Question 66 of 70advanced🔧 ApplyLong Answer5 marks

If sum of the perpendicular distances of a variable point P(x,y)P(x, y) from the lines x+y−5=0x + y - 5 = 0 and 3x−2y+7=03x - 2y + 7 = 0 is always 10. Show that PP must move on a line.

Correct Answer

Let P(x,y)P(x, y) be a variable point. The perpendicular distance from point (x,y)(x, y) to line ax+by+c=0ax + by + c = 0 is given by d=∣ax+by+c∣/a2+b2d = |ax + by + c|/\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}.

Distance from PP to line x+y−5=0x + y - 5 = 0:

d1=∣x+y−5∣12+12=∣x+y−5∣2d_1 = \frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{1^2 + 1^2}} = \frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{2}}

Distance from PP to line 3x−2y+7=03x - 2y + 7 = 0:

d2=∣3x−2y+7∣32+(−2)2=∣3x−2y+7∣13d_2 = \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{3^2 + (-2)^2}} = \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{13}}

Given: d1+d2=10d_1 + d_2 = 10

Therefore,

∣x+y−5∣2+∣3x−2y+7∣13=10\frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{2}} + \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{13}} = 10

For the case where x+y−5≥0x + y - 5 \geq 0 and 3x−2y+7≥03x - 2y + 7 \geq 0:

x+y−52+3x−2y+713=10\frac{x + y - 5}{\sqrt{2}} + \frac{3x - 2y + 7}{\sqrt{13}} = 10

Multiplying by 26\sqrt{26}:

13(x+y−5)+2(3x−2y+7)=1026\sqrt{13}(x + y - 5) + \sqrt{2}(3x - 2y + 7) = 10\sqrt{26}

Expanding:

13 x+13 y−513+32 x−22 y+72=1026\sqrt{13}\,x + \sqrt{13}\,y - 5\sqrt{13} + 3\sqrt{2}\,x - 2\sqrt{2}\,y + 7\sqrt{2} = 10\sqrt{26}

Rearranging:

(13+32) x+(13−22) y=1026+513−72(\sqrt{13} + 3\sqrt{2})\,x + (\sqrt{13} - 2\sqrt{2})\,y = 10\sqrt{26} + 5\sqrt{13} - 7\sqrt{2}

This is a linear equation of the form Ax+By=CAx + By = C, representing a straight line.

Similarly, other cases with different sign combinations also yield linear equations. Hence, the locus of point PP is a straight line.

∴ PP must move on a line.

Exercise: Miscellaneous Exercise on Chapter 9 | Q: 19 | (Page 22)
For More Understanding

Explanation

This question tests understanding of the perpendicular distance formula from a point to a line. The key insight is that when we remove absolute values (considering specific sign cases), the resulting equation is linear.

Similar to Example 16 in the context which shows that when distances from two lines are equal, the locus is a straight line, here when the sum of distances is constant, we also get straight lines.

The absolute values create different cases, but each case yields a linear equation, confirming that PP moves on a line.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Write the formula for perpendicular distance from point (x,y)(x, y) to line ax+by+c=0ax + by + c = 0:

    d=∣ax+by+c∣a2+b2d = \frac{|ax + by + c|}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}
  2. Step 2: Calculate distance d1d_1 from PP to line x+y−5=0x + y - 5 = 0:

    d1=∣x+y−5∣12+12=∣x+y−5∣2d_1 = \frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{1^2 + 1^2}} = \frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{2}}
  3. Step 3: Calculate distance d2d_2 from PP to line 3x−2y+7=03x - 2y + 7 = 0:

    d2=∣3x−2y+7∣32+(−2)2=∣3x−2y+7∣13d_2 = \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{3^2 + (-2)^2}} = \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{13}}
  4. Step 4: Apply the condition d1+d2=10d_1 + d_2 = 10:

    ∣x+y−5∣2+∣3x−2y+7∣13=10\frac{|x + y - 5|}{\sqrt{2}} + \frac{|3x - 2y + 7|}{\sqrt{13}} = 10
  5. Step 5: Remove absolute values for a specific case and simplify to show the equation is linear:

    x+y−52+3x−2y+713=10\frac{x + y - 5}{\sqrt{2}} + \frac{3x - 2y + 7}{\sqrt{13}} = 10

    Multiplying by 26\sqrt{26} and expanding:

    (13+32) x+(13−22) y=1026+513−72(\sqrt{13} + 3\sqrt{2})\,x + (\sqrt{13} - 2\sqrt{2})\,y = 10\sqrt{26} + 5\sqrt{13} - 7\sqrt{2}

    This is of the form Ax+By=CAx + By = C, a linear equation representing a straight line.