When we talk about the distance from a point to a line, we mean the shortest distance. If you draw a line segment that is perpendicular to the line and ends at the point, the length of that line segment is the distance we want. In the figure above, this is the distance from C to the line.

There are many ways to calculate this distance. In this volume, four methods are described:

Method 1. When the line is horizontal or vertical

• See Distance from a point to a horizontal / vertical line

Method 2. Using two line equations

• See Distance from a point to a line using line equations

Method 3. Using trigonometry

• See Distance from a point to a line using trigonometry

Method 4. By formula

• See Distance from a point to a line using a formula

Other Coordinate Geometry entries

• Introduction to coordinate geometry
• The coordinate plane
• Coordinates of a point
• Distance between two points

• Introduction to Lines in Coordinate Geometry
• Lines (in Coordinate Geometry)
• Rays (in Coordinate Geometry)
• Line Segments (in Coordinate Geometry)
• Midpoint of a line segment (Midpoint Theorem)

• Distance from a point to a line - introduction
• - When line is horizontal or vertical
• - Using two line equations
• - Using trigonometry
• - Using a formula

• Slope (m) of a line
• Intercept (b) of a line
• Equation of a line in slope-intercept form y=mx+b
• Equation of a line in point-slope form y=m(x-Px)+Py

• Vertical lines
• Horizontal lines
• Parallel lines
• Perpendicular lines
• Intersecting lines

• Cirumscribed rectangle (bounding box)
• Area of a triangle (formula method)
• Area of a triangle (box method)
• Area of a polygon
• Area of a polygon (calculator)
• Rectangle
• Definition and properties, diagonals
• Area and perimeter
• Square
• Definition and properties, diagonals
• Area and perimeter
• Trapezoid
• Definition and properties, altitude, median
• Area and perimeter

• Print blank graph paper