Find the coordinates of the points of trisection of the line segment joining

find the coordinates of the points of trisection of the line segment joining

Find the coordinates of the points of trisection of the line segment joining

Answer: To find the coordinates of the points of trisection of the line segment joining two points ( A(x_1, y_1) ) and ( B(x_2, y_2) ), we need to find the points that divide the line segment into three equal parts. These points are known as the points of trisection.

Let’s denote the points of trisection as ( P ) and ( Q ), such that ( P ) divides the segment ( AB ) in the ratio ( 1:2 ) and ( Q ) divides the segment ( AB ) in the ratio ( 2:1 ).

Step-by-Step Solution:

  1. Coordinates of Point ( P ) (Ratio ( 1:2 )):

    The formula for the coordinates of a point dividing a line segment in a given ratio ( m:n ) is:

    \left( \frac{mx_2 + nx_1}{m+n}, \frac{my_2 + ny_1}{m+n} \right)

    For point ( P ) dividing ( AB ) in the ratio ( 1:2 ):

    • ( m = 1 )
    • ( n = 2 )

    Therefore, the coordinates of ( P ) are:

    P \left( \frac{1 \cdot x_2 + 2 \cdot x_1}{1+2}, \frac{1 \cdot y_2 + 2 \cdot y_1}{1+2} \right)

    Simplifying this:

    P \left( \frac{x_2 + 2x_1}{3}, \frac{y_2 + 2y_1}{3} \right)
  2. Coordinates of Point ( Q ) (Ratio ( 2:1 )):

    For point ( Q ) dividing ( AB ) in the ratio ( 2:1 ):

    • ( m = 2 )
    • ( n = 1 )

    Therefore, the coordinates of ( Q ) are:

    Q \left( \frac{2 \cdot x_2 + 1 \cdot x_1}{2+1}, \frac{2 \cdot y_2 + 1 \cdot y_1}{2+1} \right)

    Simplifying this:

    Q \left( \frac{2x_2 + x_1}{3}, \frac{2y_2 + y_1}{3} \right)

Summary:

  • The coordinates of the first point of trisection ( P ) are \left( \frac{x_2 + 2x_1}{3}, \frac{y_2 + 2y_1}{3} \right)
  • The coordinates of the second point of trisection ( Q ) are \left( \frac{2x_2 + x_1}{3}, \frac{2y_2 + y_1}{3} \right)

These points ( P ) and ( Q ) divide the line segment joining A(x_1, y_1) and B(x_2, y_2) into three equal parts.

1 Like