Question

Prove that (2, -2) (-2, 1) and (5, 2) are the vertices of a right-angled triangle. Find the area of the triangle and the length of the hypotenuse.

Answer 1

The distance d between two points `(x_1, y_1)` and `(x_2, y_2)` is given by the formula

`d = sqrt((x_1 - x_2)^2 + (y_1- y_2)^2)`

In a right-angled triangle, by Pythagoras theorem, the square of the longest side is equal to the sum of squares of the other two sides in the triangle.

Here the three points are A(2,−2), B(−2,1) and C(5,2).

Let us find out the lengths of all the sides of the triangle.

`AB = sqrt((2 + 2)^2 + (-2-1)^2)`

`= sqrt((4)^2 + (-3)^2)`

`= sqrt(16 + 9)`

`AB = sqrt25`

`BC = sqrt((-2-5)^2 + (1 - 2)^2)`

`= sqrt((-3)^2 + (-4)^2)`

`= sqrt(9 + 6)`

`AC = sqt(25)`

Here we have

`BC^2 = AB^2 + AC^2`

50 = 25 + 25

Since the square of the longest side is equal to the sum of squares of the other two sides the given triangle is a right-angled triangle.

In a right-angled triangle, the area of the triangle ‘A’ is given by,

A = 1/2 (Product of both the sides containing the right angle)

In a right-angled triangle, the sides containing the right angle will not be the longest side.

Hence the area of the given right-angled triangle is,

`A = ((sqrt(25))(sqrt(25)))/2`

= 25/5

A = 12.5

Hence the area of the given right-angled triangle is 12.5 square units

In a right-angled triangle, the hypotenuse will be the longest side. Here the longest side is 'BC'.

Hence the hypotenuse of the given right-angled triangle is `5sqrt2` units