If the points A (-2, -1), B(1, 0), C(x, 3) and D(1, y) are the vertices of a parallelogram, find the values of x and y.
Given: Vertices of the parallelogram are A(-2, -1), B(1, 0), C(x, 3) and D(1, y).
To find: values of x and y.
Since, ABCD is a parallelogram, we have AB = CD and BC = DA.
AB
= √10 units
BC
CD
DA
Since AB = CD,
Squaring both sides, we get
⇒ 10 = (1 – x)2 + (y – 3)2
⇒ 10 = 1 – 2x + x2 + y2 – 6y + 9
⇒ x2 + y2 – 2x – 6y = 0 …..(1)
Since BC = DA,
Squaring both sides,
⇒ (x – 1)2 + 9 = 9 + (1 + y)2
⇒ x2 – 2x + 1 = 1 + 2y + y2
⇒ x2 – y2 – 2x – 2y = 0 …..(2)
Equation 1 – Equation 2 gives us,
⇒ 2y2 – 4y = 0
⇒ y2 – 2y = 0
⇒ y(y – 2) = 0
⇒ y = 0 or y = 2
But y 0 because then point D(1, 0) is same as B(1, 0)
Therefore, y = 2
When y = 2, from equation 1,
⇒ x2 + 4 – 2x – 12 = 0
⇒ x2 – 2x – 8 = 0
⇒ (x – 4) × (x + 2) = 0
⇒ x = 4 or x = -2
So, the possible set of values for x and y are:
x = 4, y = 2
x = -2, y = 2
But when x = -2, then C(-2, 3). Then ABCD does not form a parallelogram.
Therefore, the only solution is x = 4 and y = 2.