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IEB · Grade 12 · Mathematics

Paper 2 · Analytical geometry

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IEB Grade 12 Analytical Geometry Cheat Sheet

Analytical geometry is about 40 marks of Paper 2. These are the formulas and proof rules you need.

Lines

  • d=(x2​−x1​)2+(y2​−y1​)2​;
    M=(2x1​+x2​​;2y1​+y2​​);
    m=x2​−x1​y2​−y1​​

  • y−y1​=m(x−x1​) or y=mx+c.

  • Parallel: m1​=m2​. Perpendicular: m1​m2​=−1 (when both gradients exist; a vertical line is perpendicular to a horizontal one).

  • m=tanθ, 0°≤θ<180°; add 180° to a negative calculator angle.

  • Angle between lines: difference of inclinations (exterior angle of a triangle).

Circles

  • Centre origin: x2+y2=r2. Centre (a;b): (x−a)2+(y−b)2=r2.

  • Expanded form: complete the square for x and y; the right side must be positive.

  • Tangent at P: perpendicular to radius CP.

  • Tangent length from T: TC2−r2​.

  • Line is a tangent if substituting gives Δ=0.

Polygon proofs (minimum conditions)

  • Parallelogram: diagonals share a midpoint.

  • Rhombus: parallelogram with adjacent sides equal (or perpendicular diagonals).

  • Rectangle: parallelogram with a right angle (or equal diagonals).

  • Square: rhombus with a right angle.

  • Collinear: equal gradients through a shared point.

  • End with a sentence naming the property used.

Euclidean links

  • Angle in a semicircle: a chord subtending 90° is a diameter.

  • Line from centre to midpoint of a chord is perpendicular to it.

Know by heart

  • Minimum conditions for each quadrilateral

  • Completing the square for circles

On the formula sheet

  • Distance, midpoint, gradient, line and circle equations, m=tanθ

Common traps

  • Centre of (x−3)2+(y+2)2=25 written as (−3;2).

  • Radius given as r2.

  • Using the radius gradient as the tangent gradient.

  • Negative angle of inclination.

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