+302 Find the ratio in which the point(-3,k) divides the line segment joining the points (-5,-4) and (-2,3). Also find the value of k.
i'm getting the value of k as 5 using the formula \(\sqrt{}(x2-x1)2 +(y2-y1)2\) i hope u understood the formula it's (x2-x1)² and same with y and root sqr . but i'm getting the ratio as fraction. please solve this so i can see what mistake i made.
+118609 You probably will not like my answe much Sara because I do not do questions like this by formula.
I can never remember formulas that I do not think I really need. It is some weird kind of mental block 
Find the ratio in which the point(-3,k) divides the line segment joining the points (-5,-4) and (-2,3). Also find the value of k.
Look at the x values first
-2--5=3
-3--5=2
so the dividing point is 2/3 of the way starting from the first end point. The ratio is 2:3
so the k value must also be 2/3 of the way, starting from the first end point
Now the y difference in y values must be in the same ratio.
3--4=7
k--4 = k+4
\(\frac{k+4}{7}=\frac{2}{3}\\ 3k+12=14\\ 3k=2\\ k=\frac{2}{3} \)
+128474 Thanks, Melody.....here's another way....
Slope of the line = [ 3 - - 4 ] / [ - 2 - - 5] = 7 / 3
And the equation of the line is
y = ( 7 / 3) (x - -2) + 3
y = (7 / 3) (x + 2) + 3 and when x = -3, we can find k as
k = ( 7 / 3) ( -3 + 2) + 3
k = ( 7 / 3) (-1) + 3 = 2/3 so.....the point is ( -3, 2/3 )
And the ratio is given by
[Distance from (-5, -4) to ( - 3 , 2/3) ] / [ Distance from ( -3, 2/3) to ( -2 , 3) ]
Distance from (-5, -4) to (-3, 2/3) = sqrt [ ( -3 - - 5)^2 + ( - 4 -2 /3)^2 ]
sqrt [ 4 + (-14/3)^2 ] = (2/3)sqrt(58)
Distance from ( -3, 2/3) to ( -2 , 3) = sqrt [ (-2 - - 3)^2 + (3 - 2/3)^2 ] =
sqrt [ 1 + (7/3)^2 ] = (1/3) sqrt(58)
So......(-3, 2/3) divides the line in the ratio of :
[(2/3) sqrt (58)] / [ (1/3) sqrt (58) ] =
[2/3] / [ 1/3] = 2 / 1 = 2 : 1
