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Three of the vertices of quadrilateral MARY are M (-3,1), A(3,3), and R(5,7). Find the

coordinates of Y, such that, quadrilateral MARY is a parallelogram.

Use coordinate geometry to prove that MARY is a parallelogram.

Three of the vertices of quadrilateral MARY are M (-3,1), A(3,3), and R(5,7). Find-example-1
User Mrwalker
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1 Answer

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Answer:

Y = (-1, 5)

Explanation:

The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, so have the same midpoint. That is ...

(M +R)/2 = (A +Y)/2

Y = M + R - A . . . . . . multiply by 2 and subtract A

Y = (-3, 1) +(5, 7) -(3, 3) = (-3 +5 -3, 1 +7, -3) . . . . . substitute point coordinates

Y = (-1, 5)

Coordinate geometry was used to find Y that makes MARY a parallelogram. The fact that there is a solution is proof enough that MARY is a parallelogram.

_____

Your teacher may expect the "proof" to be either or both of ...

  • showing opposite sides have the same slope
  • showing opposite line segments have the same length

Given the method used above, both of these are unnecessary. However, in the interest of completeness, we will demonstrate.

Slope and Length of MA

slope = (3 -1)/(3 -(-3)) = 2/6 = 1/3

length = √(2²+6²) = √40

Slope and Length of AR

slope = (7 -3)/(5 -3) = 4/2 = 2

length = √(4² +2²) = √20

Slope and Length of RY

slope = (5 -7)/(-1 -5) = -2/-6 = 1/3 . . . . same as opposite side MA

length = √((-2)²+(-6)²) = √40 . . . . . . . same as opposite side MA

Slope and Length of YM

slope = (1 -5)/(-3 -(-1)) = -4/-2 = 2 . . . . same as opposite side AR

length = √((-4)² +(-2)²) = √20 . . . . . . same as opposite side AR

Opposite sides have the same slopes, so the figure is a parallelogram.

Opposite sides have the same lengths, so the figure is a parallelogram.

Three of the vertices of quadrilateral MARY are M (-3,1), A(3,3), and R(5,7). Find-example-1
User Fanton
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