M.L Aggarwal book Important Question of class 10 chapter Based on Equation of a Straight Line for ICSE BOARD.
If the lines given in the question form three consecutive sides of a rectangle.
Find the value of as asked in question.
This is the Question Number 10, Exercise 12.2 of M.L Aggarwal.
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If the lines 3x + y = 4, x – ay + 7 = 0 and bx + 2y + 5 = 0 form three consecutive sides of a rectangle, find the value of a and b.
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Given lines are:
3x + y = 4 … (i)
x – ay + 7 = 0 … (ii)
bx + 2y + 5 = 0 … (iii)
It’s said that these lines form three consecutive sides of a rectangle.
So,
Lines (i) and (ii) must be perpendicular
Also, lines (ii) and (iii) must be perpendicular
We know that, for two perpendicular lines the product of their slopes will be -1.
Now,
Slope of line (i) is
3x + y = 4 ⇒ y = -3x = 4
Hence, slope (m1) = -3
And, slope of line (ii) is
x – ay + 7 = 0 ⇒ ay = x + 7
y = (1/a) x + 7/a
Hence, slope (m2) = 1/a
Finally, the slope of line (iii) is
bx + 2y + 5 = 0 ⇒ 2y = -bx – 5
y = (-b/2) x – 5/2
Hence, slope (m3) = -b/2
As lines (i), (ii) and (iii) are consecutive sides of rectangle, we have
m1 x m2 = -1 and m2 x m3 = -1
(-3) x (1/a) = -1 and (1/a) x (-b/2) = -1
-3 = -a and -b/2a = -1
a = 3 and b = 2a ⇒ b = 2(3) = 6
Thus, the value of a is 3 and the value of b is 6.