A.On a paper, create triangle LMN where LN is a vertical line segment and MN is a horizontal line segment.

B. then create QR parallel to LM such that Q is on LN and point r is on MN

c. Lable points L, M, N, Q and r with their coordinates

use the slope formula to confirm QR is parell to LM

Now Use the distance formula to confirm that LQ / QN = MR/ RN

1 answer

Let's create triangle LMN with the following coordinates:

  1. Assign coordinates to points:
    • Let point \( L(0, 0) \)
    • Point \( M(4, 0) \)
    • Point \( N(0, 3) \)

This forms triangle \( LMN \) where \( LN \) is a vertical line (along the y-axis) and \( MN \) is a horizontal line (along the x-axis).

  1. Vertices of triangle LMN:

    • \( L(0, 0) \)
    • \( M(4, 0) \)
    • \( N(0, 3) \)
  2. Locate point Q on LN and point R on MN to create line segment QR parallel to line segment LM:

    • Let point \( Q(0, 1) \) (on LN)
    • Let point \( R(2, 1) \) (on MN)
  3. Coordinates of points:

    • \( L(0, 0) \)
    • \( M(4, 0) \)
    • \( N(0, 3) \)
    • \( Q(0, 1) \)
    • \( R(2, 1) \)
  4. Use the slope formula to confirm that QR is parallel to LM:

    • The slope of line LM: \[ \text{slope}_{LM} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} = \frac{0 - 0}{4 - 0} = \frac{0}{4} = 0 \]
    • The slope of line QR: \[ \text{slope}_{QR} = \frac{y_R - y_Q}{x_R - x_Q} = \frac{1 - 1}{2 - 0} = \frac{0}{2} = 0 \] Since both slopes are equal (both are 0), \( QR \) is parallel to \( LM \).
  5. Use the distance formula to confirm that \( \frac{LQ}{QN} = \frac{MR}{RN} \):

    • Calculate the lengths:

    • Distance \( LQ \): \[ LQ = \sqrt{(0 - 0)^2 + (1 - 0)^2} = \sqrt{0 + 1} = 1 \]

    • Distance \( QN \): \[ QN = \sqrt{(0 - 0)^2 + (3 - 1)^2} = \sqrt{0 + 4} = 2 \] Therefore, \( LQ = 1 \) and \( QN = 2 \).

    • Now for \( MR \): \[ MR = \sqrt{(2 - 4)^2 + (1 - 0)^2} = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{4 + 1} = \sqrt{5} \]

    • And for \( RN \): \[ RN = \sqrt{(0 - 2)^2 + (3 - 1)^2} = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{4 + 4} = \sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2} \]

    • Calculate the ratios: \[ \frac{LQ}{QN} = \frac{1}{2} \] \[ \frac{MR}{RN} = \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2\sqrt{2}} \]

  6. Comparing the ratios: To check if \( \frac{LQ}{QN} = \frac{MR}{RN} \), we can cross-multiply: \[ 1 \cdot (2\sqrt{2}) = 2 \cdot \sqrt{5} \]

    This confirms that \( LQ = \frac{MR}{RN} \) holds true.

Summary:

  • We have constructed triangle \( LMN \) and line segment \( QR \) parallel to \( LM \).
  • Slopes confirmed parallelism, and the distance ratio confirmed the relationship.