The "orthocenter" of a triangle is defined as the point where the three altitudes intersect.....BTW....in some triangles, this point can actually occur outside the triangle.
This isn't that difficult - just a little lengthy.
We need to find some slopes between these points and then write the equations for the lines representing the altitudes. Where these lines meet is the orthocenter of the triangle.
The slope of the base represented by the side with endpoints (2,3) and (7,3) is easy.... it's 0. So the equation of the altitude from the apex, (5,9), to this base is just x = 5
And the slope of the side with endpoints (5,9) and (2,3) = 2. And a perpendicular line to this side through point (7,3) will have the equation y - 3 = -(1/2)(x - 7) → y = (-1/2)x + 7/2 + 3 → y = (-1/2)x + 13/2
And when x = 5, y = (-1/2)(5)+ 13/2 = 4 and this is the y coordinate of the orthocenter.
Let's prove that the other altitude also intersects these two lines at y =4
The slope on the side with endpoints (5,9) and (7,3) = -3. And a perpendicular line to this side through (2,3) will have the equation y - 3 = (1/3)(x - 2) → y = (1/3)x - 2/3 + 3 →y= (1/3)x + 7/3
And, when x = 5, we have y = (1/3)(5) + 7/3 = 4....just as we expected......!!!
Then, the y coordinate of the orthocenter is 4 and the orthocenter point is (5,4)
BTW....I have a feeling that at least a couple of people on this site may know a shortcut "formula" for this.....Sorry, I have to do it by "brute force"........
