Find the points of trisection of the line segment joining the points:$(5, -6)$ and $(-7, 5)$


Given: 

Given points are $(5, -6)$ and $(-7, 5)$.

To do: 

We have to find the points of trisection of the line segment joining the given points.

Solution:

Let the line segment whose end points are $A (5, -6)$ and $B (-7,5)$ is trisected at points $C(x_1,y_1)$ and $D(x_2,y_2)$.
$C$ divides the line segment in the ratio $1 : 2$

This implies,

$AC : CB = 1 : 2$

Therefore,

Using the division formula,

\( (x,y)=\left[\frac{m x_{2}+n x_{1}}{m+n}, \frac{m y_{2}+n y_{1}}{m+n}\right] \)
\( C(x_1,y_1)=\frac{1 \times(-7)+2 \times 5}{1+2}, \frac{1 \times 5+2 \times(-6)}{1+2} \)
\( =\left(\frac{-7+10}{3}, \frac{5-12}{3}\right) \)
\( =\left(\frac{3}{3}, \frac{-7}{3}\right) \) 

\( =\left(1, \frac{-7}{3}\right) \)
$D$ intersects \( A B \) in the ratio $2: 1$

This implies,

\( A D: D B=2: 1 \)
\( D(x_2,y_2)=\left(\frac{(2 \times(-7))+1 \times 5}{2+1}, \frac{2 \times 5+1 \times(-6)}{2+1}\right) \)

\( =\left(\frac{-14+5}{3}, \frac{10-6}{3}\right) \)

\( =\left(\frac{-9}{3}, \frac{4}{3}\right) \) 

\( =\left(-3, \frac{4}{3}\right) \)

The points of trisection of the given segment are $(1, \frac{-7}{3})$ and $(-3, \frac{4}{3})$.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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