If sum of the perpendicular distances of a variable point from the lines and is always 10. Show that must move on a line.
Let be a variable point. The perpendicular distance from point to line is given by .
Distance from to line :
Distance from to line :
Given:
Therefore,
For the case where and :
Multiplying by :
Expanding:
Rearranging:
This is a linear equation of the form , representing a straight line.
Similarly, other cases with different sign combinations also yield linear equations. Hence, the locus of point is a straight line.
∴ must move on a line.
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 moves on a line.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Write the formula for perpendicular distance from point to line :
Step 2: Calculate distance from to line :
Step 3: Calculate distance from to line :
Step 4: Apply the condition :
Step 5: Remove absolute values for a specific case and simplify to show the equation is linear:
Multiplying by and expanding:
This is of the form , a linear equation representing a straight line.