Question 13 Marks
Prove that the points (0, -1, -7), (2, 1, -9) and (6, 5, -13) are collinear. Find the ratio in which the first point divides the join of the other two.
Answer
View full question & answer→Let the given points are A(0, -1, -7), B(2, 1, -9) and C(6, 5, -13)
$\text{AB}=\sqrt{(2-0)^2+(1+1)^2+(-9+7)^2}$
$=\sqrt{4+4+4}=\sqrt{12}=2\sqrt{3}$
$\text{BC}=\sqrt{(6-2)^2+(5-1)^2+(-13+9)^2}$
$=\sqrt{16+16+16}=\sqrt{48}=4\sqrt{3}$
$\text{AC}=\sqrt{(6-0)^2+(5+1)^2+(-13+7)^2}$
$=\sqrt{36+36+36}=\sqrt{108}=6\sqrt{3}$
$2\sqrt{3}+4\sqrt{3}=6\sqrt{3}$
i.e., $\text{AB}+\text{BC}=\text{AC}$
$\therefore\text{AB}:\text{AC}=2\sqrt{3}:6\sqrt{3}=1:3$
Hence, point A divides B and C in 1 : 3 externally.
$\text{AB}=\sqrt{(2-0)^2+(1+1)^2+(-9+7)^2}$
$=\sqrt{4+4+4}=\sqrt{12}=2\sqrt{3}$
$\text{BC}=\sqrt{(6-2)^2+(5-1)^2+(-13+9)^2}$
$=\sqrt{16+16+16}=\sqrt{48}=4\sqrt{3}$
$\text{AC}=\sqrt{(6-0)^2+(5+1)^2+(-13+7)^2}$
$=\sqrt{36+36+36}=\sqrt{108}=6\sqrt{3}$
$2\sqrt{3}+4\sqrt{3}=6\sqrt{3}$
i.e., $\text{AB}+\text{BC}=\text{AC}$
$\therefore\text{AB}:\text{AC}=2\sqrt{3}:6\sqrt{3}=1:3$
Hence, point A divides B and C in 1 : 3 externally.


