Analyzing the Setup
Welcome, future engineers! Today, we are going to peel back the layers of a classic coordinate geometry problem. We are given two sides of a parallelogram: 4x+5y=0 and 7x+2y=0.
At first glance, these are just lines. However, notice that the constant term c is missing in the general form ax+by+c=0.
Because c=0 for both equations, both lines are anchored to the origin. This is our first breakthrough: both lines pass through the point A(0,0), which serves as our anchor vertex.
The Diagonal Mystery
Now, we are given a diagonal: 11x+7y=9. The immediate question is: does this diagonal pass through our anchor point A(0,0)?
If we substitute x=0 and y=0 into the diagonal equation, we get 0=9, which is a mathematical impossibility. This is a moment of clarity.
Since the diagonal does not pass through A, it must connect the other two vertices, B and D. We have successfully identified the role of this line as the bridge between the two vertices that are not the origin.
The Intersection Dance
To find the coordinates of vertex D, we find where the side 4x+5y=0 meets the diagonal 11x+7y=9. We express y as y=−54x and substitute it into the diagonal equation:
Multiplying the entire equation by 5 yields:
Substituting x=35 back into the side equation, we find y=−34. Thus, vertex D is located at (35,−34).
We repeat this exact logic for vertex B using the side 7x+2y=0. Substituting y=−27x into the diagonal equation:
This simplifies to:
22x−49x=18⇒−27x=18⇒x=−32
Substituting x=−32 back, we find y=37. Therefore, vertex B is (−32,37).
The Midpoint Magic
Here is where the beauty of geometry shines. A parallelogram is a perfectly balanced machine where the diagonals bisect each other. This means the midpoint M of diagonal BD is the same as the midpoint of the other diagonal AC.
We calculate the midpoint M of BD by averaging the coordinates:
This simplifies beautifully to M=(21,21). The symmetry is satisfying, isn't it?
The Final Line
Finally, we need the equation of the other diagonal. We know it passes through the origin A(0,0) and the midpoint M(21,21).
The slope m is calculated as:
The equation of the diagonal is simply y=x. Checking our options, any point where the coordinates are equal, such as (2,2), satisfies this perfectly. You have just navigated the logic of a parallelogram with precision.