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COORDINATE GEOMETRY

  • Sums based on Section formula

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Q. Find the ratio in which the line segment joining the points (–3, 10) and

(6, –8) is divided by (–1 ,6).

Sol.

A

P

B

(–3, 10)

(–1, 6)

(6, –8)

A (–3, 10),

B (6, –8), P(–1, 6)

=

m1

(6)

+

m2

(–3)

x =

m1

x2

+

m2

x1

m1 + m2

By section formula for internal division,

–1

=

6m1

3m2

=

6m1

3m2

m2

=

7m1

2m2

2

7

=

m1

m2

m1 : m2

2 : 7

=

m1 + m2

y1 = 10

x1 = –3,

y = 6

x = –1,

y2 = –8

x2 = 6,

To find : m1 : m2

–(m1 + m2)

m1

=

6m1

+

m1

+

3m2

m2

=

m1

m2

i.e.

2

7

Let, P (–1,6) divides seg AB internally in the ratio m1 : m2.

Let the co-ordinates of A be (x1, y1)

Let the co-ordinates of B be (x2, y2)

Let the co-ordinates of P be (x, y)

Which formula should we apply here ?

Section formula for Internal Division.

+

m1y2

m2y1

+

m2

m1

y

=

,

+

m1x2

m2x1

+

m2

m1

x

=

3 of 4

To find - m1 : m2

P lies on X-axis,

Its Y-coordinate is 0.

P(x, 0)

A(1, –5)

Xl

B(–4, 5)

X

Q. Find the ratio in which the line segment joining A (1, –5) and B (–4, 5) is

divided by the X–axis. Also find the coordinates of the point of division.

Sol.

By using section Formula,

A (1, –5),

B (–4, 5) P(x, 0)

(x, 0)

=

m1

(5)

+

m2

(–5)

y =

m1

y2

+

m2

y1

m1 + m2

0

=

5m1

5m2

=

5m2

5m1

m1 : m2

1 : 1

=

m1 + m2

x1 = 1,

x2 = –4,

0

=

m1

m2

1

1

Let, P (x,0) divides seg AB internally in the ratio m1 : m2.

Let the co-ordinates of A be (x1, y1)

Let the co-ordinates of B be (x2, y2)

Let the co-ordinates of P be (x, y)

Which formula should we apply here ?

Section formula for Internal Division.

+

m1y2

m2y1

+

m2

m1

y

=

,

+

m1x2

m2x1

+

m2

m1

x

=

=

m2

m1

x = x ,

y = 0

y2 = 5

y1 = –5

m1 : m2

P

4 of 4

Q. Find the ratio in which the line segment joining A (1, –5) and B (–4, 5) is divided by the X–axis. Also find the coordinates of the point of division.

Sol.

X– axis divides AB in the ratio 1 : 1

A(1, –5)

Xl

B(–4, 5)

X

P(x, 0)

m1 : m2

1 : 1

=

A (1, –5),

B (–4, 5) P(x, 0)

y1 = –5

x1 = 1,

y = 0

x = x ,

y2 = 5

x2 = –4,

=

1

(–4)

+

1

(1)

x =

m1

x2

+

m2

x1

m1 + m2

x

1 + 1

=

–4

+

1

x

2

=

–3

x

2

m1 : m2

= –1.5

P (–1.5, 0)