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Find the values of a and b given that lines L1 and L2 are perpendicular and pass through the points P(3,4) and Q(a,b), and Q(a,b) and R(2,-1) respectively. The gradient of L1 is -3/2.

Mathematics

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Answer

a=5,b=1a=5, b=1

Step-by-step solution

4 steps
  1. Determine the equation for line L1.

    The gradient of line L1 passing through P(3,4)(3, 4) and Q(a,b)(a, b) is given as m1=−32m_1 = -\frac{3}{2}.
    The formula for the gradient is m=y2−y1x2−x1m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}.

    −32=b−4a−3-\frac{3}{2} = \frac{b - 4}{a - 3}

    Cross-multiply to form the first equation:

    2(b−4)=−3(a−3)2(b - 4) = -3(a - 3) 2b−8=−3a+92b - 8 = -3a + 9 3a+2b=9+83a + 2b = 9 + 8 3a+2b=17(Equation 1)3a + 2b = 17 \quad (\text{Equation 1})
  2. Determine the gradient of line L2.

    Line L2 is perpendicular to L1. If two lines are perpendicular, the product of their gradients is −1-1.

    m1⋅m2=−1m_1 \cdot m_2 = -1 −32⋅m2=−1-\frac{3}{2} \cdot m_2 = -1 m2=−1−32=23m_2 = \frac{-1}{-\frac{3}{2}} = \frac{2}{3}
  3. Determine the equation for line L2.

    Line L2 passes through points Q(a,b)(a, b) and R(2,−1)(2, -1) with a gradient m2=23m_2 = \frac{2}{3}.
    Using the gradient formula:

    23=−1−b2−a\frac{2}{3} = \frac{-1 - b}{2 - a}

    Cross-multiply to form the second equation:

    2(2−a)=3(−1−b)2(2 - a) = 3(-1 - b) 4−2a=−3−3b4 - 2a = -3 - 3b 2a−3b=4+32a - 3b = 4 + 3 2a−3b=7(Equation 2)2a - 3b = 7 \quad (\text{Equation 2})
  4. Solve the system of linear equations.

    We have two equations:

    1. 3a+2b=173a + 2b = 17
    2. 2a−3b=72a - 3b = 7

    Multiply Equation 1 by 3 and Equation 2 by 2 to eliminate bb:
    3×(3a+2b=17)  ⟹  9a+6b=513 \times (3a + 2b = 17) \implies 9a + 6b = 51
    2×(2a−3b=7)  ⟹  4a−6b=142 \times (2a - 3b = 7) \implies 4a - 6b = 14

    Add the two new equations:

    (9a+6b)+(4a−6b)=51+14(9a + 6b) + (4a - 6b) = 51 + 14 13a=6513a = 65 a=6513a = \frac{65}{13} a=5a = 5

    Substitute the value of aa into Equation 1:

    3(5)+2b=173(5) + 2b = 17 15+2b=1715 + 2b = 17 2b=17−152b = 17 - 15 2b=22b = 2 b=1b = 1

    The values are a=5a = 5 and b=1b = 1.
    The values of aa and bb are a=5,b=1\boxed{a=5, b=1}.

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