution: We can try to find , and by observation as follow: L3 2L1 + 3L2 = 0 Enquiry: many lines can pass through the intersection of two lines. Can we find a general equation of these lines? If L1 = 0 and L2 = 0 are two lines then equation of family of lines passing through their intersection is given by (1) (2) (3)

L1 + L2 = 0

(A)

Where is any parameter. (Equation A is satisfied by the point of intersection of L1= 0 and L2 = 0) Note: To determine a particular line one more condition is required so as to determine or eliminate . Illustration: If x (2q + p) + y(3q + p) = 0 (x + y 1) + q/p (2x + 3y 1) = 0, p 0 Solution: This equation represents the family of lines passing through the intersection of lines x + y 1 = 0 and 2x + 3y 1 = which is fixed point i.e. (2, 1). If p = 0 then equation becomes q(2x + 3y 1) = 0 this also represents a line which passes through fixed points (2, 1). Hence the given equation represents family of lines passing through a fixed point (2, 1) for variable p, q. Illustration: Find the equation of a line, through the intersection of 2x + 3y 7 = 0 and x + 3y 5 = 0 and having distance from origin as large as possible.

Point of intersection of two lines is A(2, 1) Now, with OA as radius and O itself as centre draw a circle. There will be infinitely many lines through A and each except one of them produces a chord of circle and hence their distance from origin i.e. centre of circle is less than OA i.e. radius of circle. But the exceptional one which infact is a tangent to circle at A will be at a distance OA from O. Thus, tangent to circle at A will be the line through A and is farthest from origin. Now, OA tangent at A. (slope of OA) (slope of tangent at A) = 1 Or, 10/20 (slope of tangent at A) = 2 equation of required line is (y 1) = 2(x 2) Or 2x + y 5 = 0

Illustration: Find the point of concurrency of the altitudes drawn from the vertices (at1t2, a(t1 + r2)), (at2t3, a2t2 + t3)) and (at3t1, a(t3 + t1)) respectively of a triangle ABC. Solution: Slope of AD = t3. Equation of AD is y a(t1 + t2) = t3(x + at1t2). Equation of CF is y a(t3 + t1) = t2(x at3t1). (1) (2)

Subtracting (1) from (2), we get x = a y = a(t1 + t2 + t1t2t3). Hence the point of concurrency of the altitudes is (a, a(t1 + t2 + t3 + t1t2t3)). Position of two points with respect to a given line Let the line be ax + by + c = 0 and P(x1, y1), Q(x2, y2) be two points. Case 1: If P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) are on the opposite sides of the line ax + by + c = 0, then the point R on the line ax + by + c = 0 divides the line PQ internally in the ratio m1 : m2, where m1/m2 must be positive. Co-ordinates of R are (m1x2+m2x1/m1+m2, m1y2+m2y1/m1+m2). Point R lies on the line ax + by + c = 0. m1/m2 = ax1+by1+c/ax2+by2+c > 0

So that ax1 + by1 + c and ax2 + by2 + c should have opposite signs. Case 2:

If ax1 + by1 + c and ax2 + by2 + c have the same signs then m1/m2 = ve, so that the point R on the line ax + by + c = 0 will divide the line PQ externally in the ratio m1 : m2 and the points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) are on the same side of the line ax + by + c = 0. Illustration: Find the range of in the interval (0, ) such that the points (3, 5) and (sin, cos) lie on the same side of the line x + y 1 = 0. Solution: 3 + 5 1 =7 > 0 sin + cos 1 > 0 sin(/4 + ) > 1/2 /4 < /4 + < 3/4 0 < < /2. Illustration: Find a, if (, 2) lies inside the triangle having sides along the lines 2x + 3y = 1, x + 2y 3 = 0, 6y = 5x 1. Solution: Let A, B, C be vertices of the triangle. A (7, 5), B (5/4, 7/8), C (1/3, 1/9). Sign of A w.r.t. BC is ve.

If p lies in-side the ABC, then sign of P will be the same as sign of a w.r.t. the line BC 5 62 1 < 0. Similarly And, 2 + 32 1 > 0. + 22 3 < 0. (1) (2) (3)

Solving, (1), (2) and (3) for and then taking intersection, We get Illustration: The equations of the perpendicular bisectors of the sides AB and AC of a triangle ABC are respectively x y + 5 = 0 and x + 2y = 0. If the co-ordinates of A are (1, 2), find the equation of BC. Solution: From the figure, E (x1+1/2, y12/2), F (x2+1/2, y22/2). ? (1/2, 1) (3/2, 1).

Alt text : equations of the perpendicular bisectors of sides of triangle Since E and F lie on OE and OF respectively, x1 y1 + 13 = 0 and x2 + 2y2 3 = 0 (1) (2)

Also, slope of AB = 1 and slope of AC is 2, so that x1 + y1 + 1 = 0. (3)

And

2x2 y2 4 = 0

(4)

Solving these equations, we get the co-ordinates of B and C as B (7, 6) and C (11/5, 2/5) Equation of BC is 14x + 23y 40 = 0. Illustration: Two fixed points A and B are taken on the co-ordinate axes such that OA = a and OB = b. Two variable points A and B are taken on the same axes such that OA + OB = OA + OB. Find the locus of the point of intersection of AB and AB. Solution: Let A (a, 0), B (0, b), A (a, 0), B (0, b). Equation of AB is x/a' + y/b' = 1. and equation of AB is x/a + y/b' = 1. . (1) . (2)

Subtracting (1) from (2), we get, x (1/a 1/a') + y(1/b' 1/b) = 0. x(a'a)/aa' + y(bb')/bb' = 0. (3) x/a(bb'+a) + y/bb', 0 b = a(a+b)y/aybx. From (2) bx + ay = (4) we get x + y = a + b which is the required locus. [Using a a = b b] ..