Q.Find the equation of the lines passing through the point (1,1)
(i) with y-intercept (−4)
(ii) with slope 3
(iii) and (−2,3)
(iv) and the perpendicular from the origin makes an angle 60∘ with the x-axis.
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Concept understanding — Straight Lines — Forms of the Equation
The general (linear) equation of a straight line is ax+by+c=0, where a,b are not both zero; the set of solutions of any such equation is a straight line in the plane. Because dividing through by b (or a) removes one constant, every line's equation genuinely contains only two independent arbitrary constants — so exactly two independent pieces of information (two points, or a point and a slope, or two intercepts, etc.) are enough to pin a line down uniquely.
Slope. The angle of inclinationθ of a line is the angle it makes with the x-axis, measured counter-clockwise; the slopem=tanθ (undefined when θ=π/2, i.e. for a vertical line). Equivalently, through two points (x1,y1),(x2,y2) with x1=x2, m=x2−x1y2−y1; from the general form, m=−a/b (b=0). Three points are collinear exactly when the slope of any one pair equals the slope of another pair sharing a point.
Intercepts. The x-intercept is where a line meets the x-axis (y=0); the y-intercept is where it meets the y-axis (x=0). (x=0 is itself the equation of the y-axis; y=0 is the equation of the x-axis.)
The six forms (two conditions each, all interconvertible by algebra):
Normal length p, angle α of the normal with the x-axis
xcosα+ysinα=p
Parametric, through (x1,y1) at inclination θ, parameter r = signed distance from (x1,y1)
cosθx−x1=sinθy−y1=r
Special cases of slope-intercept form: b=0,m=0 gives a line through the origin, y=mx; b=0,m=0 gives the x-axis itself, y=0; b=0,m=0 gives a horizontal line y=b. The point-slope form breaks down for a line parallel to the y-axis (slope undefined); such a line is simply x=x1. A line through the origin, or a horizontal/vertical line, cannot be written in intercept form (an intercept would be 0 or undefined).
General form to other forms. For Ax+By+C=0 (A,B not both 0): slope =−A/B, y-intercept =−C/B (when B=0); x-intercept =−C/A, y-intercept =−C/B (when A,B,C all nonzero); normal form is obtained by dividing through by ±A2+B2, choosing the sign so the resulting constant (the normal length p) comes out positive: cosα=∓A/A2+B2, sinα=∓B/A2+B2, p=∣C∣/A2+B2.
Tip
A real-world quantity that changes at a constant rate (speed, population growth, spring stretch per unit weight, a linearly-billed cost) is exactly a straight-line relationship — identify the two data points or the rate (slope) and one value (intercept/point) given, then apply the matching form above.
Each part needs only two independent pieces of data through (1,1) — a second point, a slope, or a normal-form angle — then the matching one of the six forms gives the line directly.
(i) two points (1,1),(0,−4): slope =5
(ii) point-slope with m=3
(iii) two points (1,1),(−2,3)
(iv) normal form with α=60∘
✓Final answer
(i) y=5x−4 (ii) 3x−y=2 (iii) 2x+3y=5 (iv) x+3y=1+3
Each part fixes the line through (1,1) with one more piece of data, then uses the matching standard form (two-point, point-slope, or normal form).
Four independent sub-problems, each solved by picking the form that fits the data given.
Step 1. Part (i) — y-intercept −4. A y-intercept of −4 means the line also passes through (0,−4). Using the two-point form on (1,1) and (0,−4):
m=1−01−(−4)=5
Point-slope through (0,−4): y−(−4)=5(x−0)⇒y=5x−4.
Step 2. Part (ii) — slope 3 through (1,1). Point-slope form: y−1=3(x−1)=3x−3, so y=3x−2, i.e. 3x−y=2.
Step 3. Part (iii) — through (1,1) and (−2,3). Slope:
m=−2−13−1=−32=−32
Point-slope through (1,1): y−1=−32(x−1). Multiply by 3: 3y−3=−2x+2, so 2x+3y=5.
Step 4. Part (iv) — normal from the origin at 60∘. "The perpendicular from the origin makes an angle 60∘ with the x-axis" describes the normal formxcosα+ysinα=p with α=60∘; p (the length of that perpendicular) is unknown and is fixed by requiring the line to pass through (1,1):
1⋅cos60∘+1⋅sin60∘=p⇒p=21+23=21+3
So the line is xcos60∘+ysin60∘=21+3, i.e. 2x+23y=21+3. Multiplying by 2: x+3y=1+3.
✓Final answer
(i) y=5x−4 (ii) 3x−y=2 (iii) 2x+3y=5 (iv) x+3y=1+3
In (i), forgetting that a y-intercept of −4 means the point is (0,−4), not (−4,0).
In (iv), confusing the angle of the line itself with the angle of the perpendicular (normal) from the origin — they are different unless p happens to make them equal.
Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.
CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
Q.The image of the point (2,3) in the line y=−x is:
(a) (−2,−3)
(b) (−3,−2)
(c) (3,2)
(d) (−3,2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Reflecting (x,y) in the line y=−x gives (−y,−x), so (2,3)→(−3,−2).
The line y=−x passes through the origin at 135∘ to the x-axis. Reflection in this line swaps the coordinates and negates both: the general rule is (x,y)↦(−y,−x).
(This can be verified using the reflection formula for a line x+y=0: reflecting (x1,y1) gives (x1−2⋅2x1+y1,y1−2⋅2x1+y1)=(−y1,−x1).)
Applying to (2,3): the image is (−3,−2).
✓Final answer
The correct option is (b) (−3,−2).
CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
Q.Straight line joining the points (2,3) and (−1,4) passes through the point (α,β) if:
(a) α+3β=11
(b) α+2β=7
(c) 3α+β=11
(d) 3α+β=9
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the equation of the line through the two given points and read off the condition satisfied by any point on it.
Q.Equation of the straight line perpendicular to the line x−y+5=0, through the point of intersection on the y axis and the given line:
(a) x−y−5=0
(b) x+y−5=0
(c) x+y+5=0
(d) x+y+10=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find where the given line meets the y-axis, then draw the perpendicular there.
The given line x−y+5=0, i.e. y=x+5, has slope 1. It meets the y-axis where x=0: y=0+5=5, so the point of intersection is (0,5).
A line perpendicular to a line of slope 1 has slope −1 (product of slopes of perpendicular lines is −1). The required line passes through (0,5) with slope −1:
y−5=−1(x−0)⇒y=−x+5⇒x+y−5=0.
✓Final answer
The correct option is (b) x+y−5=0.
CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
Q.The line ax−by=0 has the slope 1, if:
(a) a=b
(b) only for a=1,b=1
(c) a>b
(d) a<b
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing ax−by=0 as y=abx shows the slope is b/a; setting this equal to 1 gives a=b.
ax−by=0⇒by=ax⇒y=abx.
This is the equation of a line through the origin with slope m=ab.
For the slope to equal 1: ab=1⇒a=b (with a,b=0).
✓Final answer
The correct option is (a) a=b.
CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
Q.The straight line joining the points (2,3) and (−1,4) passes through (α,β) if:
(a) α+3β=11
(b) 3α+β=11
(c) α+2β=7
(d) 3α+β=9
›Reveal solutionSolution
The slope of the line through (2,3) and (−1,4) is −1/3; writing its equation and substituting (α,β) gives α+3β=11.
Slope m=−1−24−3=−31=−31.
Using point-slope form through (2,3): y−3=−31(x−2).
Multiply by 3: 3y−9=−(x−2)=−x+2, so x+3y=11.
Any point (α,β) on this line therefore satisfies α+3β=11.
✓Final answer
The correct option is (a) α+3β=11.
CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
Q.Which of the following has the greatest y-intercept in magnitude?
(a) 3x+4y=5
(b) 2x+3y=4
(c) 4x+5y=6
(d) x+2y=3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Computing y-intercept =c/b for each line, x+2y=3 gives the largest magnitude, 1.5.
For ax+by=c, setting x=0 gives the y-intercept y=c/b.
3x+4y=5⇒y-intercept=5/4=1.25
2x+3y=4⇒y-intercept=4/3≈1.33
4x+5y=6⇒y-intercept=6/5=1.2
x+2y=3⇒y-intercept=3/2=1.5
Comparing magnitudes 1.25,1.33,1.2,1.5, the largest is 1.5, from option (d).
✓Final answer
The correct option is (d) x+2y=3 (y-intercept =1.5).