If P(9a – 2, –b) divides line segment joining A(3a + 1, –3) and B(8a, 5)in the ratio 3: 1, find the values of a and b.
Solution
Point P(9a – 2, –b) divides line segment joining the points A(3a + 1, –3) and B(8a, 5) in ration 3 : 1.
(x1, y1) = (3a+1, -3) (x2, y2) = (8a, 5)
m1 = 3, m2 = 1
Using section formula we have
Equate left-hand side and the right-hand side we get
36a – 8 = 27a + 1 –b = 3
9a = 9 b = –3
a = 1