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an arbitrary point on L .Then, by the definition, the slope of L is given by
Example Find the equation of the line through (– 2, 3) with slope – 4.
Solution Here m = – 4 and given point (x0 , y0) is (– 2, 3).
By slope-intercept form formula equation of the given line is y – 3 = – 4 (x + 2) or
4x + y + 5 = 0, which is the required equation.
10.3.3 Two-point form
Let the line L passes through two given points P1 (x1, y1) and P2 (x2, y2).
Let P (x, y) be a general point on L .The three points P1, P2 and P are collinear, therefore, we
have slope of P1P = slope of P1P2
10.3.4 Slope-intercept form
Case I Suppose a line L with slope m cuts the y-axis at a distance c from the origin
Thus, the point (x, y) on the line with slope m and y-intercept c lies on the line if and
only ify = mx +c
Case II Suppose line L with slope m makes x-intercept d. Then equation of L is y = m(x – d)
Example Write the equation of the lines for which tan = , where is the inclination of the line
and (i) y-intercept is (ii) x-intercept is 4.
Solution (i) Here, slope of the line is m = tan = and y - intercept c = .Therefore, by slope-
intercept form ,the equation of the line is 2y-x+3=0 .which is the required equation.
(ii) Here, we have m = tan = and d = 4.
Therefore, by slope-intercept , the equation of the line is 2y-x+4=0
which is the required equation.
10.3.5 Intercept - form Suppose a line L makes x-intercept a and y-intercept b on the
axes. the equation of the line is
Example Find the equation of the line, which makes intercepts –3 and 2 on the
x- and y-axes respectively.
Solution Here a = –3 and b = 2. By intercept form (5) above, equation of the line is 2x-3y+6=0
10.3.6 Normal form : the equation of the line having normal distance p from the origin and
angle which the normal makes with the positive direction of x-axis is given by
x cos + y sin = p
Example Find the equation of the line whose perpendicular distance from the
origin is 4 units and the angle which the normal makes with positive direction of x-axis is 15°.
Solution Here, we are given p = 4 and
0
= 15
By the normal form , the equation of the line is
0
0
X cos 15 + y sin 15 =4
or (√ ) (√ ) √
This is the required equation.
10.4 General Equation of a Line
10.4.1 Different forms of Ax + By + C = 0
(a) Slope-intercept form If B 0, then Ax + By + C = 0 can be written as

