A triangle has corners at (6 , 1 )(6,1), ( 4, 2 ), and ,and( 2, 8 )#. What are the endpoints and lengths of the triangle's perpendicular bisectors?

1 Answer
Jan 22, 2016

Endpoints at [(5,1.5),(16/3,7.5)(5,1.5),(163,7.5)], [(3,5),(3.6,5.2)(3,5),(3.6,5.2)] and [(4,4.5),(3.3,4.1)(4,4.5),(3.3,4.1)], lengths measuring (5sqrt(13))/3,sqrt(10)/55133,105 and sqrt(65)/106510

Explanation:

Repeating the points
A(6,1), B(4,2), C(2,8)A(6,1),B(4,2),C(2,8)

Midpoints
M_(AB) (5,1.5)MAB(5,1.5), M_(BC) (3,5)MBC(3,5), M_(CA) (4,4.5) MCA(4,4.5)

Slopes of segments (k=(Delta y)/(Delta x), p=-1/k)
AB -> k_1=(2-1)/(4-6)=1/(-2)=-1/2 -> p_1=2
BC -> k_2=(8-2)/(2-4)=6/(-2)=-3 -> p_2=1/3
CA -> k_3=(1-8)/(6-2)=-7/4 -> p_3=4/7

Which of the two other sides does the perpendicular line to a side and bisecting it meet? The LONG side. Then we need to know the lengths of the sides of the triangle.
AB=sqrt((4-6)^2+(2-1)^2)=sqrt (4+1)=sqrt(5)~=2.2
BC=sqrt((2-4)^2+(8-2)^2)=sqrt(4+36)=sqrt(40)=2sqrt(10)~=6.3
CA=sqrt((6-2)^2+(1-8)^2)=sqrt(16+49)=sqrt(65)~=8.1
=> CA>BC>AB

So
line [1] perpendicular to AB meets side CA [c]
line [2] perpendicular to BC meets side CA [c]
line [3] perpendicular to AC meets side BC [b]

We need the equations of the lines in which the sides BC and CA lay and the equations of the 3 perpendicular lines

Equation of the line that supports side:
BC -> (y-2)=-3(x-4) => y=-3x+12+2 => y=-3x+14 [a]
CA-> (y-1)=-(7/4)(x-6)=>y=(-7x+42)/4+1=>y=(-7x+46)/4[c]

Equation of the line (passing through midpoint) perpendicular to side:
AB -> (y-1.5)=2(x-5) => y=2x-10+1.5 => y=2x-8.5 [1]
BC ->y-5=1/3(x-3) => y=(x-3)/3+5 => y=(x+12)/3 [2]
CA -> (y-4.5)=(4/7)(x-4) => y=(4x-16)/7+4.5 => y=(4x+15.5)/7 [3]

Finding the interceptions on sides BC and CA

Combining equations [1] and [c]

{y=2x-8.5
{y=(-7x+46)/4 => 2x-8.5=(-7x+46)/4 => 8x+34=-7x+46 => 15x=80 => x=16/3
-> y=2*16/3-17/2=(96-51)/6=45/6 => y=15/2

We've found R(16/3,7.5)
The distance between M_(AB) and R is
d1=sqrt((16/3-5)^2+(15/2-3/2)^2)=sqrt((1/3)^2+6^2)=sqrt(1+324)/3=sqrt(325)/3=(5*sqrt(13))/3~=6.009

Combining equations [2] and [c]

{y=(x+12)/3
{y=(-7x+46)/4 => (x+12)/3=(-7x+46)/4 => 4x+48=-21x+138 => 25x=90 => x=18/5
-> y=(18/5+12)/3=(18+60)/15 => y=26/5

We've found S(3.6,5.2)
The distance between M_(BC) and S is:
d2=sqrt((18/5-3)^2+(26/5-5)^2)=sqrt(3^2+1^2)/5=sqrt(10)/5~=.632

Combining the equations [3] and [a]

{y=(4x+15.5)/7
{y=-3x+14 => (4x+15.5)/7=-3x+14 => 4x+15.5=-21+98 => 25=82,5 => x=3.3
-> y=-3*3.3+14 => y=4.1

We've found T(3.3,4.1)
The distance between M_(CA) and T is
d3=sqrt((3.3-4)^2+(4.1-4.5)^2)=sqrt(.7^2+.4^2)=sqrt(.49+.16)=sqrt(.65)=sqrt(65)/10~=.806