ISEE Middle Level Math : Coordinate Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Line On A Coordinate Plane

Find the slope of the line that passes through coordinates \(\displaystyle (-4,-3)\) and \(\displaystyle (8,-4)\).

Possible Answers:

 \(\displaystyle m= -\frac{1}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle m= -\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle m = -2\)

\(\displaystyle m = 2\)

Correct answer:

 \(\displaystyle m= -\frac{1}{12}\)

Explanation:

The formula for slope is: 

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\)

In this particular question our values are given as follows.

\(\displaystyle y_{2} = -4\)

\(\displaystyle y_{1} =-3\)

\(\displaystyle x_{2} = 8\)

\(\displaystyle x_{1} = -4\)

Substituting the above values into the formula for slope we get,

\(\displaystyle \frac{-4 - (-3)}{8- (-4)} = \frac{-1}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle m = -\frac{1}{12}\).

 

Example Question #1 : Geometry

Billy set up a ramp for his toy cars. He did this by taking a wooden plank and putting one end on top of a brick that was 3 inches high. He then put the other end on top of a box that was 9 inches high. The bricks were 18 inches apart. What is the slope of the plank?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{18}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{18}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

Explanation:

The value of the slope (m) is rise over run, and can be calculated with the formula below:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\)

The coordinates of the first end of the plank would be (0,3), given that this is the starting point of the plank (so x would be 0), and y would be 3 since the brick is 3 inches tall. 

The coordinates of the second end of the plank would be (18,9) since the plank is 18 inches long (so x would be 18) and y would be 9 since the box was 9 inches tall at the other end. 

From this information we know that we can assign the following coordinates for the equation:

\(\displaystyle \left(x_{1},y_{1}\right) = (0,3)\) and \(\displaystyle (x_{2}, y_{2})= (18,9)\)

Below is the solution we would get from plugging this information into the equation for slope:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{9-3}{18-0}}\)

This reduces to \(\displaystyle \frac{6}{18} =\frac{1}{3}\)

 

Example Question #12 : New Sat Math Calculator

What is the slope of the line depicted by the graph?

Screen shot 2016 02 10 at 9.35.05 am

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle -1\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{8}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{8}\)

Explanation:

Looking at the graph, it is seen that the line passes through the points (-8,-5) and (8,5).

Screen shot 2016 02 10 at 9.35.05 am

The slope of a line through the points \(\displaystyle (8, 5)\) and \(\displaystyle (-8,- 5)\) can be found by setting 

\(\displaystyle x_{1} = -8,y_{1} = -5, x_{2} = 8, y_{2} = 5\):

in the slope formula:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}} = \frac{5-(-5)}{8 - (-8)} = \frac{5+5}{8 + 8} = \frac{10}{16} = \frac{5}{8}\)

 

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