Grade 10 · Pure Mathematics · Cambridge IGCSE 0580 · Age 14–16
Coordinate geometry (also called analytic geometry) connects algebra and geometry by placing shapes on a coordinate grid. You can calculate exact distances, find midpoints, determine gradients, and work with equations of lines and circles — all using algebraic methods. This is a cornerstone topic for Cambridge IGCSE 0580 Extended and underpins A-Level mathematics.
Length of a segment, Pythagoras in disguise
Centre of diameter, midpoint of bisector
Parallel, perpendicular, equation of a line
Midpoint + perpendicular gradient method
(x−a)²+(y−b)²=r², centre and radius
Simultaneous equations, line meets circle
The distance between two points A(x₁, y₁) and B(x₂, y₂) is found using Pythagoras' theorem applied to the horizontal and vertical separations.
Think of it as: draw a right-angled triangle with the line segment as the hypotenuse. The horizontal leg has length |x₂ − x₁| and the vertical leg has length |y₂ − y₁|. Pythagoras gives the hypotenuse.
The midpoint M of the segment joining A(x₁, y₁) and B(x₂, y₂) is simply the average of each coordinate pair.
If AB is a diameter of a circle, then the centre is the midpoint of AB, and the radius equals half the length of AB.
The gradient (slope) of a line through A(x₁, y₁) and B(x₂, y₂) measures how steeply it rises or falls.
A positive gradient slopes upward left to right; a negative gradient slopes downward. A horizontal line has gradient 0; a vertical line has undefined gradient.
Two lines are parallel if and only if they have equal gradients. They never intersect (unless they are the same line).
Two lines are perpendicular (meet at a right angle) if the product of their gradients equals −1. Equivalently, the gradient of the perpendicular is the negative reciprocal.
Method: (1) calculate the gradient m, (2) substitute one point into y = mx + c to find c, (3) write the full equation.
The perpendicular bisector of AB is the line that: (1) passes through the midpoint of AB, and (2) is perpendicular to AB. Every point on this line is equidistant from A and B.
A circle with centre (a, b) and radius r has equation:
When the centre is at the origin (0,0), this simplifies to x² + y² = r².
To find where a line meets another line or curve, set the equations equal and solve simultaneously.
These are the errors examiners see most frequently. Knowing why they are wrong helps you avoid losing marks.
Gradient is always rise over run: change in y DIVIDED BY change in x. "y over x" — think "up over across".
Always verify: multiply the two perpendicular gradients. The product MUST equal −1. If it doesn't, you've made an error.
Write out the formula before substituting. The two most common errors are (1) not squaring and (2) not taking the square root.
The standard form is (x−a)²+(y−b)²=r². If you see a plus sign, it means the corresponding centre coordinate is negative. Always rewrite to (x−a)² form to read off the centre safely.
After you find c, substitute the OTHER point back in to verify your equation is correct. This takes 10 seconds and catches arithmetic errors.
Always work in this order: (1) find midpoint M, (2) find gradient of AB, (3) find perpendicular gradient, (4) use M in the equation. Never use A or B in step 4.
| Formula | Notes / When to Use |
|---|---|
| Distance: d = √((x₂−x₁)²+(y₂−y₁)²) | Length of any line segment; also find radius from centre to point on circle |
| Midpoint: M = ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2) | Centre of a diameter; midpoint for perpendicular bisector; locus equidistant from two points |
| Gradient: m = (y₂−y₁)/(x₂−x₁) | Rise over run; steepness of a line |
| Parallel lines: m₁ = m₂ | Equal gradients → parallel (and different y-intercepts) |
| Perpendicular gradient: m₂ = −1/m₁ | Negative reciprocal; product m₁×m₂ = −1 |
| Line equation: y = mx + c | Use gradient + one point to find c |
| Point-slope form: y − y₁ = m(x − x₁) | Direct method when you have a point and gradient |
| Circle: (x−a)²+(y−b)²=r² | Centre (a,b), radius r; origin-centred: x²+y²=r² |
Enter two points A and B. The tool will calculate the distance, midpoint, gradient, line equation, and draw everything on the coordinate grid.
1. Find the distance between A(0, 0) and B(3, 4).
2. Find the distance between P(1, 1) and Q(4, 5).
3. Find the distance between A(0, 3) and B(4, 0). Give exact answer.
4. Find the distance between C(−2, 1) and D(4, 9).
5. Find the distance between P(3, −1) and Q(−3, 7). Give exact value.
6. A circle has centre O(0,0) and passes through (5, 12). What is the radius?
7. Find the distance between A(−4, −3) and B(8, 2). Give answer to 2 d.p.
8. The distance between (k, 0) and (0, 8) is 10. Find the positive value of k.
1. Find the midpoint of A(2, 4) and B(8, 10). Enter x then y.
2. Find the midpoint of P(−3, 5) and Q(7, 1). Enter x then y.
3. M(5, 3) is the midpoint of AB. A = (2, 1). Find B. Enter x then y.
4. M(0, 4) is the midpoint of PQ. P = (−4, 7). Find Q. Enter x then y.
5. A(1, 3) and B(7, 11) are the ends of a diameter. Find the centre. Enter x then y.
6. Find the midpoint of (−6, 0) and (0, −8). Enter x then y.
7. M(3, −1) is the midpoint of AB. A = (7, 4). Find B. Enter x then y.
8. A(−5, 2) and B(3, −6) form a diameter. Find the centre. Enter x then y.
1. Find the gradient of the line through (1, 3) and (5, 11).
2. Find the gradient of the line through (−2, 6) and (4, −3). Give as a decimal.
3. A line has gradient 4. What is the gradient of a perpendicular line?
4. A line has gradient −3/2. What is the gradient of a perpendicular line?
5. Find the y-intercept (c) of the line through (2, 9) with gradient 3.
6. Find the y-intercept (c) of the line through (−1, 5) with gradient −2.
7. Find the gradient of the line through (0, −3) and (6, 9).
8. A line has gradient 5/3. Find the gradient of a perpendicular line as a decimal.
1. Circle (x−2)²+(y−5)²=36. What is the radius?
2. Circle (x+3)²+(y−1)²=16. What is the x-coordinate of the centre?
3. Write the equation of the circle with centre (0,0) and radius 7. Enter r² (the right-hand side).
4. A circle has centre (1, 4) and passes through (4, 8). Find the radius.
5. Diameter endpoints: A(2, 0) and B(8, 6). Find the radius of the circle.
6. Perpendicular bisector of A(0, 0) and B(4, 0). What is the x-coordinate where it crosses the x-axis?
7. Find the gradient of the perpendicular bisector of A(1, 3) and B(5, 7).
8. Circle (x−3)²+(y+4)²=25. Does the point (3, 1) lie on, inside, or outside? Enter 0=on, −1=inside, 1=outside.
1. Lines y = 3x − 2 and y = x + 4 intersect. Find the x-coordinate.
2. Lines y = 3x − 2 and y = x + 4 intersect. Find the y-coordinate.
3. Line y = x + 5 meets x² + y² = 25. Find the larger x-coordinate of intersection.
4. Line y = x + 5 meets x² + y² = 25. Find the smaller x-coordinate of intersection.
5. Do lines y = 2x+1 and 2y = 4x+5 intersect? Enter 1 for yes, 0 for no (parallel).
6. The line y = k is tangent to the circle x² + y² = 25. Find the positive value of k.
7. Find the x-coordinate where y = −x + 3 meets y = x − 1.
8. How many intersections does x² + y² = 9 have with the line y = x + 5? (0, 1, or 2)
Non-calc = exact answers. Calc = decimals acceptable.
1. Distance between (0,0) and (5,12).
2. Midpoint of (−4, 6) and (10, −2). Enter x-coordinate.
3. Midpoint of (−4, 6) and (10, −2). Enter y-coordinate.
4. Gradient through (0,1) and (4,9).
5. Perpendicular gradient to a line with gradient 2.
6. y-intercept of the line through (3,7) with gradient 2.
7. Distance between (−1,−1) and (2,3). Give exact value.
8. M(2,5) is midpoint of AB. A=(−2,3). Find the x-coordinate of B.
9. M(2,5) is midpoint of AB. A=(−2,3). Find the y-coordinate of B.
10. Circle centre (4,−3) radius 6. Write r² (right-hand side of equation).
11. Circle (x+1)²+(y−3)²=49. Find the radius.
12. Diameter endpoints A(0,0) and B(6,8). Find the radius.
13. Find gradient of perpendicular bisector of A(0,4) and B(4,0).
14. Lines y=5x−3 and y=5x+7. Are they parallel? Enter 1 for yes, 0 for no.
15. x-intercept of the line y=3x−9 (set y=0, find x).
16. Distance between (2,3) and (2,10).
17. Find the y-intercept (c) of line through (4,5) with gradient −1.
18. Circle (x−2)²+(y+5)²=100. What is the y-coordinate of the centre?
19. Gradient through (−3,−3) and (6,6).
20. Perpendicular gradient to line with gradient −1/3.
21. Find the x-coordinate of intersection of y=2x+1 and y=−x+7.
22. Find x-midpoint of (3,−5) and (7,3).
23. Find y-midpoint of (3,−5) and (7,3).
24. A circle has x²+y²=r². It passes through (8,6). Find r².
25. Diameter endpoints (−2,3) and (6,7). Find the y-coordinate of the centre.
1. A(−1, 3) and B(5, 11) are the ends of a diameter. Find the equation of the circle in the form (x−a)²+(y−b)²=r². Enter r².
2. The perpendicular bisector of A(2, 4) and B(8, 2) passes through point (5, 3). Find the y-intercept of this perpendicular bisector.
3. A line through (k, 1) and (3, 7) has gradient 2. Find k.
4. Find the distance between the intersections of y = x + 1 and x² + y² = 25. Give answer to 2 d.p.
5. A triangle has vertices A(0,0), B(6,0), C(3,4). Find the length of the median from A to the midpoint of BC.
6. Show that A(1,2), B(4,6), C(8,3), D(5,−1) form a rectangle. What is the length of diagonal AC? Give exact value.
7. The line y = mx + 2 is tangent to the circle x² + y² = 5. Find the positive value of m. (Hint: tangent means discriminant = 0)
8. A(−2,1), B(4,3), C(5,0). Prove or disprove that angle ABC = 90°. Enter the product m_AB × m_BC.
9. The circle (x−3)²+(y−1)²=25 and the line x=3 intersect at two points. Find the y-coordinate of the upper intersection point.
10. Find the equation of the line perpendicular to y=3x−5 that passes through (6,1). Enter the y-intercept c.
11. A(0,0), B(4,0), C(4,3). Find the exact distance from A to the midpoint of BC.
12. Two perpendicular lines have gradients m and (m+3). Find the two possible values of m. Enter the positive value.
Mark-scheme style. Show all working in your book. Enter final answers for self-marking.
A(−2, 3) and B(6, 9) are the endpoints of a diameter of a circle.
A = (1, 7) and B = (9, 3).
Line L passes through (2, 5) and (6, 13).
A circle has equation x² + y² = 50. A line has equation y = x + 2.
Points P(0, 4), Q(4, 6), R(8, 4) and S(4, 2) are given.