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CARTESIAN/RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM

STANDARD EQUATION OF LINES

1.

Point-Slope form
Given a point 1 1 , 1 and slope .

=
2.

Slope-Intercept form
Given a slope and -intercept :

= +
3.

Intercept form
Given x-intercept and y-intercept :

DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

The distance between two point
1 , 1 and 2 , 2 is:

Two-point form
Given two points 1 1 , 1 and 2 2 , 2 :

EQUATION OF A LINE

SLOPE OF THE LINE

The slope of the line passing through points 1 , 1 and
2 , 2 is:

, =

4.

+ =

The angle between lines 1 and 2 is the angle that

1 must be rotated in a counter clockwise direction
to make it coincide with 2

Where:
m is positive if the line is inclined upwards to the right.
m is negative if the line is inclined downwards to the right.
m is is zero for horizontal lines

EQUATION OF A LINE
GENERAL EQUATION OF A LINE
The general equation of a straight line is:

+ + = 0

Lines are parallel if 1 = 2

Lines are perpendicular if 2 =

1
1

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DISTANCE FROM A POINT TO A LINE

The distance (nearest) from a point 1 1 , 1 to a line
+ + = 0 is:

MIDPOINT OF A LINE SEGMENT

The midpoint , of a line segment
through from 1 1 , 1 to 2 2 , 2 is:

CONIC SECTIONS

Conic sections a locus (or path)that moves such

the ratio of its distance from a fixed point (called
the focus)and a fixed line (called the directrix) is
constant. This constant ratio is called the
eccentricity, e of the conic.

+ +
+

DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL LINES

The distance between two parallel lines 1 + + 1
and 2 + + 2 is:

The term conic section is based on the fact that

these are the sections formed if a plane is made
to pass through a cone.
If the cutting plane is parallel to the base of a
cone, the section formed is a circle. If it is
parallel to the element (or generator) the
section formed is a parabola. If it is
perpendicular to the base of the cone, the
section formed is a hyperbola. If it is oblique to
the base or element of the cone, the section
formed is an ellipse.

DIVISION OF LINE SEGMENT

GENERAL EQUATION OF CONICS

+ + + + + =
If 0, the axis of the conic is oblique with the
coordinate axes ( i.e. not parallel to X or Y axes).
Thus if the axis is parallel to either X or Y-axes, the
equation becomes

+
+

+
+

+ + + + =

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GENERAL EQUATION OF CONICS

PARABOLA
PARABOLA is the locus of a point that moves
such that its distance from a fixed point called
the focus is always equal to its distance from a
fixed line called the directrix.

+ + + + + =
+ + + + =
From the foregoing equations:
If 2 < 4, the conic is an ellipse
If 2 = 4, the conic is a parabola
If 2 > 4, the conic is a hyperbola
Also, a conic is a circle if A=C, an ellipse if AC
but have the same sign, a parabola if either A=0
or C=0, and a hyperbola if A and C have
different signs.

CIRCLE
CIRLE is the locus of a point that moves such
that it is always equidistant from a fixed point
called the center. The constant distance is called
the radius of the circle.

General equation of Parabola (A or C is zero)

r = radius
(h,k) = center

C=0

General equation of a Circle (A=C)

+ + + = 0
or
+ + + =

+ + + + =
or

a = distance from the vertex to focus

LR = length of latus rectum

+ + + + =

A=0

To solve a circle, either one of the following two

conditions must be known:
4. Three point along the circle,
Solution: Use the general form
5. Center (h,k) and the radius,
Solution: Use the standard form
Standard Equation of a Circle

Center at (h,k)

Center at (0,0)

+ =

For the circle

+ + + + =

=
; =
; =

+ + + =
or
+ + + =
To solve a parabola, either one of the following
two conditions must be known:
1. Three point along the parabola and an
axis (either vertical or horizontal),
Solution: Use the general form
2. Vertex (h,k), distance from the vertex to
focus a and axis,
Solution: Use the standard form
3. Vertex (h,k), and the location of the
focus.
Solution: use the standard form
Eccentricity
The eccentricity of a conic is the ratio of its
distance from the focus d2 and the directrix d1
For a parabola, the eccentricity is equal to 1.

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Latus Rectum
Latus rectum is the chord passing through the
focus and parallel to directrix or perpendicular to
the axis.
=
Standard Equation of Parabola
Vertex at (0,0)
=

opens to right

opens to left

opens upward

opens down ward

ELLIPSE
ELLIPSE
The locus of the point that moves such that the
sum of its distances from two fixed points called
the foci is constant. The constant sum is the
length of the major axis, 2a. It can also be
defined as the locus of the point that moves such
that the ratio of its distance from the fixed point,
called the focus and the fixed line called the
directrix, is constant and less than one (1).

Vertex at (h,k)

opens to right

opens to left

opens upward

opens down ward

For the parabola 2 + + + = 0

(axis vertical)
=

; =
; =

Elements of Ellipse
= +
Eccentricity (first eccentricity), =

For the parabola 2 + + + = 0

(axis horizontal)

; =
; =

= < .

Distance from the center to directrix, =

Length of latus rectum, =
Second eccentricity, =
Angular eccentricity, =
Ellipse flatness, =

Second flatness, =

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General equation of Ellipse

+ + + + =
To solve an ellipse, either one of the following
conditions must be known:
1. Four points along the ellipse,
Solution: Use the general form
2. Center (h,k), semi-major axis a, and semiminor axis b
Solution: Use the standard form

HYPERBOLA
HYPERBOLA
The locus of the point that moves such that the
difference of its distances from two fixed points
called the foci is constant. The constant
difference is the length of the transverse axis, 2a.
It can also be defined as the locus of the point
that moves such that the ratio of its distance from
the fixed point, called the focus and the fixed
line called the directrix, is constant and is greater
than one (1).

Standard Equations of Ellipse

Center at (0,0)

+
=

+
=

Elements of Hyperbola
Center at (h,k)

= +

Eccentricity =

= > .

Distance from the center to directrix, =

Equation of asymptotes

Where (h,k) is the center of the hyperbola and m

is the slope. Use (+) for upward asymptote and (-)
for down ward asymptote.

Note: a>b

For the Ellipse

+ + + + =

if the axis is horizontal

if the axis is vertical

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General equation of Hyperbola

+ + + =
Standard Equations of Ellipse
Center at (0,0)

axis
=
Major

vertical

Major axis horizontal

Major axis vertical

Center at (h,k)

Major axis horizontal

Major axis vertical

Note: a may be greater, equal or less than b

For the Hyperbola

+ + + =

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