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Three - Dimensional Geometry - Section Formula

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Let the two given points be P`(x_1, y_1, z_1)` and Q `(x_2, y_2, z_2)`. Let the point R (x, y, z) divide PQ in the given ratio m : n internally. Draw PL, QM and RN perpendicular to the XY-plane. Obviously PL || RN || QM and feet of these perpendiculars lie in a XY-plane. The points L, M and N will lie on a line which is the intersection of the plane containing PL, RN and QM with the XY-plane. Through the point R draw a line ST parallel to the line LM. Line ST will intersect the line LP externally  at the point S and the line MQ at T, Fig

Also note that quadrilaterals LNRS and NMTR are parallelograms. The triangles PSR and QTR are similar. Therefore, 
`m/n = (PR)/(QR) = (SP)/(QT) = (SL-PL)/(QM-TM) = (NR-PL)/(QM-NR) = (z-z_1)/(z_2-z)`

This implies z = `(mz_2+nz_1)/(m+n)`

Hence, the coordinates of the point R which divides the line segment joining two points P `(x_1, y_1, z_1)` and Q `(x_2, y_2, z_2)` internally in the ratio m : n are

`[(mx_2+nx_1)/(m+n) , (my_2+ny_1)/(m+n ), (mz_2 +nz_1)/(m+n)]`

If the point R divides PQ externally in the ratio m : n, then its coordinates are obtained by replacing n by – n so that coordinates of point R will be

`[(mx_2-nx_1)/(m+n) , (my_2-ny_1)/(m+n) , (mz_2 -nz_1)/(m+n)]`

Case 1- Coordinates of the mid-point: In case R is the mid-point of PQ, then

m:n = 1:1 so that  x =`(x_1-x_2)/2` ,y= `(y_1+y_2)/2` and z=`(z_1+z_2)/2`
These are the coordinates of the mid point of the segment joining P `(x_1, y_1, z_1)` and Q `(x_2, y_2, z_2)`.
Case 2-   The coordinates of the point R which divides PQ in the ratio k : 1 are obtained

by taking` k = m/n` which are as given below:

`[(kx_2+x_1)/(1+k),(ky_2+y_1)/(1+k),(kz_2+z_1)/(1+k)]`

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