DIVISION POINT OF A LINE SEGMENT

REVIEW RATIO

A ratio is a comparison of numbers with the same units A ratio can be stated in 3 ways 1. In words : two to three 2. In ratio form 2:3 3. In fraction form:
2 3

TWO TYPES OF RATIOS

Part to part: compares two parts of the same whole. Example: The English class has 31 students 17 girls and 14 boys. The ratio of girls to boys is 17:14.

Part to whole: compares a part to the whole entire population Example: The ratio of boys to the class is 14:31

DIVISION POINT OF A LINE SEGMENT

A point P divides a line segment AB in a ratio m:n if: 1) P is a point on the segment AB 2) the measure of the segment AP = m 3) the measure of the segment PB = n

IMPORTANT FACTS
1) The position of any division point on a line segment can be found using a ratio 2) The division point divides a line segment into two parts in a part to part ratio 3)This ratio is made up of the measures of the segments on either side of the point of division

EXAMPLE
Point P is ________ along segment AB Point P divides segment AB into a ratio _________ Point P is __________ along segment BA Point P divides segment BA into ratio ________

COORDINATES OF A DIVISION POINT

The point C(x,y) divides the segment AB in the ratio m:n from A Formula to find the coordinates of C:

x=

y=

STEPS TO FIND COORDINATES OF POINT P:

1.

2.

3.

Identify m and n by using the ratio given. * then identify the fraction based on that ratio Write your formula and plug in the values * do each coordinate in turn (1 at a time) Identify the coordinates of Point P Formula to find the Division point coordinates:
x x1 m ( x2 x1 ) mn m ( y2 y1 ) mn

y y1

Example: First always draw a line and plot the points quickly!!!!!!!
Find the coordinates of point P on line segment AB with endpoint A(0,10) and B(-4,-10). Point P divides segment AB into a 3:1 ratio from A. Step 1: m = 3 and n = 1 = so you now know that the fraction of this ratio is 3

Step 2: write your formula and plug in the values xP = 0 + 3 (-4-0) 4 = 0 + 3 4 4 1 =0+ = 0 -3 So XP = -3

yP = 10 + = 10 +
3 0 4

(-10+10)

= 10 + 0 So yP = 10
The coordinates of P are (-3,10)

Example

1. 2.

Find the coordinates of point P on line segment AB with endpoint A(-3,4) and B(6,1). Point P divides segment AB into a 2:1 ratio from A. Quickly draw and point the line Find m= and n= and then m
mn

3.

4. 5.

Write the formulas out to locate coordinates (x,y) at point P. Solve. Solution: P coordinates: (1.5,2)

Exercise
Math 3000 p.87 activity 1 Math 3000, p. 88 # 5,6,7 Homework: Visions p.18 # 10 p.21 # 21