If sum of the perpendicular distances of a variable point P (x, y) from the lines x + y – 5 = 0 and 3x – 2y +7 = 0 is always 10. Show that P must move on a line.
The equations of the given lines are:
x + y – 5 = 0 ---------------- (1)
3x – 2y +7 = 0 ------------ (2)
The perpendicular distance of P(x, y) from line (1) is given by
and
i.e, and
It is given that
Thus,
(Assuming (x+y-5) and (3x-2y+7))
Which is the equation of the line.
Similarly, we can get the equation of line for any signs of (x + y -5) and (3x – 2y + 7).
Therefore, point P must move on a line.