SOLUTION: The complex numbers z1, z2 and z3 are represented in the complex plane by the points P, Q and R respectively. If the line segments PQ and PR have the same length and are perpendicu

Question 1166456: The complex numbers z1, z2 and z3 are represented in the complex plane by the points P, Q and R respectively. If the line segments PQ and PR have the same length and are perpendicular to one another, prove:
=

I've tried multiplying the modulus of PQ and PR together, and the answer I get is close but not quite right.
Help?
Answer by math_helper(2461) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Assume P,Q,and R are oriented in an arbitrary way WRT a set of coordinate axes (but the points obey the constraints given by the problem statement).

Now rotate and translate a set of coordinate axes (WLOG) such that Q is at the origin , P is at and R is at :

Then you get:
LHS =
RHS =

Apply Pythagorean Theorem :

...

Note that so the LHS becomes:

and using the Pythagorean result, the RHS becomes:

Drop a perpendicular from P to the x-axis, the height of P from the x-axis and horizontal distance from origin are the same, these are also and respectively. Thus, we have shown .

Siince the proof is complete.
Undoing the translation and rotation of the coordinate axes back to whatever the 'original' position was changes nothing (but the algebra is more complicated in that orientation).

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