Straight Lines

Objectives:
B Grade Explore the gradients of parallel straight line
graphs
A Grade Explore the gradients of perpendicular straight
line graphs
Prior knowledge: Recognise the equations of straight line graphs
and
find the gradients of straight line graphs
Rearrange equations to make a variable the subject
Straight Lines
Find the equation of a line parallel to 2x + y = 4 that crosses the
y axis at
-
3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -10
x
y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
First, rearrange the
equation in the form
y = mx + c
y =
-
2x + 4
Identify the gradient
In this case
-
2
Any line with the same
gradient is parallel
The line that has the same
gradient and has a
y-intercept of
-
3 is:
y =
-
2x - 3
Parallel Lines
Straight Lines
Finding the equations of the lines parallel to the following equations
and that pass through the coordinates given:

1. y = 3x (0,5)
2. y =
-
x (0,2)
3. y = 2x + 4 (0,
-
3)
4. y = 3x - 2 (0,
-
1)


5. y =
-
4x - 4 (0,

3)
6. 2x y = 2 (0,
-
7)
7. 2y 6x = 4 (0,
-
4)
8. 2x + 4y = 4 (0,

5)
9. y = 2x + 1 (0,

2)
10. y =
-
x - 4 (0,

1)




1
3
y = 3x + 5
y =
-
x + 2
y = 2x - 3
y = 3x - 1
y =
-
4x + 3
y = 2x - 7
y = 3x - 4
1
2
y =
-
x + 5
y = 6x + 2
y =
-
x + 1
Straight Lines
Perpendicular Lines
Perpendicular means
at right angles to
For the line y = x
draw a line that is
perpendicular to it.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -10
x
y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
y = x y =
-
x
Notice how the gradient
is now negative.
The gradient of a
perpendicular line is
always the opposite
sign.
Straight Lines
For the line y = 2x
draw a line that is
perpendicular to it.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -10
x
y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
y = 2x
y =
-
x
Straight Lines
For the line y = 3x
draw a line that is
perpendicular to it.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -10
x
y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
y = 3x
y =
-
x
1
3
Straight Lines
For the line y = 4x
draw a line that is
perpendicular to it.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -10
x
y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
y = 4x
y =
-
x
1
4
Straight Lines
Look at these equations together:
y = x
Perpendicular line
y =
-
x
y = 2x
y =
-
x
y = 3x
y =
-
x
1
3
y = 4x
y =
-
x
1
4
To summarise:
The gradient of a perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal
of the gradient of the original line.
Straight Lines
What is the equation of the line perpendicular to y = 2x + 3 that
goes through (0,5)
The gradient of this line is 2, so the gradient of the
line perpendicular to it is
-

The line crosses the y-axis (the line x = 0) at (0,5), so the
y-intercept is 5
The equation is therefore:
y =
-
x + 5
Straight Lines
Now do these:
y =
-
x + 15
y =x +15
y =
-
x - 15
y = x - 15