Question

Find the coordinates of the orthocenter for XYZ with X(-5,-1) Y(-2,4), Z(3,-1)

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

  (-2, 2)

Step-by-step explanation:

The orthocenter is the intersection of the altitudes. The altitude lines are not difficult to find here. Each is a line through the vertex that is perpendicular to the opposite side.

Side XZ is horizontal, so the altitude to that side is the vertical line through Y. The x-coordinate of Y is -2, so that altitude has equation ...

  x = -2

__

Side YZ has a rise/run of -1/1 = -1, so the altitude to that side will be the line through X with a slope of -1/(-1) = 1. In point-slope form, the equation is ...

  y -(-1) +(1)(x -(-5))

  y = x +4 . . . . . . . . subtract 1 and simplify

The orthocenter is the point that satisfies both these equations. Using the first equation to substitute for x in the second, we have ...

  y = (-2) +4 = 2

The orthocenter is (x, y) = (-2, 2).