Chapter: Coordinate Geometry — Class 9 Maths (NCERT)
🔹 1. Introduction
Coordinate Geometry (also called Cartesian Geometry) is the branch of mathematics in which the position of a point, line, or shape is described using ordered pairs (x, y) on a plane.
It forms a bridge between Algebra and Geometry.
🔹 2. Cartesian System
(a) Coordinate Axes
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Two perpendicular lines intersecting at a point O (origin) form the coordinate axes.
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The horizontal line is called the x-axis.
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The vertical line is called the y-axis.
(b) Quadrants
| Quadrant |
Sign of x |
Sign of y |
| I Quadrant |
|
|
| II Quadrant |
|
|
| III Quadrant |
|
|
| IV Quadrant |
|
|
Diagram: Cartesian plane showing the four quadrants and origin.
🔹 3. Coordinates of a Point
Each point on the plane is represented by an ordered pair :
Example:
Point means , .
🔹 4. Signs of Coordinates
| Region |
Sign of x |
Sign of y |
Example |
| I Quadrant |
+ |
+ |
|
| II Quadrant |
– |
+ |
|
| III Quadrant |
– |
– |
|
| IV Quadrant |
+ |
– |
|
🔹 5. Coordinates on the Axes
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On x-axis: → Points like
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On y-axis: → Points like
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At origin:
🔹 6. Distance Formula
To find the distance between two points
and :
Example:
Find the distance between and .
🔹 7. Section Formula
If a point divides the line joining and in the ratio , then:
Special case:
When , is the mid-point of .
🔹 8. Mid-Point Formula
then
Example:
Find the midpoint of and .
∴ Mid-point = (3,5)
🔹 9. Area of a Triangle (using coordinates)
For vertices , , :
Example: Find the area of the triangle formed by , , .
Area = 4 square units.
🔹 10. Collinearity of Points
Three points A, B, and C are collinear if:
or equivalently, the slopes between each pair are equal.
🔹 11. Important Observations
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Distance formula derives from the Pythagoras theorem.
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Coordinates help in proving geometrical properties algebraically.
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Used widely in graphs, geometry, and physics (motion, forces).
✏️ Key Formulas at a Glance
| Concept |
Formula |
| Distance |
|
| Mid-point |
|
| Section formula |
|
| Area of triangle |
½ (Base x Height)
|
✅ Summary
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Coordinate geometry combines algebra with geometry.
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Helps locate points, find distances, midpoints, areas.
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Fundamental for higher topics like graphs, slopes, equations of lines, and geometry proofs.
ANSWER KEY — Coordinate Geometry (Class 9 Mathematics)
All solutions are written in full-sentence, CBSE-style format and show step-by-step calculations.
Q1. What do you understand by the terms abscissa, ordinate, and origin in the Cartesian coordinate system?
Answer:
The abscissa of a point is the x-coordinate which gives the horizontal distance of the point from the y-axis. The ordinate of a point is the y-coordinate which gives the vertical distance of the point from the x-axis. The origin is the point where the x-axis and y-axis meet; its coordinates are (0,0).
Q2. Write the coordinates of:
(a) A point lying on the x-axis at a distance of 4 units from the origin on the right-hand side.
(b) A point lying on the y-axis at a distance of 3 units above the origin.
Answer:
(a) A point on the x-axis 4 units to the right of the origin has x = +4 and y = 0, so its coordinates are (4,0).
(b) A point on the y-axis 3 units above the origin has x = 0 and y = +3, so its coordinates are (0,3).
Q3. Identify the quadrant in which each of the following points lies and state the sign of their abscissa and ordinate: (a) (5,7) (b) (−3,6) (c) (−4,−2) (d) (6,−3).
Answer:
(a) Point (5,7) lies in the first quadrant because x>0 and y>0. The abscissa is positive and the ordinate is positive.
(b) Point (−3,6) lies in the second quadrant because x<0 and y>0. The abscissa is negative and the ordinate is positive.
(c) Point (−4,−2) lies in the third quadrant because x<0 and y<0. The abscissa is negative and the ordinate is negative.
(d) Point (6,−3) lies in the fourth quadrant because x>0 and y<0. The abscissa is positive and the ordinate is negative.
Q4. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The coordinates of the origin are __________.
(b) If a point lies on the y-axis, its x-coordinate is __________.
(c) If a point lies on the x-axis, its y-coordinate is __________.
Answer:
(a) The coordinates of the origin are (0,0).
(b) If a point lies on the y-axis, its x-coordinate is 0.
(c) If a point lies on the x-axis, its y-coordinate is 0.
Q5. Find the distance between the two points A(2,3) and B(5,7) using the distance formula. Show all steps.
Solution and Answer:
The distance formula for points A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) is
AB=(x2−x1)2+(y2−y1)2.
Here x1=2,y1=3,x2=5,y2=7. Compute step by step:
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x2−x1=5−2=3.
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(x2−x1)2=32=9.
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y2−y1=7−3=4.
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(y2−y1)2=42=16.
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Sum =9+16=25.
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AB=25=5.
Therefore, the distance between A and B is 5 units.
Q6. Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment joining the points P(−2,4) and Q(6,−8). Also explain the formula used.
Solution and Answer:
The midpoint M of the line segment joining P(x1,y1) and Q(x2,y2) is given by
M(2x1+x2,2y1+y2).
Here x1=−2,y1=4,x2=6,y2=−8. Compute step by step:
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2x1+x2=2−2+6=24=2.
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2y1+y2=24+(−8)=2−4=−2.
Thus the midpoint is M(2,−2).
Q7. The point R(x,y) divides the line segment joining the points A(2,3) and B(8,5) in the ratio 2:1. Find the coordinates of the point R using the section formula.
Solution and Answer:
Using the internal section formula: if a point divides AB in the ratio m:n (where the ratio corresponds to AP:PB=m:n), then
x=m+nmx2+nx1,y=m+nmy2+ny1.
Here x1=2,y1=3,x2=8,y2=5,m=2,n=1. Compute each coordinate:
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x=2+12⋅8+1⋅2=316+2=318=6.
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y=2+12⋅5+1⋅3=310+3=313.
Therefore, R has coordinates R(6,313).
Q8. Verify whether the points P(1,2), Q(4,6), and R(7,10) are collinear by using the concept of slope.
Solution and Answer:
Three points are collinear if the slope of PQ equals the slope of QR.
Slope mPQ=xQ−xPyQ−yP=4−16−2=34.
Slope mQR=xR−xQyR−yQ=7−410−6=34.
Since mPQ=mQR=34, the three given points are collinear.
Q9. Find the area of the triangle whose vertices are A(2,3), B(4,5), and C(6,3) using the coordinate-geometry area formula.
Solution and Answer:
The area of △ABC is
Area=21∣x1(y2−y3)+x2(y3−y1)+x3(y1−y2)∣.
Substitute x1=2,y1=3;x2=4,y2=5;x3=6,y3=3:
Compute each term:
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x1(y2−y3)=2(5−3)=2×2=4.
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x2(y3−y1)=4(3−3)=4×0=0.
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x3(y1−y2)=6(3−5)=6×(−2)=−12.
Sum =4+0−12=−8. Absolute value ∣−8∣=8. Then area =21×8=4.
Therefore, the area of the triangle is 4 square units.
Q10. The points A(2,3), B(4,k), and C(6,−3) are collinear. Find the value of k.
Solution and Answer:
If three points are collinear, area of the triangle formed by them is zero. Using the area formula:
21∣x1(y2−y3)+x2(y3−y1)+x3(y1−y2)∣=0.
Substitute x1=2,y1=3;x2=4,y2=k;x3=6,y3=−3:
Compute inside absolute value:
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x1(y2−y3)=2(k−(−3))=2(k+3)=2k+6.
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x2(y3−y1)=4(−3−3)=4(−6)=−24.
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x3(y1−y2)=6(3−k)=18−6k.
Sum =(2k+6)+(−24)+(18−6k)=2k+6−24+18−6k=(2k−6k)+(6−24+18)=−4k+0=−4k.
So 21∣−4k∣=0⇒∣−4k∣=0⇒−4k=0⇒k=0.
Therefore, k=0.
Q11. The vertices of a quadrilateral are A(2,3), B(6,7), C(10,3), and D(6,−1). Show that the given quadrilateral is a square by using the distance formula and verifying that adjacent sides are perpendicular.
Solution and Answer:
We will compute the lengths of all four sides and show that adjacent sides are equal in length and one pair of adjacent sides is perpendicular.
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Compute side lengths using the distance formula.
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AB=(6−2)2+(7−3)2=42+42=16+16=32=42.
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BC=(10−6)2+(3−7)2=42+(−4)2=16+16=32=42.
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CD=(6−10)2+(−1−3)2=(−4)2+(−4)2=16+16=32=42.
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DA=(2−6)2+(3−(−1))2=(−4)2+42=16+16=32=42.
All four sides are equal in length, each equal to 42.
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Verify that an adjacent pair of sides is perpendicular by computing the dot product of vectors AB and BC.
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AB=(6−2,7−3)=(4,4).
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BC=(10−6,3−7)=(4,−4).
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Dot product: (4,4)⋅(4,−4)=4⋅4+4⋅(−4)=16−16=0.
A zero dot product shows that AB is perpendicular to BC. Since all sides are equal and one pair of adjacent sides are perpendicular, the quadrilateral is a square.
Therefore, the given quadrilateral is a square.
Q12. The line segment joining the points A(1,2) and B(7,4) is extended beyond B to a point C such that AC=3×AB. Find the coordinates of point C.
Solution and Answer:
Vector AB=(7−1,4−2)=(6,2).
If AC=3×AB as vectors, then AC=3⋅AB=(18,6). Since AC=AC=(xC−1,yC−2), we have
Therefore, the coordinates of C are (19,8).
(Remark: this places C beyond B on the same straight line, at a distance three times AB from A.)
Q13. A point P divides the line segment joining A(4,−3) and B(−2,6) internally in the ratio 3:2. Find the coordinates of P using the section formula.
Solution and Answer:
Using the internal section formula with m:n=3:2, where m corresponds to the portion toward B in the chosen convention , we set x1=4,y1=−3,x2=−2,y2=6,m=3,n=2:
Compute coordinate:
Compute coordinate:
Therefore, .
Q14. Write the coordinates of the reflection of the point :
(a) In the x-axis
(b) In the y-axis
Answer:
Reflection rules: reflection in the x-axis changes the sign of the y-coordinate only; reflection in the y-axis changes the sign of the x-coordinate only.
(a) Reflection of in the x-axis is .
(b) Reflection of in the y-axis is .
Q15. If the midpoint of the line segment joining the points and is , find the value of x.
Solution and Answer:
Midpoint formula gives
Compute the x-coordinate check: (consistent). Now equate the y-coordinate:
Therefore, .