Q.If three lines whose equations are y=m1x+c1, y=m2x+c2 and y=m3x+c3 are concurrent, then show that m1(c2−c3)+m2(c3−c1)+m3(c1−c2)=0.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Concurrent Lines Condition
What Does "Concurrent Lines" Mean?
Imagine three friends standing in a field. Each friend holds a long, straight rope stretched tight. If all three ropes pass through exactly the same point — say, a flagpole in the centre — then the ropes are concurrent. That common point is called the point of concurrency.
In geometry, when three or more lines all pass through a single point, we say they are concurrent lines. That point is their concurrency point.
Two lines are always concurrent (unless they are parallel) — they meet at exactly one point. The interesting case is three or more lines. Do they all happen to pass through the same spot?
The Intuition Behind the Condition
Suppose you have three lines:
- L1:a1x+b1y+c1=0
- L2:a2x+b2y+c2=0
- L3:a3x+b3y+c3=0
If they are concurrent, there exists some point (x0,y0) that satisfies all three equations at once. That means (x0,y0) is a common solution.
Now, think about it this way:
The first two lines L1 and L2 intersect at some point P (unless they are parallel). For the three lines to be concurrent, L3 must also pass through that same point P. So the condition boils down to: the point of intersection of any two lines must lie on the third line.
That is the simplest way to check concurrency: solve two equations, get the intersection, and plug it into the third equation. If it satisfies, the lines are concurrent.
The Precise Algebraic Condition
There is a cleaner, more powerful condition using determinants — it avoids solving for the intersection explicitly.
Three lines a1x+b1y+c1=0, a2x+b2y+c2=0, a3x+b3y+c3=0 are concurrent if and only if
a1a2a3b1b2b3c1c2c3=0
This determinant being zero is the necessary and sufficient condition for concurrency of three lines.
This condition assumes that no two of the lines are parallel. If L1 and L2 are parallel, they never meet, so the three lines cannot be concurrent (unless all three are the same line, which is a degenerate case). The determinant condition will still give zero in that parallel case, but the lines are not concurrent — they are parallel. So always check that the lines actually intersect pairwise first.
Why Does the Determinant Work?
Here is the reasoning in plain steps:
- For concurrency, there must exist (x0,y0) such that:
a1x0+b1y0+c1=0
a2x0+b2y0+c2=0
a3x0+b3y0+c3=0
-
Think of these as three equations in three unknowns: x0, y0, and the constant 1. Yes, the constant 1 is treated as a variable here.
-
For a non-trivial solution to exist (i.e., a solution where the "variables" are not all zero), the determinant of the coefficient matrix must be zero. That is a standard result from linear algebra: a homogeneous system has a non-zero solution only when the determinant is zero.
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The determinant being zero is exactly the condition that the three equations are linearly dependent — meaning one equation can be written as a combination of the other two. That is another way to say: the third line passes through the intersection of the first two.
For quick checks in exams, use the determinant. But if the numbers are simple, solving two equations and substituting into the third is often faster and less error-prone.
Example
Check if these lines are concurrent:
L1:2x+3y−5=0
L2:x−y+2=0
L3:3x+2y−3=0
Method 1 (substitution):
Solve L1 and L2: …
Let the common point of the three concurrent lines be (h,k). Then ci=k−mih for i=1,2,3, so
c2−c3=h(m3−m2),c3−c1=h(m1−m3),c1−c2=h(m2−m1).
Substituting: …
If the three lines meet at a common point (h,k), then each intercept can be written as ci=k−mih. Substituting these into m1(c2−c3)+m2(c3−c1)+m3(c1−c2) makes every term cancel, giving 0 identically.
Setting up the common point
Since the three lines y=m1x+c1, y=m2x+c2, y=m3x+c3 are concurrent, they all pass through some common point, say (h,k). Because (h,k) lies on each line:
k=m1h+c1,k=m2h+c2,k=m3h+c3.
Solving each for the intercept:
c1=k−m1h,c2=k−m2h,c3=k−m3h.
Computing the pairwise differences
c2−c3=(k−m2h)−(k−m3h)=h(m3−m2),
c3−c1=(k−m3h)−(k−m1h)=h(m1−m3),
c1−c2=(k−m1h)−(k−m2h)=h(m2−m1).
Substituting into the required expression
m1(c2−c3)+m2(c3−c1)+m3(c1−c2)=m1h(m3−m2)+m2h(m1−m3)+m3h(m2−m1).
Factor out h and expand:
=h[(m1m3−m1m2)+(m2m1−m2m3)+(m3m2−m3m1)]. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 28 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.The straight line which is parallel to X-axis and passing through the intersection of the lines ax+2by+3b=0 and bx−2ay−3a=0, (a,b)=(0,0) is (A) above the X-axis at a distance of 23 units from it (B) above the X-axis at a distance of 32 units from it (C) below the X-axis at a distance of 23 units from it (D) below the X-axis at a distance of 32 units from it
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests solving a family of lines' intersection point independent of the parameters, then reading off a horizontal line through it. The intersection point turns out to be (0,−3/2) for every valid a,b, so the required line is y=−3/2: below the X-axis, distance 3/2.
Concept and Intuition
The two given lines are members of a family parametrised by a,b (with (a,b)=(0,0)), but the problem asks about a fixed geometric object (a horizontal line through their intersection) — which strongly suggests their point of intersection is actually independent of a and b. Recognising and exploiting that structure (rather than solving symbolically for a general intersection formula) is the key idea. A line parallel to the X-axis just has the form y=k, so once we know the intersection point's y-coordinate, we're done.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The lines are
ax+2by+3b=0(1)
bx−2ay−3a=0(2)
- Multiply (1) by a and (2) by b:
a2x+2aby+3ab=0,b2x−2aby−3ab=0.
- Add these two equations — the y terms cancel:
(a2+b2)x=0.
Since (a,b)=(0,0), a2+b2=0, so x=0.
4. Substitute x=0 into (1): 2by+3b=0⇒b(2y+3)=0. If b=0, then y=−23. (If b=0, then a=0; equation (2) becomes −2ay−3a=0⇒a(−2y−3)=0⇒y=−23 again — same point either way.)
5. So the two lines always meet at (0,−23), no matter what a,b are. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.A line L1 passing through the point of intersection of the lines x−2y+3=0 and 2x−y=0 is parallel to the Line L2. If L2 passes through origin and also through the point of intersection of the lines 3x−y+2=0 and x−3y−2=0, then the distance between the lines L1 and L2 is (A) 21 (B) 2 (C) 5 (D) 51
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find both intersection points, pin down L2 through the origin, build the parallel line L1 through the first intersection point, then apply the parallel-line distance formula to get 21.
Concept and Intuition
Two intersecting lines meet at a unique point found by solving them simultaneously. Once a line's direction (slope) is known, a parallel line through any other point is easy to write. The perpendicular distance between two parallel lines ax+by+c1=0 and ax+by+c2=0 is a2+b2∣c1−c2∣.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Solve x−2y+3=0 and 2x−y=0: from the second, y=2x; substitute: x−4x+3=0⇒x=1, y=2. So the point is (1,2).
- Solve 3x−y+2=0 and x−3y−2=0: from the first, y=3x+2; substitute: x−3(3x+2)−2=0⇒x−9x−6−2=0⇒x=−1, y=−1. So the point is (−1,−1).
- L2 passes through the origin (0,0) and (−1,−1), so its direction is (1,1) and its equation is y=x, i.e. x−y=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If the lines x+y−2=0, 3x−4y+1=0 and 5x+ky−7=0 are concurrent at (α,β), then equation of the line concurrent with the given lines and perpendicular to kx+y−k=0 is (A) x−3y=−2 (B) x+4y=5 (C) x+6y=7 (D) x−2y=−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the common point of the first two lines, use concurrency to solve for k, then build the line through that point perpendicular to kx+y−k=0, giving x−2y=−1.
Concept and Intuition
Three lines are concurrent when they share one common point. Once two of them fix that point, substituting it into the third line's equation solves for any unknown parameter. Perpendicularity between two lines of slopes m1,m2 requires m1m2=−1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Solve x+y−2=0 and 3x−4y+1=0: y=2−x, substitute: 3x−4(2−x)+1=0⇒3x−8+4x+1=0⇒7x=7⇒x=1, y=1. So (α,β)=(1,1).
- Since all three lines are concurrent, (1,1) also lies on 5x+ky−7=0: 5+k−7=0⇒k=2.
- The reference line becomes 2x+y−2=0, slope =−2. A line perpendicular to it has slope 21. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.If the lines x+2ay+a=0, x+3by+b=0, x+4cy+c=0 are concurrent, then a, b, c are in (A) Arithmetic Progression (B) Geometric Progression (C) Harmonic Progression (D) Arithmetico-geometric Progression
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the concurrency (determinant = 0) condition to the three lines; simplifying yields the AP condition on the reciprocals, i.e. a,b,c are in HP.
Concept and Intuition
Three lines aix+biy+ci=0 (i=1,2,3) are concurrent exactly when the 3×3 determinant of their coefficients is zero. Here each line is written with the same x-coefficient (1), which makes the determinant expansion clean and lets the progression fall out directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The three lines are x+2ay+a=0, x+3by+b=0, x+4cy+c=0. Concurrency requires:
1112a3b4cabc=0
- Expand along the first column:
1⋅(3bc−4bc)−2a⋅(c−b)+a⋅(4c−3b)=0
−bc−2ac+2ab+4ac−3ab=0
−bc+2ac−ab=0
- Rearrange:
2ac=ab+bc
- Divide through by abc (all nonzero, as they're line coefficients): b2=c1+a1 …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.L1 and L2 are two lines having slopes 2 and −21 respectively. If both L1 and L2 are concurrent with the lines x−y+2=0 and 2x+y+3=0, then sum of the absolute values of the intercepts made by the lines L1 and L2 on the coordinate axes is (A) 2 (B) 7 (C) 12 (D) 9
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both lines are concurrent with the given pair, so both pass through their common intersection point; building each line from that point and its slope gives intercepts summing (in absolute value) to 7.
Concept and Intuition
"L1 and L2 are concurrent with the lines …" means all lines meet at one common point — the intersection of the two fixed lines. Once that point and each slope are known, each line's equation, and hence its axis intercepts, follow directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Solve x−y+2=0 and 2x+y+3=0 together: adding gives 3x+5=0⇒x=−35; then y=x+2=31. Common point P=(−35,31).
- L1 through P with slope 2: y−31=2(x+35)⇒y=2x+311. x-intercept: 0=2x+311⇒x=−611. y-intercept: 311. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.If A (1, 0, 2), B (2, 1, 0), C (2, -5, 3), D (0, 3, 2) are four points and the point of intersection of the lines AB and CD is P (a, b, c), then a+b+c= (A) 3 (B) −5 (C) 5 (D) −3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write both lines in parametric form and solve for the parameters where they meet; a consistent third equation confirms the lines genuinely intersect.
Concept and Intuition
Two lines in 3D generally don't intersect (they're skew) unless a special consistency condition holds. Parametrising each line and equating coordinates gives an over-determined system; if it's consistent, the point found is the actual intersection.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A(1,0,2), B(2,1,0): direction B−A=(1,1,−2). Line AB: (1+t,t,2−2t).
- C(2,−5,3), D(0,3,2): direction D−C=(−2,8,−1). Line CD: (2−2s,−5+8s,3−s).
- Equate: 1+t=2−2s … (i); t=−5+8s … (ii); 2−2t=3−s … (iii).
- From (ii) into (i): 1+(−5+8s)=2−2s⇒−4+8s=2−2s⇒10s=6⇒s=3/5.
- Then t=−5+8(3/5)=−5+24/5=−1/5. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQQ.The radical centre of the circles x2+y2+2x+3y+1=0, x2+y2+x−y+3=0, x2+y2−3x+2y+5=0 is (A) (−387,196) (B) (196,1914) (C) (1914,196) (D) (192,193)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radical centre is the common intersection point of the three pairwise radical axes; find any two radical axes and solve them simultaneously.
Concept and Intuition
The radical axis of two circles Ci=0,Cj=0 (both written with unit coefficient of x2,y2) is simply Ci−Cj=0 — the quadratic terms cancel, leaving a straight line. The radical centre is where all three pairwise radical axes meet (any two suffice to find it).
Step-by-Step Solution
- C1:x2+y2+2x+3y+1=0; C2:x2+y2+x−y+3=0; C3:x2+y2−3x+2y+5=0.
- Radical axis of C1,C2: C1−C2=(2x+3y+1)−(x−y+3)=x+4y−2=0.
- Radical axis of C2,C3: C2−C3=(x−y+3)−(−3x+2y+5)=x−y+3+3x−2y−5=4x−3y−2=0.
- Solve x+4y=2 and 4x−3y=2 simultaneously. From the first: x=2−4y.
- Substitute: 4(2−4y)−3y=2⇒8−16y−3y=2⇒8−19y=2⇒19y=6⇒y=196. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.For λ,μ∈R, (x−2y−1)+λ(3x+2y−11)=0 and (3x+4y−11)+μ(−x+2y−3)=0 represent two families of lines. If the equation of the line common to both the families is ax+by−5=0, then 2a+b= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 4 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Each family is a pencil of lines through a fixed point; a line common to both pencils must pass through both fixed points, which pins it down uniquely.
Concept and Intuition
An equation of the form L1+λL2=0 represents every line through the intersection of L1=0 and L2=0 (except L2=0 itself), as λ varies. So Family 1 is the pencil of lines through one fixed point, and Family 2 is the pencil through another fixed point. A line that belongs to both families (for some λ and some μ) must pass through both fixed points — i.e. it's the unique line joining them.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Base point of Family 1: solve x−2y−1=0 and 3x+2y−11=0. Adding: 4x−12=0⇒x=3; then 3−2y−1=0⇒y=1. Point (3,1).
- Base point of Family 2: solve 3x+4y−11=0 and −x+2y−3=0⇒x=2y−3. Substituting: 3(2y−3)+4y−11=0⇒10y−20=0⇒y=2, x=1. Point (1,2).
- The common line passes through (3,1) and (1,2): slope =1−32−1=−21.
- Equation: y−1=−21(x−3)⇒x+2y−5=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If the reflection of a point A(2,3) in X-axis is B; reflection of B in the line x+y=0 is C and the reflection of C in x−y=0 is D then the point of intersection of the lines CD, AB is (A) (3,−2) (B) (0,1) (C) (4,−3) (D) (2,−1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Chasing the three reflections gives B(2,−3), C(3,−2), D(−2,3); lines AB and CD intersect at (2,−1).
Concept and Intuition
Reflection in the x-axis: (x,y)→(x,−y). Reflection in x+y=0: (x,y)→(−y,−x). Reflection in x−y=0 (i.e. y=x): (x,y)→(y,x). Chain these to find B,C,D, then intersect the two resulting lines.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A=(2,3). Reflect in x-axis: B=(2,−3).
- Reflect B in x+y=0: (x,y)→(−y,−x) gives C=(−(−3),−(2))=(3,−2).
- Reflect C in x−y=0: (x,y)→(y,x) gives D=(−2,3).
- Line AB: both points have x=2, so it's the vertical line x=2.
- Line CD: slope =−2−33−(−2)=−55=−1; through C(3,−2): y+2=−(x−3)⇒x+y=1. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.The orthocentre of the triangle formed by lines x+y+1=0; x−y−1=0 and 3x+4y+5=0 is (A) (0,−1) (B) (0,0) (C) (1,1) (D) (−1,0)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing a right angle from perpendicular side-slopes, which immediately places the orthocentre at that right-angle vertex. Answer: (0,−1).
Concept and Intuition
The orthocentre is the intersection of the triangle's three altitudes. In a right triangle, the two legs at the right-angle vertex are already mutually perpendicular, so each leg is itself the altitude from the opposite vertex — meaning both altitudes through the right angle already meet exactly at that vertex, so the orthocentre is that vertex.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find vertex A = Line1 (x+y+1=0) ∩ Line2 (x−y−1=0): adding, 2x=0⇒x=0, then y=−1. So A=(0,−1).
- Find vertex B = Line1 ∩ Line3 (3x+4y+5=0): from Line1, y=−x−1; substitute: 3x+4(−x−1)+5=0⇒−x+1=0⇒x=1,y=−2. So B=(1,−2).
- Find vertex C = Line2 ∩ Line3: from Line2, y=x−1; substitute: 3x+4(x−1)+5=0⇒7x+1=0⇒x=−1/7,y=−8/7.
- Side AB lies on Line1 (slope −1); side AC lies on Line2 (slope 1). Product of slopes =−1×1=−1, so AB⊥AC, i.e. angle A=90°. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If all the normals drawn to the curve y=3+x21+3x2 at the points of intersection of y=3+x21+3x2 and y=1 pass through the point (α,β), then 3α+2β= (A) 4 (B) 2 (C) −2 (D) −4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both normal lines at the two intersection points pass through the same fixed point (0,2), so 3α+2β=4.
Concept and Intuition
Although the problem says "all normals," the curve y=3+x21+3x2 meets y=1 at exactly two points, so we just need the normals at both and find their common intersection.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Set 3+x21+3x2=1⇒1+3x2=3+x2⇒2x2=2⇒x=±1, both giving y=1.
- Differentiate (quotient rule): y′=(3+x2)26x(3+x2)−(1+3x2)(2x)=(3+x2)216x.
- At x=1: y′=1616=1; normal slope =−1. Normal at (1,1): y−1=−(x−1)⇒x+y=2.
- At x=−1: y′=16−16=−1; normal slope =1. Normal at (−1,1): y−1=1⋅(x+1)⇒y−x=2. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-FN1 markMCQQ.The radical centre of the three circles x2+y2−1=0, x2+y2−8x+15=0 and x2+y2+10y+24=0 is (A) (2,2−5) (B) (2,25) (C) (−2,25) (D) (−2,2−5)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radical centre is found by intersecting any two of the three pairwise radical axes; it is (2,−25).
Concept and Intuition
For circles S1=0, S2=0 (each with unit coefficient of x2,y2), the radical axis is simply S1−S2=0, a linear equation. The radical centre is the common intersection point of all three pairwise radical axes.
Step-by-Step Solution
- S1:x2+y2−1=0, S2:x2+y2−8x+15=0, S3:x2+y2+10y+24=0.
- S1−S2: (−1)−(−8x+15)=0⇒8x−16=0⇒x=2.
- S1−S3: (−1)−(10y+24)=0⇒−10y−25=0⇒y=−25.
- Radical centre: (2,−25). …
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