The NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1 cover all 10 questions on the distance formula, collinearity, and triangle and quadrilateral types, according to the latest 2026-27 CBSE syllabus. Each answer follows the step-by-step working the board expects, with an Expert Solution that adds exam strategy.

  • Questions covered: 10 in total, from finding distances between point pairs to deciding whether a quadrilateral formed by given vertices is a square, rhombus, or parallelogram.
  • Core formula: PQ = √[(x2x1)2 + (y2y1)2]; write it once, then substitute; every question in this exercise reduces to this one line.
  • Board value: Exercise 7.1 carries 4 to 6 marks in the CBSE Class 10 board paper and appears almost every year in the 3-mark or 4-mark short-answer section.

NCERT Solutions Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1 - Distance Formula

Solved by Collegedunia: Every Exercise 7.1 question below is solved by Mathematics subject experts, checked against the official 2026-27 NCERT textbook, and written with full working so each step earns its marks in the CBSE Class 10 board paper.

What Exercise 7.1 of Coordinate Geometry Covers for Class 10

Exercise 7.1 is the first set in Chapter 7. It uses one tool throughout: the distance formula. You apply it to find lengths between pairs of points, then use those lengths to settle bigger questions about triangles, quadrilaterals, or the position of a point on an axis. The table further down lists the exact task for each of the 10 questions.

How to Solve Exercise 7.1 Question by Question

Every question starts the same way: write the distance formula, substitute, simplify. Only the final comparison changes. The table below maps each question to its task.

QuestionWhat it asksMethodFinal answer
Q1(i)Distance between (2,3) and (4,1)Distance formula2√(2) units
Q1(ii)Distance between (-5,7) and (-1,3)Distance formula4√(2) units
Q1(iii)Distance between (a,b) and (-a,-b)Distance formula (algebraic)2√(a2+b2) units
Q2Distance from origin to (36,15)Distance formula; Pythagorean triple39 km
Q3Are (1,5),(2,3),(-2,-11) collinear?Find 3 pairwise distances; check AB+BC=ACNot collinear
Q4Do (5,-2),(6,4),(7,-2) form an isosceles triangle?Check if any two sides equalYes; AB=BC=√(37)
Q5Are classroom seats A(3,4),B(6,7),C(9,4),D(6,1) a square?Four sides + two diagonalsSquare; Champa is right
Q6Name the type of quadrilateral for three sets of pointsCheck sides + diagonals; collinearity test(i) Square (ii) No quad (iii) Parallelogram
Q7Point on x-axis equidistant from (2,-5) and (-2,9)Set PA2=PB2; linear equation(-7,0)
Q8Values of y for PQ=10 with P(2,-3),Q(10,y)Square both sides; solve quadraticy=3 or y=-9
Q9Q(0,1) equidistant from P(5,-3) and R(x,6)Equate squared distances; find x, QR, PRx=±4; QR=√(41); PR=√(82) or 9√(2)
Q10Relation between x and y so (x,y) is equidistant from (3,6) and (-3,4)Set PA2=PB2; expand and simplify3x+y=5
Quick Tip: Always square both sides before expanding when distances are set equal. Keeping the square roots through the algebra is slower and more error-prone. Squaring first collapses the surds and leaves a simple linear or quadratic equation.

Distance Formula and Collinearity: Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Exercise 7.1 Key Concepts

The distance formula is the only new formula here. It comes from the Pythagoras theorem applied to the horizontal and vertical gaps between two points. For any two points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2):

PQ = √((x2 - x1)2 + (y2 - y1)2)

Three points are collinear when one pairwise distance equals the sum of the other two. If no pairing fits, they form a triangle.

  • Distance from the origin: special case where (x1, y1) = (0,0), so OP = √(x2 + y2).
  • A quadrilateral is a square when all four sides are equal AND both diagonals are equal.
  • A quadrilateral is a rhombus when all four sides are equal but the diagonals are unequal.
  • A quadrilateral is a parallelogram when opposite sides are equal and the diagonals are unequal.
Remember: A rhombus also has four equal sides. So equal sides alone only prove a rhombus, not a square. Always check the diagonals to separate the two.

Step-by-Step Solution Approach for Exercise 7.1 Class 10 Maths

Use this four-step approach for every question. It keeps the working neat and earns full marks.

StepWhat to writeWhy it earns marks
1. State the formulaWrite d = √((x2-x1)2 + (y2-y1)2) once at the startShows the examiner which formula you are using
2. Name the pointsLabel them A, B, C etc. with the given coordinatesPrevents sign errors when subtracting
3. Substitute and simplifyWrite each squared difference, add, then take the rootEach arithmetic line is a step mark
4. State the conclusionName the shape or give the required point/relationThe conclusion mark is the final mark for the question
Watch Out: Simplify the surd completely. √(8) must become 2√(2) and √(32) must become 4√(2). Leaving √(8) in the final answer costs the simplification mark in CBSE.

Common Mistakes Students Make in Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1

Exercise 7.1 is mostly arithmetic, but these errors cost marks in the board paper.

  • Not simplifying the surd: always pull out the largest perfect square from under the root.
  • Dropping the negative root in Q8 and Q9: (y+3)2 = 36 gives y+3 = ± 6, so two answers. Writing one loses a mark.
  • Calling a rhombus a square in Q5 or Q6: equal sides alone prove only a rhombus. Check the diagonals first.
  • Skipping the collinearity test in Q6(ii): if three of the four vertices are collinear, there is no quadrilateral.

Exercise 7.1 Marks and CBSE Board Relevance for Class 10 Maths

Coordinate Geometry carries 6 marks in the board paper. Exercise 7.1 material shows up in the 2-mark or 3-mark slots most years.

Question type from Exercise 7.1Where it appears in the board paperTypical marks
Distance between two given points (Q1 style)1-mark or 2-mark MCQ / very short answer1 to 2
Classifying triangle or deciding collinearity (Q3/Q4 style)2-mark or 3-mark short answer2 to 3
Classifying quadrilateral by sides and diagonals (Q5/Q6 style)3-mark or 4-mark short answer3 to 4
Finding an unknown coordinate given a distance or equidistance (Q7-Q10 style)2-mark or 3-mark short answer2 to 3

Other Resources for This Chapter: Class 10 Maths Coordinate Geometry

Jump to the other exercise of Chapter 7 and the other resource types below.

ResourceWhat it coversOpen page
Full chapter solutionsExercises 7.1 and 7.2 in one placeCoordinate Geometry Class 10 NCERT Solutions
Exercise 7.2Section formula, mid-point formula, centroidCoordinate Geometry Class 10 Exercise 7.2 Solutions
Revision notesConcept-first notes on distance, section, mid-pointCoordinate Geometry Class 10 Notes
Formula sheetDistance, section, and mid-point formulas at a glanceCoordinate Geometry Class 10 Formula Sheet
NCERT book PDFOfficial NCERT Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 textbookCoordinate Geometry Class 10 NCERT Book PDF
Handwritten notesScanned-style handwritten pages for quick revisionCoordinate Geometry Class 10 Handwritten Notes
Exemplar solutionsWorked solutions to NCERT Exemplar problemsCoordinate Geometry Class 10 Exemplar Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths Coordinate Geometry: All Exercises

Chapter 7 has two exercises. The table below links each one to its solutions page.

ExerciseTopicSolutions page
Exercise 7.1Distance formula, collinearity, triangle and quadrilateral types, equidistant pointsCoordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1 NCERT Solutions
Exercise 7.2Section formula, mid-point formula, centroid of triangleCoordinate Geometry Exercise 7.2 NCERT Solutions
Full chapterAll exercises in one PDFCoordinate Geometry Class 10 NCERT Solutions (all exercises)

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths: All Chapters

Jump to the NCERT Solutions for the other chapters of Class 10 Maths below.

All NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1 with Step-by-Step Solutions

Exercise 7.1

Q 7.1

Find the distance between the following pairs of points: (i) (2,3), (4,1)   (ii) (-5,7), (-1,3)   (iii) (a,b), (-a,-b)

Q 7.2

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?

Q 7.3

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

Q 7.4

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

Q 7.5

In a classroom, 4 friends are seated at the points A, B, C and D as shown in Fig. 7.8. 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 the distance formula, find which of them is correct.

Q 7.6

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);
(ii) (-3,5), (3,1), (0,3), (-1,-4);
(iii) (4,5), (7,6), (4,3), (1,2).

Q 7.7

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

Q 7.8

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

Q 7.9

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.

Q 7.10

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

Student Feedback

Out of 5,800 students surveyed before the 2026 boards, 81% said Exercise 7.1 became easy once they memorised just one formula (the distance formula). The most common slip was forgetting to simplify the surd at the end, which lost them the final simplification mark.

Source: Collegedunia Class 10 Maths student survey, 2026 board cohort.

Coordinate Geometry Class 10 Maths Exercise 7.1 NCERT Solutions FAQs

Ques. How many questions are there in Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1?

Ans. Exercise 7.1 has 10 questions. They cover finding distances between pairs of points, checking collinearity, deciding whether three points form an isosceles triangle, classifying quadrilaterals as square, rhombus, or parallelogram, and finding unknown coordinates using given distance conditions.

Ques. What is the distance formula used in Exercise 7.1 of Class 10 Maths?

Ans. The distance formula used throughout Exercise 7.1 is PQ = square root of [(x2 - x1) squared + (y2 - y1) squared]. It comes from the Pythagoras theorem applied to the horizontal and vertical gaps between two points. All 10 questions in this exercise reduce to applying this one formula and then comparing the resulting lengths.

Ques. How do you prove that a quadrilateral is a square using the distance formula in Exercise 7.1?

Ans. To prove a quadrilateral is a square, you need two conditions: all four sides must be equal, and both diagonals must be equal. In Exercise 7.1 Q5, the four seating positions A(3,4), B(6,7), C(9,4), D(6,1) all have sides equal to 3 root 2 and diagonals equal to 6. Both conditions are satisfied, so ABCD is a square. Equal sides alone only prove a rhombus, not a square.

Ques. How many values of y are there in Q8 of Exercise 7.1?

Ans. There are two values of y. When you set the distance PQ equal to 10 and square both sides, you get (y + 3) squared = 36, which gives y + 3 = plus or minus 6. This yields y = 3 or y = -9. Both values are valid because the point Q(10, y) can sit either above or below the horizontal level of P, and both positions are exactly 10 units away.

Ques. Where can I download the Class 10 Maths Chapter 7 Exercise 7.1 NCERT Solutions PDF?

Ans. You can download the Coordinate Geometry Exercise 7.1 NCERT Solutions PDF directly from this page using the download card at the top. It is free and follows the 2026-27 NCERT textbook. The full chapter PDF with both exercises (7.1 and 7.2) is also available on the Coordinate Geometry chapter solutions page.