3. If GG is the centroid of ΔABC\Delta ABC, prove that GA⃗+GB⃗+GC⃗=0\vec{GA} + \vec{GB} + \vec{GC} = 0. Further if G1G_1 be the centroid of another ΔPQR\Delta PQR, show that AP⃗+BQ⃗+CR⃗=3GG1⃗\vec{AP} + \vec{BQ} + \vec{CR} = 3\vec{GG_1}.

Answer: Hence proved that GA⃗+GB⃗+GC⃗=0⃗\vec{GA} + \vec{GB} + \vec{GC} = \vec{0} and AP⃗+BQ⃗+CR⃗=3GG1⃗\vec{AP} + \vec{BQ} + \vec{CR} = 3\vec{GG_1}.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Define position vectors and express the centroid GG

Let OO be the origin of reference. Let a⃗\vec{a}, b⃗\vec{b}, and c⃗\vec{c} be the position vectors of vertices AA, BB, and CC respectively. Since GG is the centroid of ΔABC\Delta ABC, its position vector g⃗\vec{g} is the arithmetic mean of the position vectors of its vertices.

Step 2: Prove that GA⃗+GB⃗+GC⃗=0⃗\vec{GA} + \vec{GB} + \vec{GC} = \vec{0}

Express each vector from the centroid to the vertices in terms of position vectors: GA⃗=a⃗−g⃗\vec{GA} = \vec{a} - \vec{g}, GB⃗=b⃗−g⃗\vec{GB} = \vec{b} - \vec{g}, and GC⃗=c⃗−g⃗\vec{GC} = \vec{c} - \vec{g}. Adding them gives (a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)−3g⃗(\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) - 3\vec{g}. Substituting 3g⃗=a⃗+b⃗+c⃗3\vec{g} = \vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}, the sum simplifies directly to 0⃗\vec{0}.

Step 3: Express the centroid G1G_1 of ΔPQR\Delta PQR

Let p⃗\vec{p}, q⃗\vec{q}, and r⃗\vec{r} be the position vectors of vertices PP, QQ, and RR of ΔPQR\Delta PQR. Since G1G_1 is the centroid of ΔPQR\Delta PQR, its position vector is g⃗1=p⃗+q⃗+r⃗3\vec{g}_1 = \frac{\vec{p} + \vec{q} + \vec{r}}{3}, which implies p⃗+q⃗+r⃗=3g⃗1\vec{p} + \vec{q} + \vec{r} = 3\vec{g}_1.

Step 4: Express and simplify AP⃗+BQ⃗+CR⃗\vec{AP} + \vec{BQ} + \vec{CR}

Using position vectors, we write each segment: AP⃗=p⃗−a⃗\vec{AP} = \vec{p} - \vec{a}, BQ⃗=q⃗−b⃗\vec{BQ} = \vec{q} - \vec{b}, and CR⃗=r⃗−c⃗\vec{CR} = \vec{r} - \vec{c}. Summing these together groups the terms of ΔPQR\Delta PQR and ΔABC\Delta ABC separately.

Step 5: Substitute the centroid relations to complete the proof

Regroup the expression as (p⃗+q⃗+r⃗)−(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)(\vec{p} + \vec{q} + \vec{r}) - (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}). Substituting p⃗+q⃗+r⃗=3g⃗1\vec{p} + \vec{q} + \vec{r} = 3\vec{g}_1 and a⃗+b⃗+c⃗=3g⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = 3\vec{g}, we get 3g⃗1−3g⃗=3(g⃗1−g⃗)3\vec{g}_1 - 3\vec{g} = 3(\vec{g}_1 - \vec{g}). Since g⃗1−g⃗=GG1⃗\vec{g}_1 - \vec{g} = \vec{GG_1}, this establishes AP⃗+BQ⃗+CR⃗=3GG1⃗\vec{AP} + \vec{BQ} + \vec{CR} = 3\vec{GG_1}.

Solve your own maths question free →