The points (3, −4) and (−6, 2) are the extremities of a diagonal of a parallelogram. If the third vertex is (−1,−3). Find the coordinates of the fourth vertex.
Let ABCD be a parallelogram in which the co-ordinates of the vertices are A (3,−4); B (−1,−3) and C (−6, 2). We have to find the co-ordinates of the forth vertex.
Let the forth vertex be
Since ABCD is a parallelogram, the diagonals bisect each other. Therefore the mid-point of the diagonals of the parallelogram will coincide.
Now to find the mid-point of two pointsand we use section formula as,
$\mathrm{P}(x, y)=\left(\frac{x_{1}+x_{2}}{2}, \frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{2}\right)$
The mid-point of the diagonals of the parallelogram will coincide.
So,
Co-ordinate of mid-point of $\mathrm{AC}=$ Co-ordinate of mid-point of BD
Therefore,
$\left(\frac{x-1}{2}, \frac{y-3}{2}\right)=\left(\frac{3-6}{2}, \frac{2-4}{2}\right)$
$\left(\frac{x-1}{2}, \frac{y-3}{2}\right)=\left(-\frac{3}{2},-1\right)$
Now equate the individual terms to get the unknown value. So,
$x=-2$
$y=1$
So the forth vertex is $\mathrm{D}(-2,1)$