# Converting Linear Equations in Standard Form to Normal Form

The general equation or standard equation of a straight line is given by

Where $a$ and $b$ are any constants and also either $a \ne 0$ or $b \ne 0$.
Convert the standard equation of line $ax + by + c = 0$ into the normal form

The procedure of converting into normal form as follows

Dividing on both sides $\pm \sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}}$ of the equation, we have

This is equation of line in normal form, where $\frac{c}{{ \pm \sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}$ is the length of normal form the origin of the line. Since the length of the normal form origin to the line must be positive, so
(i) $- \frac{a}{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}x - \frac{b}{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}y = \frac{c}{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}$ is the normal form of line if $c > 0$.
(ii) $\frac{a}{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}x + \frac{b}{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}y = \frac{c}{{ - \sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}$ is the normal form of line if $c < 0$. Example: Convert the equation $2x + 5y - 6 = 0$ into normal form. We have equation of line in standard form is $2x + 5y - 6 = 0$

Dividing by normalizing factor on both sides $\sqrt {{{\left( 2 \right)}^2} + {{\left( 5 \right)}^2}} = \sqrt {29}$ of the equation, we have

Compare with normal form of a line $x\cos \alpha + y\sin \alpha = p$, where $\cos \alpha = \frac{2}{{\sqrt {29} }}$, $\sin \alpha = \frac{5}{{\sqrt {29} }}$and $p = \frac{6}{{\sqrt {29} }}$.