The equation of the straight line

The general equation of a straight line is y = mx + c where c is the intercept of the line on
the y-axis and m is the gradient.

y
y

x
O

m=

Change in y y
=
Change in x x
Example

Find the gradient of the line joining the points ( 2, -1) and ( 4,7)
Solution

y
8
7

(4, 7 )

6
5
4
3
2
1

-3

-2

-1 0

-1

( 2, -1)

-2

Copyright Blacksacademy September 2001

1

y
x
8
=
2
=4

m=

The effect of the gradient on the slope of the graph is illustrated by the following:

( 1)

m =1

1
1

This is a line with a 1 in 1 gradient

( 2)

m>1

This is a line with a steep and positive gradient. It slopes forward.

Copyright Blacksacademy January, 2003

2

( 3)

0 < m <1

This is a line with a shallow, positive gradient. It also slopes forward.

(4)

m = 1
y

1
-1

This is a line with a 1 in 1 gradient, but sloping backwards. For every 1 in the xdirection, the line goes +1 in the y-direction.

(5)

m < 1

This is a line with a steep, negative gradient. It slopes backwards.

Copyright Blacksacademy January, 2003

3

(6)

1 < m < 0

This is a line with a shallow, negative gradient. It also slopes backwards.

Example

Find the equation of the straight line that passes through the points ( 2, -1) and ( 4,7 ) .
Solution
We have already seen that the gradient of the line passing through the points

( 2, -1)

and ( 4,7 ) is given by:

y 8
m=
= =4
x 2
The equation of the straight line is
y = mx + c
Substituting for m we obtain
y = 4x + c
This equation is satisfied by every point on the line; hence, substituting the
coordinates of either point will enable us to find c. For example, substituting
x = 2, y = 1 gives
1 = 4 2 + c
c = 9
Thus, on substituting m = 4, c = 9 into the general equation, we obtain the
solution:
y = 4x 9

Copyright Blacksacademy January, 2003

4

Parallel and perpendicular lines

Two lines are perpendicular when their gradients

m1m2 = 1
Two lines are parallel when their gradients are equal

m1 = m2
To prove this consider the following diagram

l1

x
y

l2

x
The line l1 has a positive gradient equal to
m1 =

Change in y y
=
Change in x x

The line l2 has a negative gradient. By symmetry the ratio of the change in the
x -direction the the change in the y -direction is given by
m2 =

x
y

Thus
m1 m2 =

y
x

= 1
x
y

Copyright Blacksacademy January, 2003

5

Example

Write down the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line

joining the points 2, 7 3 and - 2 3 ,1

Solution

Gradient of the line passed through A and B =

4
3
8
3

1
2

gradient of perpendicular bisector = 2

The equation of the straight line is
y = mx + c
Substituting m = 2 in this gives
y = 2 x + c
mid-point of AB = ( 23 , 53 )
Substitut ing x = 23 , y =
5
3

5
3

= 2 23 + c

c =3
Hence
y = 2 x + 3

Copyright Blacksacademy January, 2003

6