If three distinct points A, B, and C in a plane are such that the slopes of nonvertical line segments AB, AC, and BC are equal, then A, B, and C are collinear. Otherwise, they are not. Use this fact to determine whether the three points given are collinear.(-1, -3), (-5, 12), (1, -11)
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Calculate the slope of line segment AB using the formula: \( m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \). Substitute the coordinates of points A(-1, -3) and B(-5, 12) into the formula.
Calculate the slope of line segment AC using the same formula. Substitute the coordinates of points A(-1, -3) and C(1, -11) into the formula.
Calculate the slope of line segment BC using the same formula. Substitute the coordinates of points B(-5, 12) and C(1, -11) into the formula.
Compare the slopes of AB, AC, and BC. If all three slopes are equal, then the points A, B, and C are collinear.
If the slopes are not equal, then the points A, B, and C are not collinear.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Slope of a Line
The slope of a line is a measure of its steepness, calculated as the change in the y-coordinates divided by the change in the x-coordinates between two points. For points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), the slope m is given by m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1). If the slopes of line segments connecting three points are equal, it indicates that the points lie on the same straight line, or are collinear.
Collinearity refers to the property of points lying on the same straight line. For three points A, B, and C to be collinear, the slopes of the line segments AB, AC, and BC must be equal. If any two slopes differ, the points are not collinear, indicating that they form a triangle or a non-linear arrangement in the plane.
Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate geometry is the study of geometric figures using a coordinate system, typically the Cartesian plane. It allows for the representation of points, lines, and shapes through algebraic equations. In this context, the coordinates of points A, B, and C are used to calculate slopes and determine their collinearity, providing a clear method to analyze their spatial relationships.