A(2,8), B(6,4) and C(-6,y) are collinear points find y?

3 Answers
Feb 21, 2018

#y=16#

Explanation:

If a set of points are collinear the belong to the same straight line, whose generale equation is #y=mx+q#
If we apply the equation to the point A we have:
#8=2m+q#
If we apply the equation to the point B we have:
#4=6m+q#
If we put this two equation in a system we can find the equation of the straight line:

  1. Find #m# in the first eq.
    #m=(8-q)/2#
  2. Replace #m# in the second eq. and find #q#
    #4=6(8-q)/2=>4=3(8-q)+q=>4=24-3q+q=>-20=-2q=>q=10#
  3. Replace #q# in the first eq.
    #m=(8-10)/2=-1#
    Now we have the equation of the straight line:
    #y=-x+10#
    If we replace C coordinates in the equation we have:
    #y=6+10=>y=16#
Feb 21, 2018

# 16#.

Explanation:

Prerequisite :

#"The points "(x_1,y_1),(x_2,y_2) and (x_3,y_3)" are collinear"#

#hArr |(x_1,y_1,1),(x_2,y_2,1),(x_3,y_3,1)|=0#.

Therefore, in our Problem, #|(2,8,1),(6,4,1),(-6,y,1)|=0#,

#rArr 2(4-y)-8{6-(-6)}+1{6y-(-24)}=0#,

#rArr 8-2y-96+6y+24=0#,

#rArr 4y=64#,

#rArr y=16,# as Respected Lorenzo D. has already derived!.

Feb 21, 2018

#P_C->(x_c,y_c)=(-6,+16)#

Full details shown. With practice you will be able to do this calculation type with very few lines.

Explanation:

#color(blue)("The meaning of 'collinear'")#

Lets split it into two parts

#color(brown)("co"->"together".# Think about the word cooperate
#color(white)("ddddddddddddd")#So this is 'together and operate.'
#color(white)("ddddddddddddd")#So you are doing some operation (activity)
#color(white)("ddddddddddddd")#together

#color(brown)("liniear".->color(white)("d")# In a strait line.

#color(brown)("collinear")-># co =together, linear =on a strait line.

#color(brown)("So all the points are on a strait line")#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(blue)("Answering the question")#

#color(purple)("Determine the gradient (slope)")#

The gradient for part is the same as the gradient for all of it

Gradient (slope) #->("change in y")/("change in x")#

Set point #P_A->(x_a,y_a)=(2,8)#
Set point #P_B->(x_b,y_b)=(6,4)#
Set point #P_C->(x_c,y_c)=(-6,y_c)#

The gradient ALWAYS reads left to right on the x-axis (for standard form)

So we read from #P_A " to " P_B# thus the we have:

Set gradient# -> m="last "-" first" #

#color(white)("d")"gradient " -> m=color(white)("d")P_Bcolor(white)("d")-color(white)("d")P_A #

#color(white)("dddddddddddd")m=color(white)("d,")(y_b-y_a)/(x_b-x_a) #

#color(white)(dddddddddddddddddddd") (4-8)/(6-2) = -4/4=-1#

Negative 1 means that the slope (gradient) is downward as you read left to right. For 1 across there is 1 down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(purple)("Determine the value of "y)#

Determined that #m=-1# so by direct comparison

#P_C-P_A =m = (y_c-y_a)/ (x_c-x_a) = -1#

#color(white)("dddddddddddd.d") (y_c-8)/ (-6-2) = -1#

#color(white)("dddddddddddddd.") (y_c-8)/ (-8) = -1#

Multiply both sides by (-8)

#color(white)("ddddddddddddddd.") y_c-8 = +8#

Add 8 to both sides

#color(white)("ddddddddddddddddd.")y_c color(white)("d")=+16#

Tony B