A line segment is bisected by a line with the equation 4 y + 3 x = 2 . If one end of the line segment is at ( 2 , 1 ), where is the other end?

1 Answer
Jun 14, 2016

One possible other end would be at color(green)(""(2,-3))
The equation of all possible answers is color(green)(2x+4y=-6)
If the given equation is to be the perpendicular bisector: color(green)(""(2/25,-39/25))

Explanation:

K: 4y+3x=2 (the given bisecting line)

Let H be a vertical line through the given end point (2,1).
Since H is a vertical line all values of x in H are equal to 2
and H intersects K at (2,-1)
enter image source here
The distance from (2,1) to the intersection point (2,-1) is 2 units.
Moving another 2 units down H would bring us to (2,-3)

K bisects the line segment from (2,1) to color(green)(""(2,-3))
i.e. color(green)(""(2,-3)) is one possible solution value to the given question.

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If we wanted the equation for all solution values
Consider a line L drawn through the point (2,-3) parallel to K
enter image source here
Note the labeling of Line Segment H into AC and CD
which we know from the previous work are in the ratio 1:1

Consider any other arbitrary Line Segment J from A at (2,1) to the Line L.
Note again the labeling that divides J into segments AB and BC

Since triangle ABC and triangle ADE are similar,
the ratio of abs(AB):abs(BD)=abs(AC):abs(CE)=1:1

That is any arbitrary line segment connecting (2,1) and line L is bisected by K

Since L has the same slope as K and passes through (2,-3)
its equation is
color(white)("XXX")y+3=(-3/4)(x-2)
or
color(white)("XXX")3x+4y=-6

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If we wanted K to be a underline(color(black)("perpendicular")) bisector of the line segment

Consider the line M perpendicular to K through (2,1)

Since the slope of K is m_K=-3/4
the slope of M must be m_M=4/3

and the equation of M must be
color(white)("XXX")(y+3)=4/3(x-2)
or
color(white)("XXX")4x-3y=5
enter image source here

The endpoint of this perpendicular line segment can be derived as the intersection of M and L

{(4x-3y=5),(3x+4y=-6):}

Which gives (x,y)=(2/25,-39/25)

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My apologies for the length of this solution.

If anyone can provide a complete solution more briefly, please post it.