The points (3, -4) and (-6, 2) are the extremities of a diagonal of a parallelogram. If the third vertex is (-1, -3). Find the coordinates of the fourth vertex.
Let three vertices be A(3, -4), B(-1, -3) and C(-6, 2) and fourth vertex be D(x, y)
It is given that quadrilateral joining these four vertices is parallelogram.
∴□ABCD is parallelogram
We know that diagonals of parallelogram bisect each other, ie midpoint of the diagonals coincide.
Let E(xm , ym) be the midpoint of diagonals AC and BD.
By midpoint formula,
x = , y =
For diagonal AC,
xm = , ym =
∴ xm = , ym =
∴ E(xm , ym) ≡ (, -1)
For diagonal BD,
=
, -1 =
∴ x = -3 + 1 , y = -2 + 3
∴ x = -2 and y = 1
Hence, our fourth vertex is D(-2, 1)