UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » Mathematics » A short note on Equation of Straight Line

A short note on Equation of Straight Line

This article will discuss straight-line equations, its definition and types throughout geometry and how straight-line equations are used in various mathematical topics. The topic of straight-line equations is discussed in detail throughout the article.

What is a straight line?

A straight line can be represented as a structure that has only a one-dimensional shape with no breadth and a length that never ends. It seems to be made up of an infinite number of points connected in between two given points. The straight line structure seems to have no form of curves on any part. It can always be inclined, or a vertical straight line, or a horizontal one. If an angle is put on a straight line, it always seems to show an angle of 180 degrees.

What is a straight line equation?

The linear equation seems to be a straight line’s mathematical equation form as it helps in representing the straight line in the form of numbers. There seem to be numerous forms of variables, angle structures, and constant variables that affect how a straight line looks on a cartesian plane. The slope associated with that of a straight line always seems to refer to or dictates the line’s path as well as indicates how steep the given straight line is. The difference of y coordinates divided by the difference with all of the given x coordinates seems to be a technique of evaluating a straight line. The straight-line equation can take many different forms.

The straight line’s basic equation form seems to be y = mx + c; here, the m seems to be the straight line’s slope as well as c seems to be the point on the y – axis. In geometry, it seems to be a common and very frequent way of representing a straight line in the form of an equation. A given straight line can be represented in various equation forms, and these forms are called point-slope, general, slope-intercept, standard and a few others. A straight line seems to be a geometrical structure that seems to be containing two dimensions that continue indefinitely on both of its sides.

Brief on types of straight lines equations

There are various forms of straight-line equations. These various forms are mentioned in detail below:

  • Slope intercept type: The slope is represented with the help of evaluating the variable “m” multiplied by an X variable. The y-intercept value seems to be the variable “b” within the equation representing a straight line. The y-intercept is a point on the y axis where a line intersects it. The slope-intercept form is said to be a more efficient term for this type of line equation. The values that this type of equation can represent can either be positive as well as negative. The slope-intercept form seems to be one of the most popular techniques when representing a straight line; the standard form of mathematical equation for this type seems to be Bx + Cy = z, where ‘x’, ‘y’, as well as ‘z’ seem to be variables and ‘B’, ‘C’ values seem to be constants.
  • Point slope type: The point-slope form seems to be a form of representing an equation of a straight line that seems to pass through a certain given point on the cartesian plane and it as well as seems to be inclined at a certain angle towards the x-axis on the same cartesian plane. A line’s equation seems to be a set of equations that are represented by all the points on the same line. This indicates that there will always be an equation that has at least two variables to form a linear equation that seems to represent the straight line. The point-slope formula can be used to find the equation with a slope of ‘m’ that also seems to pass a point on the cartesian plane at x1, y1 coordinates. The equation form is written in the form of y − y1 = m (x − x1).
  • Two-point equation: The two-point equation represents the line that passes through two given coordinates on a cartesian plane. This line seems to have multiple variables and can be represented in the form of a mathematical equation that looks like “y − y2 = (y2− y1 )/ (x2 − x1)(x−x2)”

Conclusion

The article explains briefly about straight-line equations and its definition; it further talks about what straight-line equations represent in mathematics as well as mentions some of its key concepts. Straight-line equations represent the values of the points of the given straight line on a cartesian plane. It seems to have various types that are mentioned in the above article in detail. The article also mentions a few terms related to straight lines.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What is the y-intercept?

Ans. The y-intercept or the vertical intercept seems to be a point that represents the intersection of a certain fun...Read full

What is x-intercept?

Ans. The point where a line seems to cross the x-axis can be represented as an x-intercept. It is exactly the opposi...Read full

What are coordinates?

Ans. The cartesian plane can always contain two numbers that represent a specific location. Coordinates seem to be t...Read full