27

Lesson

ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY (2)

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards
Learning Outcome 3: Space, shape and measurement
Assessment Standard AS 3(c) and AS 3(a)
The gradient and inclination of a straight line.
The equation of a straight line.

Overview

Overview
In this lesson you will:

Lesson

Discover what is meant by inclination

Use trigonometry to find the inclination of a straight line
Find the angle between two straight lines
Use analytical methods to find the three angles of a triangle.

Lesson

The inclination of a straight line

Definition: The angle formed by a straight line and the positive direction of the
horizontal.
4 OPTIONS

To find this angle we need the concept of a gradient and link it directly to
trigonometry.
change in y
m = __
change

in x

y
and tan = _x

y
x

For any line segment AB:

tan = mAB
y y
tan = _
B A

xB xA

So = tan (mAB)

B (xB; yB)
a
A (1; 4)

A (xA; yA)

B (3; 2)

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Examples
1.

We introduce any horizontal line through AB:

Then tan q = mAB
4 + 2
= _

1+3

= _64
=_3

2
q = tan1 _32

( )

= 56,3
2.

Q(2; 6)

tan q = mPQ
6+4
= _

2 1
=_
10

q = tan1 ( _
10

3 )

P(1; 4)

= 73,3

Notice that when tan q < 0, we are working with the negative angle q. So to
get to q, we need to add a period of tan, which is 180.

So q = q + 180 = 73,3 + 180 = 106,7.

3.

Find the size of the angles between the following lines

a.
b.

y = x + 4 and y = _12x + 3
y = 3x 4 and y = x

c.

y = 8x and y = 2x + 3

a.

For L1: tan a2 < 0

So a2 = tan (1) + 180

y = x + 4
a2
a1

= 45 + 180

= 135

a2 = 45

y = 12 x + 3

a2

For L2: a1 tan1(_1)+ 26,6

L1

L2

The acute angle between the lines will be: 45 + 26,6 = 71,6

The obtuse angle between them is: 180 71,6 = 108,4

b.

For L1: m = 1

q1 = tan1(1) + 180

= 45 + 180

q1 = 135
and q1 = 45
For L2: m = 3

q2 = tan1(3) + 180

= 71,6 + 180

y = x

q2 = 108,4
Thus: obtuse angle: 108,4 + 45 = 153,4

q2
q1

To use this concept

effectively, always
draw a diagram.

q1

L2
y = 3x 4

L1

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

Example

Acute angle: 26,6

c.

L1: m = 8: q1 = tan1(8) = 82,8

L2: m = 2: q2 = tan1(2) = 63,4

between lines (acute) = 82,8 63,4

= 19,4

The obtuse angle will be = 180 19,4

= 160,6

L1

y = 8x
L2

y = 2x + 3

q1
q2

4.

A(1; 5) B(2; 3) and C(6; 1) are co-ordinates of the vertices of ABC

Find the size of the angles.

Draw a picture

Tip: Find , and the use geometry.

m = _4
m =_
2
m = _6

tan = _65

tan = _12

tan = _23

= 50,2

= 26,6

= 146,3

AC

BC

^ =
By geometry C

AB

A(1; 5)

^
C= 23,6

B(2; 3)

^
A=
^
A= 96,1

^1 = 60,3 (<s in )
B

C(6; 1)

Lets find the inclination of each side

First:

5+1
AC: m = _
1

= _6
+6 5

q = tan1(_6) = 50,2
5

146,3

53
AB: m = _
1

= _23
2

26,6

b = tan1( _23)+ 180

= 146,3

BC: m = _
32 ++ 16
= _12

a = tan1( _12)
= 26,6

^= q a = 50,2 26,6
C
^
C= 23,6
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A(1; 5)

50,2
26,6

B(2; 3)

 ^
B= (180 146,3) + 26,6 = 60,3
A= 180 23,6 60,3
^

Sum angles in triangle

= 96,1

The angle between two lines AB and BC

a = q2 q1

y
A

The acute angle between AB and CD:

m mCD
tan = __
AB

1 + mABmCD

Applying this to:

mAC = _65

mAB = _23

mBC = _12

q1
D

m m
^= __
tan A
1 +ABm mAC

3 5
= __

2 6

_2 _6

AB

q2
B

AC

1 + ( _3)(_5)
28
= _

28
^
A= tan1(_
+ 180
3 )

= 96,1
Activity

Activity
1.

Calculate the inclination of AB if

a)

A(3; 2) and B(5; 0)

b)

_
_
A(3
; 1) and B(23
; 2)

c)

A(1; 2) and B(1; 1)

d)

A(3; 4) and B(3; 6)

e)

A(1; 1) and B(6; 1)

2.

Calculate the inclination of the following straight lines

a)

3y + x = 4

b)

c)

4x + y = 1

d)

3.
4.

^C
A(1; 2), B(3; 2) and C(3; 6). Calculate BA
y = _1x and
y = 3x + 3

2y x = 3
x = _1y
2

Intersect at one place.

Calculate the possible sizes of the angles at the point of intersection.

5.

Calculate and

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

6. ^
A= 45 Find the gradient of 2

7.

Find the gradient of AB

8.

Calculate the gradient of OC

Page 118

9.

P(1; 4)

Q(2; 2) and

R(6; 1) are co-ordinates of PQR, find the angles of the triangle.