Ask your own question, for FREE!
Mathematics 17 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

use vectors to decide whether the triangle with vertices P(1,-3,-2) Q(2,0,-4) R(6,-2,-5) is right angled

OpenStudy (anonymous):

find vectors PQ, QR and PR. Take their scalar products pairwise. If any one scalar product is zero, it means the pair of vectors(or sides) is perpendicular.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

What happened?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

vector of PQ is the distance between them, right?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Careful, you want to take the dot product of vectors representing the sides of the triangle, not the dot product of the coordinates of the vertices. P(1,-3,-2) Q(2,0,-4) R(6,-2,-5) Side PQ has direction P - Q =(-1,-3,2) Side QR has direction Q - R = (-4,2,1) Side PR has direction P - R = (-5,-1,+3) Now if you take PR * QR you get 4-6+2=0 So the triangle has a right angle at vertex R (the angle common to both PR and QR)

Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!
Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!