Show that the following points are collinear :
A(3, -5, 1), B(-1, 0, 8) and C(7, -10, -6)
To prove: the 3 points are collinear.
Formula:
The distance between two points (x1,y1,z1) and (x2,y2,z2) is given by
D=
Here,
(x1,y1,z1)= (3, -5, 1)
(x2,y2,z2)= (-1, 0, 8)
(x3,y3,z3)= (7, -10, -6)
Length AB =
=
=
=
= = 3
Length BC =
=
=
=
= = 6
Length AC =
=
=
=
= = 3
BA + BC = 3 + 3
=6
= BC
Therefore A, B, C are collinear.