NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1#


Exercise 7.1 focuses on the Distance Formula — finding the distance between two points given their coordinates, and using it to determine properties of geometric figures (collinearity, type of triangle/quadrilateral).

Distance Formula: The distance between two points $P(x_1, y_1)$ and $Q(x_2, y_2)$ is:

$$PQ = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}$$

Distance from Origin: Distance of point $P(x, y)$ from origin $= \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}$

1. Find the distance between the following pairs of points: #

(i) (2, 3), (4, 1)
$$d = \sqrt{(4-2)^2 + (1-3)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 4} = \sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2}$$
(ii) (–5, 7), (–1, 3)
$$d = \sqrt{(-1-(-5))^2 + (3-7)^2} = \sqrt{16 + 16} = \sqrt{32} = 4\sqrt{2}$$
(iii) (a, b), (–a, –b)
$$d = \sqrt{(-a-a)^2 + (-b-b)^2} = \sqrt{4a^2 + 4b^2} = 2\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$$

2. Find the distance between the points (0, 0) and (36, 15). Can you now find the distance between the two towns A and B discussed in Section 7.2. #

Answer
$$d = \sqrt{(36-0)^2 + (15-0)^2} = \sqrt{1296 + 225} = \sqrt{1521} = 39$$

Yes, the distance between the two towns A and B = 39 km (if the coordinates represent distances in km).

3. Determine if the points (1, 5), (2, 3) and (–2, –11) are collinear. #

Answer

Let $A(1, 5)$, $B(2, 3)$, $C(-2, -11)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{(2-1)^2 + (3-5)^2} = \sqrt{1 + 4} = \sqrt{5}$$$$BC = \sqrt{(-2-2)^2 + (-11-3)^2} = \sqrt{16 + 196} = \sqrt{212} = 2\sqrt{53}$$$$CA = \sqrt{(1-(-2))^2 + (5-(-11))^2} = \sqrt{9 + 256} = \sqrt{265}$$

Check: $AB + BC = \sqrt{5} + 2\sqrt{53} \neq \sqrt{265} = CA$

Since $AB + BC \neq CA$, the points are not collinear.

4. Check whether (5, –2), (6, 4) and (7, –2) are the vertices of an isosceles triangle. #

Answer

Let $A(5, -2)$, $B(6, 4)$, $C(7, -2)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{(6-5)^2 + (4-(-2))^2} = \sqrt{1 + 36} = \sqrt{37}$$$$BC = \sqrt{(7-6)^2 + (-2-4)^2} = \sqrt{1 + 36} = \sqrt{37}$$$$CA = \sqrt{(5-7)^2 + (-2-(-2))^2} = \sqrt{4 + 0} = 2$$

Since $AB = BC = \sqrt{37}$ (two sides are equal), the triangle is isosceles.

5. In a classroom, 4 friends are seated at the points A, B, C and D as given in the figure. Champa and Chameli walk into the class and after observing for a few minutes Champa asks Chameli, “Don’t you think ABCD is a square?” Chameli disagrees. Using distance formula, find which of them is correct. #

Answer

From the figure, the coordinates are: $A(3, 4)$, $B(6, 7)$, $C(9, 4)$, $D(6, 1)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{(6-3)^2 + (7-4)^2} = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$$$BC = \sqrt{(9-6)^2 + (4-7)^2} = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$$$CD = \sqrt{(6-9)^2 + (1-4)^2} = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$$$DA = \sqrt{(3-6)^2 + (4-1)^2} = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$

All sides are equal. Now check diagonals:

$$AC = \sqrt{(9-3)^2 + (4-4)^2} = \sqrt{36} = 6$$$$BD = \sqrt{(6-6)^2 + (1-7)^2} = \sqrt{36} = 6$$

Since all sides are equal and diagonals are equal, ABCD is a square. Champa is correct.

6. Name the type of quadrilateral formed, if any, by the following points, and give reasons for your answer: #

(i) (–1, –2), (1, 0), (–1, 2), (–3, 0)

Let $A(-1,-2)$, $B(1,0)$, $C(-1,2)$, $D(-3,0)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{4+4} = 2\sqrt{2}$$

$$BC = \sqrt{4+4} = 2\sqrt{2}$$

$$CD = \sqrt{4+4} = 2\sqrt{2}$$

$$DA = \sqrt{4+4} = 2\sqrt{2}$$

Diagonals:

$$AC = \sqrt{0+16} = 4$$

$$BD = \sqrt{16+0} = 4$$

All sides equal, diagonals equal → Square.

(ii) (–3, 5), (3, 1), (0, 3), (–1, –4)

Let $A(-3,5)$, $B(3,1)$, $C(0,3)$, $D(-1,-4)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{36+16} = \sqrt{52}$$

$$BC = \sqrt{9+4} = \sqrt{13}$$

$$CD = \sqrt{1+49} = \sqrt{50}$$

$$DA = \sqrt{4+81} = \sqrt{85}$$

All sides are different, and checking if any are collinear:

Check if A, B, C are collinear: slope AB = $\dfrac{1-5}{3-(-3)} = \dfrac{-4}{6} = -\dfrac{2}{3}$; slope BC = $\dfrac{3-1}{0-3} = \dfrac{2}{-3} = -\dfrac{2}{3}$.

Since slope AB = slope BC and B is common, A, B, C are collinear. Therefore these points do not form a quadrilateral.

(iii) (4, 5), (7, 6), (4, 3), (1, 2)

Let $A(4,5)$, $B(7,6)$, $C(4,3)$, $D(1,2)$.

$$AB = \sqrt{9+1} = \sqrt{10}$$

$$BC = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$

$$CD = \sqrt{9+1} = \sqrt{10}$$

$$DA = \sqrt{9+9} = 3\sqrt{2}$$

Opposite sides equal: $AB = CD$, $BC = DA$.

Diagonals:

$$AC = \sqrt{0+4} = 2$$

$$BD = \sqrt{36+16} = \sqrt{52}$$

Diagonals are not equal. → Parallelogram (opposite sides equal, diagonals unequal).

7. Find the point on the x-axis which is equidistant from (2, –5) and (–2, 9). #

Answer

Let the point on x-axis be $P(x, 0)$.

Given: $PA = PB$ where $A(2,-5)$ and $B(-2,9)$.

$$PA^2 = (x-2)^2 + 25$$

$$PB^2 = (x+2)^2 + 81$$

Setting $PA^2 = PB^2$:

$$(x-2)^2 + 25 = (x+2)^2 + 81$$

$$x^2 - 4x + 4 + 25 = x^2 + 4x + 4 + 81$$

$$-4x + 29 = 4x + 85$$

$$-8x = 56$$

$$x = -7$$

∴ The required point is $\mathbf{(-7, 0)}$.

8. Find the values of y for which the distance between the points P(2, –3) and Q(10, y) is 10 units. #

Answer
$$PQ = \sqrt{(10-2)^2 + (y+3)^2} = 10$$$$64 + (y+3)^2 = 100$$$$(y+3)^2 = 36$$$$y + 3 = \pm 6$$

$y = 3$ or $y = -9$

∴ $y = 3$ or $y = -9$.

9. If Q(0, 1) is equidistant from P(5, –3) and R(x, 6), find the values of x. Also find the distances QR and PR. #

Answer

Given: $QP = QR$

$$QP = \sqrt{(5-0)^2 + (-3-1)^2} = \sqrt{25+16} = \sqrt{41}$$$$QR = \sqrt{x^2 + (6-1)^2} = \sqrt{x^2+25}$$

Setting $QP = QR$:

$$x^2 + 25 = 41$$

$$x^2 = 16$$

$$x = \pm 4$$

Case 1: $x = 4$, so $R(4, 6)$

$$QR = \sqrt{16+25} = \sqrt{41}$$

$$PR = \sqrt{(5-4)^2+(-3-6)^2} = \sqrt{1+81} = \sqrt{82}$$

Case 2: $x = -4$, so $R(-4, 6)$

$$QR = \sqrt{16+25} = \sqrt{41}$$

$$PR = \sqrt{(5+4)^2+(-3-6)^2} = \sqrt{81+81} = 9\sqrt{2}$$

∴ $x = 4$ or $x = -4$; $QR = \sqrt{41}$; $PR = \sqrt{82}$ or $PR = 9\sqrt{2}$.

10. Find a relation between x and y such that the point (x, y) is equidistant from the point (3, 6) and (–3, 4). #

Answer

Let $P(x, y)$, $A(3, 6)$, $B(-3, 4)$.

Given: $PA = PB$

$$PA^2 = PB^2$$$$(x-3)^2 + (y-6)^2 = (x+3)^2 + (y-4)^2$$$$x^2 - 6x + 9 + y^2 - 12y + 36 = x^2 + 6x + 9 + y^2 - 8y + 16$$$$-6x + 9 - 12y + 36 = 6x + 9 - 8y + 16$$$$-6x - 12y + 45 = 6x - 8y + 25$$$$-12x - 4y + 20 = 0$$$$3x + y = 5$$

∴ The required relation is $3x + y - 5 = 0$ (or $3x + y = 5$).

Calendar September 2, 2026