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NCERT Exemplar · Q9

Q.Three consecutive vertices of a parallelogram ABCD are A(6,−2,4)A(6,-2,4), B(2,4,−8)B(2,4,-8), C(−2,2,4)C(-2,2,4). Find the coordinates of the fourth vertex. [Hint: Diagonals of a parallelogram have the same mid-point.]

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The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, so their midpoints coincide. Using this property with vertices AA, BB, CC, we find the fourth vertex DD at (2,−4,16)(2, -4, 16).

The key insight here is that a parallelogram's diagonals always bisect each other. This means the midpoint of diagonal ACAC must equal the midpoint of diagonal BDBD. Once we know three consecutive vertices, this single condition determines the fourth vertex uniquely.

Why the midpoint condition works

In any parallelogram, opposite sides are parallel and equal. If we label the vertices in order as AA, BB, CC, DD, then the diagonals are ACAC and BDBD. The defining property of a parallelogram guarantees that these diagonals meet at their common midpoint. So if we know AA, BB, and CC, we can find DD by enforcing:

Midpoint of AC=Midpoint of BD\text{Midpoint of } AC = \text{Midpoint of } BD

Let's work through this step by step.

Solution

1. Identify the diagonal containing the known vertices

We have three consecutive vertices: A(6,−2,4)A(6, -2, 4), B(2,4,−8)B(2, 4, -8), and C(−2,2,4)C(-2, 2, 4). Since they are consecutive, the vertices are ordered around the parallelogram. The diagonals are ACAC and BDBD, where DD is the unknown fourth vertex.

2. Calculate the midpoint of diagonal ACAC

The midpoint MM of a line segment joining (x1,y1,z1)(x_1, y_1, z_1) and (x2,y2,z2)(x_2, y_2, z_2) is:

M=(x1+x22,y1+y22,z1+z22)M = \left( \frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2}, \frac{z_1 + z_2}{2} \right)

For diagonal ACAC:

MAC=(6+(−2)2,−2+22,4+42)=(42,02,82)=(2,0,4)M_{AC} = \left( \frac{6 + (-2)}{2}, \frac{-2 + 2}{2}, \frac{4 + 4}{2} \right) = \left( \frac{4}{2}, \frac{0}{2}, \frac{8}{2} \right) = (2, 0, 4)

3. Set up the midpoint equation for diagonal BDBD

Let the unknown vertex DD have coordinates (x,y,z)(x, y, z). The midpoint of diagonal BDBD is:

MBD=(2+x2,4+y2,−8+z2)M_{BD} = \left( \frac{2 + x}{2}, \frac{4 + y}{2}, \frac{-8 + z}{2} \right) …

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