2.3 Analytic & Solid Geometry

Key Takeaways

  • Straight-line geometry establishes slope relationships (m_1 = m_2 for parallel, m_1 m_2 = -1 for perpendicular) and point-to-line perpendicular distance d = \frac{|Ax_1 + By_1 + C|}{\sqrt{A^2 + B^2}}.
  • Conic sections are classified by discriminant B^2 - 4AC (parabola = 0, ellipse < 0, hyperbola > 0) and eccentricity e = c/a (e=0 circle, 0<e<1 ellipse, e=1 parabola, e>1 hyperbola).
  • Polar coordinates (r, \theta) convert to Cartesian via x = r\cos\theta and y = r\sin\theta, facilitating the representation of circular and radial physical systems.
  • Mensuration formulas for 3D polyhedrons, cylinders, cones, and spheres determine volumes, lateral surface areas, and frustum dimensions.
  • Pappus's Centroid Theorems calculate surface areas (S = 2\pi \bar{y} L) and volumes (V = 2\pi \bar{y} A) of revolution by rotating 2D curves or plane regions about a coplanar non-intersecting axis.
Last updated: August 2026

2.3 Analytic & Solid Geometry

Analytic geometry provides coordinate-based tools for analyzing lines, curves, and spatial surfaces, while solid geometry (mensuration) deals with three-dimensional solids. For the PRC Registered Electrical Engineer (REE) examination, mastery of 2D line and conic equations, polar coordinate transformations, 3D surface areas/volumes, and Pappus's Centroid Theorems is essential.


1. Analytic Geometry of Straight Lines

Basic Coordinate Formulas

For two points $P_1(x_1, y_1)$ and $P_2(x_2, y_2)$:

  • Distance Formula: $d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}$
  • Midpoint Formula: $M = \left(\frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2}\right)$
  • Point of Division ($r_1 : r_2$ ratio): x=r2x1+r1x2r1+r2,y=r2y1+r1y2r1+r2x = \frac{r_2 x_1 + r_1 x_2}{r_1 + r_2}, \quad y = \frac{r_2 y_1 + r_1 y_2}{r_1 + r_2}

Line Slope & Angle Between Lines

The slope $m$ of a non-vertical line is $m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} = \tan \theta$.

  • Parallel Lines: $m_1 = m_2$
  • Perpendicular Lines: $m_1 \cdot m_2 = -1 \implies m_2 = -\frac{1}{m_1}$
  • Acute Angle $\phi$ Between Lines: tanϕ=m2m11+m1m2\tan \phi = \left| \frac{m_2 - m_1}{1 + m_1 m_2} \right|

Standard Forms of Line Equations

  1. Slope-Intercept Form: $y = mx + b$
  2. Point-Slope Form: $y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)$
  3. Intercept Form: $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
  4. General Linear Form: $Ax + By + C = 0$

Perpendicular Distance from Point $(x_1, y_1)$ to Line $Ax + By + C = 0$

d=Ax1+By1+CA2+B2d = \frac{|A x_1 + B y_1 + C|}{\sqrt{A^2 + B^2}}


2. Conic Sections

The general second-degree equation in two variables is:

Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0Ax^2 + Bxy + Cy^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Classification via Discriminant ($B^2 - 4AC$)

Assuming no degenerate cases:

Discriminant $B^2 - 4AC$Conic TypeEccentricity ($e$)
$B^2 - 4AC < 0$Ellipse (Circle if $A = C, B = 0$)$0 \le e < 1$ ($e = 0$ for Circle)
$B^2 - 4AC = 0$Parabola$e = 1$
$B^2 - 4AC > 0$Hyperbola$e > 1$

Standard Equations & Geometric Properties

1. Circle

(xh)2+(yk)2=r2(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2

  • Center: $(h, k)$, Radius: $r = \sqrt{h^2 + k^2 - F}$ for general form $x^2 + y^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0$ where $h = -D/2$, $k = -E/2$.

2. Parabola

  • Vertical Axis: $(x - h)^2 = 4p(y - k)$ (Opens UP if $p>0$, DOWN if $p<0$)
  • Horizontal Axis: $(y - k)^2 = 4p(x - h)$ (Opens RIGHT if $p>0$, LEFT if $p<0$)
  • Focal distance: $|p|$, Latus Rectum length: $L = |4p|$.

3. Ellipse

(xh)2a2+(yk)2b2=1(a>b)\frac{(x - h)^2}{a^2} + \frac{(y - k)^2}{b^2} = 1 \quad (a > b)

  • Foci distance: $c = \sqrt{a^2 - b^2}$
  • Eccentricity: $e = \frac{c}{a} < 1$
  • Latus Rectum length: $L = \frac{2b^2}{a}$
  • Area of Ellipse: $\text{Area} = \pi a b$

4. Hyperbola

(xh)2a2(yk)2b2=1\frac{(x - h)^2}{a^2} - \frac{(y - k)^2}{b^2} = 1

  • Foci distance: $c = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$
  • Eccentricity: $e = \frac{c}{a} > 1$
  • Asymptotes: $y - k = \pm \frac{b}{a}(x - h)$

3. Polar Coordinate Transformations

Polar coordinates represent a point as $(r, \theta)$, where $r$ is the radial distance and $\theta$ is the polar angle.

Cartesian to Polar: r=x2+y2,θ=arctan(yx)\text{Cartesian to Polar: } r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}, \quad \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)

Polar to Cartesian: x=rcosθ,y=rsinθ\text{Polar to Cartesian: } x = r \cos \theta, \quad y = r \sin \theta


4. Solid Geometry & 3D Mensuration

Common 3D Solids Formulas

SolidVolume ($V$)Lateral Surface Area ($A_L$)Total Surface Area ($A_T$)
Right Circular Cylinder$V = \pi r^2 h$$A_L = 2\pi r h$$A_T = 2\pi r h + 2\pi r^2$
Right Circular Cone$V = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h$$A_L = \pi r L$ ($L = \sqrt{r^2 + h^2}$)$A_T = \pi r L + \pi r^2$
Sphere$V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$$A_T = 4\pi r^2$
Frustum of Cone$V = \frac{1}{3}\pi h (r_1^2 + r_2^2 + r_1 r_2)$$A_L = \pi (r_1 + r_2) L$$A_T = A_L + \pi r_1^2 + \pi r_2^2$
Pyramid$V = \frac{1}{3} A_{\text{base}} h$$\frac{1}{2} P_{\text{base}} L$$A_L + A_{\text{base}}$

5. Pappus's Centroid Theorems

Pappus's Theorems provide an elegant way to calculate surface areas and volumes of solids formed by rotating plane figures about a non-intersecting coplanar axis.

First Theorem (Surface Area of Revolution)

Surface Area S=2πyˉL\text{Surface Area } S = 2\pi \bar{y} L

where:

  • $L$ = length of the generating curve arc.
  • $\bar{y}$ = distance from the axis of rotation to the centroid of the curve.

Second Theorem (Volume of Revolution)

Volume V=2πyˉA\text{Volume } V = 2\pi \bar{y} A

where:

  • $A$ = area of the generating plane region.
  • $\bar{y}$ = distance from the axis of rotation to the centroid of the plane region.

Solved Practice Examples

Example 1: Point-to-Line Distance

Problem: Compute the perpendicular distance from point $P(3, -2)$ to the line $4x - 3y + 7 = 0$.

Solution:

  1. Identify coefficients: $A = 4$, $B = -3$, $C = 7$, $x_1 = 3$, $y_1 = -2$.
  2. Apply the distance formula: d=Ax1+By1+CA2+B2=4(3)+(3)(2)+742+(3)2d = \frac{|A x_1 + B y_1 + C|}{\sqrt{A^2 + B^2}} = \frac{|4(3) + (-3)(-2) + 7|}{\sqrt{4^2 + (-3)^2}}
  3. Evaluate numerator and denominator: Numerator=12+6+7=25\text{Numerator} = |12 + 6 + 7| = 25 Denominator=16+9=25=5\text{Denominator} = \sqrt{16 + 9} = \sqrt{25} = 5 d=255=5 unitsd = \frac{25}{5} = 5\ \text{units}

Example 2: Volume of Solid Torus via Pappus's Second Theorem

Problem: A circle of radius $r = 3\ \text{cm}$ is rotated about an axis located $R = 10\ \text{cm}$ from the center of the circle. Calculate the volume of the resulting solid torus.

Solution:

  1. Identify plane region area $A$ and centroid distance $\bar{y}$: A=πr2=π(3)2=9π cm2A = \pi r^2 = \pi (3)^2 = 9\pi\ \text{cm}^2 yˉ=R=10 cm\bar{y} = R = 10\ \text{cm}
  2. Apply Pappus's Second Theorem: V=2πyˉA=2π(10)(9π)=180π21776.5288 cm3V = 2\pi \bar{y} A = 2\pi (10) (9\pi) = 180\pi^2 \approx 1776.5288\ \text{cm}^3
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Conic Section Classification Flowchart
Test Your Knowledge

What is the perpendicular distance from the point $(3, -2)$ to the line $4x - 3y + 7 = 0$?

A
B
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D
Test Your Knowledge

An ellipse has the equation $9x^2 + 25y^2 = 225$. What is its eccentricity $e$?

A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge

A circle of radius $r = 3\ \text{cm}$ is rotated about an axis in its plane located $R = 10\ \text{cm}$ from the center of the circle. What is the volume of the solid torus generated?

A
B
C
D