SOLUTION: point C lies on line AB such that AC= 3/4 AB. If the endpoints of line AB are A(8,12) and B(-4,0) ,find C. i know i have to use substitution but its been a couple mon

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: point C lies on line AB such that AC= 3/4 AB. If the endpoints of line AB are A(8,12) and B(-4,0) ,find C. i know i have to use substitution but its been a couple mon      Log On


   



Question 175453: point C lies on line AB such that AC= 3/4 AB. If the endpoints of line AB are A(8,12) and B(-4,0) ,find C.

i know i have to use substitution but its been a couple months since I have had a problem like this. If you could please guide me through the steps you would be very helpful. Thank You

Answer by psbhowmick(878) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If straight line AB is divided by the point such that AC:CB = m:n then the projections of AB on x and y axes will also be divided in the same ratio.

Let the coordinates of the points be denoted by the name of the point with a suffix x or y. Thus coordinates of C are (C%5Bx%5D,C%5By%5D) and so on.

Considering the projection on x axis,
%28A%5Bx%5D+-+C%5Bx%5D%29%2F%28C%5Bx%5D+-+B%5Bx%5D%29+=+m%2Fn
n%28A%5Bx%5D+-+C%5Bx%5D%29+=+m%28C%5Bx%5D+-+B%5Bx%5D%29
C%5Bx%5D+=+%28n%2AA%5Bx%5D+%2B+m%2AB%5Bx%5D%29%2F%28m%2Bn%29 ___________ (1)

In a similar way, C%5By%5D+=+%28n%2AA%5By%5D+%2B+m%2AB%5By%5D%29%2F%28m%2Bn%29 ____________ (2)

If the point lies outside the line segment AB then m/n will be negative as AC and CB will be in opposite directions.

Here, A%5Bx%5D+=+8, A%5By%5D+=+12, B%5Bx%5D+=+-4, B%5By%5D+=+0 and m/n = +- 3 (- sign comes because C may be outside the line segment AB as well). Let m = +-3k and n = k (k = arbitrary constant).

Substituting these in (1) we have
C%5Bx%5D+=+%28k%2A8+%2B-+3k%2A%28-4%29%29%2F%28%2B-3k+%2B+k%29
Either C%5Bx%5D+=+%288k+-+12k%29%29%2F%283k+%2B+k%29 or C%5Bx%5D+=+%288k+%2B+12k%29%29%2F%28-3k+%2B+k%29
Either C%5Bx%5D+=+-1 or C%5Bx%5D+=+-10

Substituting into (2) we have
Either C%5By%5D+=+3 or C%5By%5D+=+-6

So the possible set of coordinates of C are (-1, 3) and (-10, -6).