3. If G is the centroid of ΔABC, prove that GA+GB+GC=0. Further if G1 be the centroid of another ΔPQR, show that AP+BQ+CR=3GG1.
Answer: Hence proved that GA+GB+GC=0 and AP+BQ+CR=3GG1.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1: Define position vectors and express the centroid G
Let O be the origin of reference. Let a, b, and c be the position vectors of vertices A, B, and C respectively. Since G is the centroid of ΔABC, its position vector g is the arithmetic mean of the position vectors of its vertices.
Step 2: Prove that GA+GB+GC=0
Express each vector from the centroid to the vertices in terms of position vectors: GA=a−g, GB=b−g, and GC=c−g. Adding them gives (a+b+c)−3g. Substituting 3g=a+b+c, the sum simplifies directly to 0.
Step 3: Express the centroid G1 of ΔPQR
Let p, q, and r be the position vectors of vertices P, Q, and R of ΔPQR. Since G1 is the centroid of ΔPQR, its position vector is g1=3p+q+r, which implies p+q+r=3g1.
Step 4: Express and simplify AP+BQ+CR
Using position vectors, we write each segment: AP=p−a, BQ=q−b, and CR=r−c. Summing these together groups the terms of ΔPQR and ΔABC separately.
Step 5: Substitute the centroid relations to complete the proof
Regroup the expression as (p+q+r)−(a+b+c). Substituting p+q+r=3g1 and a+b+c=3g, we get 3g1−3g=3(g1−g). Since g1−g=GG1, this establishes AP+BQ+CR=3GG1.