Question

Points A, B, and C are collinear and AB:AC=2:5. Point A is located at (-3,-4), point B is located at (m,n) and point C is located at (2,6). What are the values of m and n? Show all work.

Answer 1

Answer:

m = -11/7

n = -8/7

Step-by-step explanation:

Here, what we want to calculate is the coordinates of the point B

Let’s consider the straight line as A B C

we can see that actually, the point B divides the line into the ratio 2:5 since AB:AC is 2:5

Thus, by using the internal division formula (section formula) with the ratio of division, we can get the coordinates of point B

Mathematically, the formula for internal division is given as follows;

B = ( (mx2 + nx1) /m + n , (my2 + ny1)/( m + n))

From the question;

m:n = 2:5

Thus m = 2, n = 5

(x1,y1) are coordinates of A

x1 = -3 , y1 = -4

(x2, y2) are coordinates of C

x2 = 2 , y2 = 6

Thus, substituting these values into the equation we have;

B ={ 2(2) + 5(-3)}/(2+5) , {2(6) + 5(-4)}/(2+5)

B = (-11/7, -8/7)