MathematicsClass 11Straight Lines

Straight Lines | Class 11 Mathematics Notes

By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read

Straight Lines | Class 11 Mathematics Notes

Straight Lines – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Straight Lines from Class 11 Mathematics, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.

9.2 Slope of a Line

The slope of a line is a fundamental concept in coordinate geometry that measures the steepness or inclination of the line. A line in the coordinate plane forms two supplementary angles with the x-axis. The angle θ (0° ≤ θ ≤ 180°) made by the line with the positive direction of the x-axis, measured anticlockwise, is called the inclination of the line. Lines parallel to the x-axis have inclination 0°, while vertical lines parallel to the y-axis have inclination 90°. The slope m of the line is defined as m = tan θ, except when θ = 90°, where the slope is undefined. The slope of the x-axis is zero, and the slope of the y-axis is undefined. The slope can be calculated if two points on the line are known. For points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) on a non-vertical line, the slope m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1), provided x1 ≠ x2. This formula holds whether the angle θ is acute or obtuse, as shown by geometric reasoning. The slope is positive if the line rises from left to right and negative if it falls. The slope is zero for horizontal lines and undefined for vertical lines.

📊 Diagram: Fig 9.2 showing angle θ between line and x-axis; Fig 9.3 (i) and (ii) showing slope calculation for acute and obtuse angles.

🧪 Activity: Calculate slopes of lines given two points; observe behavior for horizontal and vertical lines.

🔗 Connection: Introduces conditions for parallelism and perpendicularity of lines based on slopes.

Frequently asked questions

1. Draw a quadrilateral in the Cartesian plane, whose vertices are $(-4, 5)$ , $(0, 7)$ , $(5, -5)$ and $(-4, -2)$ . Also, find its area.

To draw the quadrilateral, plot the points (-4,5), (0,7), (5,-5), and (-4,-2) on the Cartesian plane and join them in order. To find the area, use the shoelace formula:

Vertices in order: A(-4,5), B(0,7), C(5,-5), D(-4,-2)

Area = (1/2) |x1y2 + x2y3 + x3y4 + x4y1 - (y1x2 + y2x3 + y3x4 + y4x1)| = (1/2) |(-4)(7) + 0(-5) + 5(-2) + (-4)(5) - [5(0) + 7(5) + (-5)(-4) + (-2)(-4)]| = (1/2) |(-28) + 0 + (-10) + (-20) - [0 + 35 + 20 + 8]| = (1/2) |(-58) - 63| = (1/2) |-121| = 60.5 units²

So, the area of

2. The base of an equilateral triangle with side $2a$ lies along the $y$ -axis such that the mid-point of the base is at the origin. Find vertices of the triangle.

Given an equilateral triangle with side length 2a, base lies along y-axis with midpoint at origin.

Base endpoints: Since base length = 2a along y-axis, and midpoint at origin, the base vertices are at (0, a) and (0, -a).

To find the third vertex, let it be at (x, 0) on x-axis (since base is vertical, the apex lies on x-axis).

Distance from apex to each base vertex = side length = 2a.

Using distance formula: Distance between (x,0) and (0,a) = 2a \Rightarrow \sqrt{(x-0)^2 + (0 - a)^2} = 2a \Ri

3. Find the distance between P(x_1, y_1) and Q(x_2, y_2) when: (i) PQ is parallel to the y-axis, (ii) PQ is parallel to the x-axis.

(i) If PQ is parallel to y-axis, then x-coordinates of P and Q are the same, i.e., x_1 = x_2. Distance = |y_2 - y_1|

(ii) If PQ is parallel to x-axis, then y-coordinates of P and Q are the same, i.e., y_1 = y_2. Distance = |x_2 - x_1|

4. Find a point on the x-axis, which is equidistant from the points (7, 6) and (3, 4).

Let the point on x-axis be (x, 0). Distance from (7,6) to (x,0): \sqrt{(x - 7)^2 + (0 - 6)^2} = \sqrt{(x - 7)^2 + 36} Distance from (3,4) to (x,0): \sqrt{(x - 3)^2 + (0 - 4)^2} = \sqrt{(x - 3)^2 + 16}

Equate distances: \sqrt{(x - 7)^2 + 36} = \sqrt{(x - 3)^2 + 16} Square both sides: (x - 7)^2 + 36 = (x - 3)^2 + 16 Expand: (x^2 - 14x + 49) + 36 = (x^2 - 6x + 9) + 16 Simplify: x^2 - 14x + 85 = x^2 - 6x + 25 Cancel x^2: -14x + 85 = -6x + 25 Bring variables to one side: -14x + 6x = 25 - 85 -8x = -6

Ready to ace this chapter?

Get the full Straight Lines chapter — interactive notes, diagrams, worked solutions, polls and a free practice quiz — in the ConceptScroll app.

Open in ConceptScroll →

Study smarter with ConceptScroll

Daily NCERT-aligned reels, AI doubt solving and chapter quizzes — all free.

Start learning free
#cbse notes#class 11#mathematics#ncert

Continue reading