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📐 Mathematics  ·  Straight Lines  ·  JEE

The condition for three points (x₁,y₁), (x₂,y₂), (x₃,y₃) to be collinear is:

Answer: x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂) = 0.

  • A x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂) = 0
  • B Their pairwise distances are all exactly equal
  • C All three x-values are exactly equal to each other
  • D The slopes between each pair of points are all positive

Correct answer: A. x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂) = 0

Explanation: Points are collinear iff area of triangle they form = 0. Area=(1/2)|x₁(y₂−y₃)+x₂(y₃−y₁)+x₃(y₁−y₂)|=0. Setting the determinant to zero gives the collinearity condition. Ans: x₁(y₂−y₃)+x₂(y₃−y₁)+x₃(y₁−y₂)=0.

Slope as Rise over Runxy(x₁,y₁)(x₂,y₂)run = x₂−x₁rise = y₂−y₁m = rise/run = (y₂−y₁)/(x₂−x₁) = tanθ

The slope of a line is the ratio of vertical change (rise) to horizontal change (run) between any two points on it - equivalently, the tangent of the angle θ the line makes with the positive x-axis.

Concept context

Points, lines, and curves on the Cartesian plane

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