SOLUTION: A square has vertices at U(-2,1), V(2,3), W(4,-1) and X(0,-3). Verify that the diagonals perpendicularly bisect each other.
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-> SOLUTION: A square has vertices at U(-2,1), V(2,3), W(4,-1) and X(0,-3). Verify that the diagonals perpendicularly bisect each other.
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Question 513850: A square has vertices at U(-2,1), V(2,3), W(4,-1) and X(0,-3). Verify that the diagonals perpendicularly bisect each other. Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
If you plot the points, you will see that the diagonals are the segments UW and XV.
Write an equation for the line containing the segment UW by using the two-point form of an equation of a line:
where and are the coordinates of the given points.
Repeat the process to find an equation for the line containing the segment XV.
The part of each of the equations is the slope of the respective line. If the lines are perpendicular, then the slopes are negative reciprocals of each other.
Solve the system of equations to determine the point of intersection. If the diagonals are bisectors of each other then the point of intersection of the two lines will be the midpoint of each of the segments. Use the midpoint formulas to calculate the midpoints of the two segments and compare the midpoint coordinates to the point of intersection to verify that the diagonals are actually mutual bisectors.
and
where and are the coordinates of the given points. Note: You have to do this twice, once for each diagonal segment.
John
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
