A triangle has corners at (3,7), (4,1), and (8,2). What are the endpoints and lengths of the triangle's perpendicular bisectors?

1 Answer
Jan 26, 2018
  1. End points of the perpendiclar bisectors

D (6,3/2), E (11/2, 9/2), F (7/2, 4) with circum center P (53/10, 43/10)

  1. Lengths of the perpendicular bisectors are

PD = color(blue)(2.8862), PE = color(blue)(0.2828), PF = color(blue)(1.8248)

Explanation:

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A, B, C are the vertices and Let D, E, F be the mid points of the sides a, b, c respectively.

Midpoint of BC = D = (x2 + x1)/2, (y2 + y1)/2 = (4+8)/2, (1+2)/2 =
(6,3/2)#

Slope of BC m_(BC) = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (2-1)/(8-4) = 1/4

Slope of the perpendicular bisector through D = -1/m_(BC) = -4

Equation of perpendicular bisector passing through mid point D using standard form of equation y - y1 = m * (x - x1)

y-(3/2) = -4 * (x - 6)

color(red)(2y + 8x = 51) Eqn (D)

Similarly,

Mid point of CA = E (11/2, 9/2)

Slope of CA = m_(CA) = (2-7)/(8-3) = -1#

Slope of the perpendicular bisector through E = -1/m_(CA) = 1

Equation of perpendicular bisector passing through mid point E is

y-(9/2) = 1 * (x - (11/2)

color(red)(y - x = -1) Eqn (E)

Similarly,

Mid point of AB = F (7/2, 4)

Slope of AB= m_(AB) = (1-7)/(4-3) = -6#

Slope of the perpendicular bisector through F = -1/m_(AB) = 1/6

Equation of perpendicular bisector passing through mid point F is

y - 4 = (1/6) * (x - (7/2)

12y - 48 = 2x - 7

color(red)(12y - 2x = 41) Eqn (F)

Solving Eqns (D), (E), we get the coordinates of circumcenter P.

color(green)(P (53/10, 43/10))

This can be verified by solving Eqns (E), (F).
and the answer is color(green)(P (53/10, 43/10)

Length of the perpendicular bisectors PD

PD = sqrt((6-(53/10))^2 + ((3/2) - (43/10))^2) = color(blue)(2.8862)

Length of perpendicular bisector PE

EP = sqrt(((11/2) - (53/10))^2 + ((9/2) - (43/10))^2) = color(blue)(0.2828)

Length of perpendicular bisector PF
7/2, 4
PF = sqrt(((7/2) - (53/10))^2 + (4 - (43/10))^2) = color(blue)(1.8248)