1991 Paper 3 Q2

Year: 1991
Paper: 3
Question Number: 2

Course: LFM Pure
Section: 3x3 Matrices

Difficulty: 1700.0 Banger: 1516.0

Problem

The distinct points \(P_{1},P_{2},P_{3},Q_{1},Q_{2}\) and \(Q_{3}\) in the Argand diagram are represented by the complex numbers \(z_{1},z_{2},z_{3},w_{1},w_{2}\) and \(w_{3}\) respectively. Show that the triangles \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) and \(Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}\) are similar, with \(P_{i}\) corresponding to \(Q_{i}\) (\(i=1,2,3\)) and the rotation from \(1\) to \(2\) to \(3\) being in the same sense for both triangles, if and only if \[ \frac{z_{1}-z_{2}}{z_{2}-z_{3}}=\frac{w_{1}-w_{2}}{w_{1}-w_{3}}. \] Verify that this condition may be written \[ \det\begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2} & z_{3}\\ w_{1} & w_{2} & w_{3}\\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}=0. \]
  1. Show that if \(w_{i}=z_{i}^{2}\) (\(i=1,2,3\)) then triangle \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) is not similar to triangle \(Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}.\)
  2. Show that if \(w_{i}=z_{i}^{3}\) (\(i=1,2,3\)) then triangle \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) is similar to triangle \(Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}\) if and only if the centroid of triangle \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) is the origin. {[}The centroid of triangle \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) is represented by the complex number \(\frac{1}{3}(z_{1}+z_{2}+z_{3})\).{]}
  3. Show that the triangle \(P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}\) is equilateral if and only if \[ z_{2}z_{3}+z_{3}z_{1}+z_{1}z_{2}=z_{1}^{2}+z_{2}^{2}+z_{3}^{2}. \]

No solution available for this problem.

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Difficulty Rating: 1700.0

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Problem source
The distinct points $P_{1},P_{2},P_{3},Q_{1},Q_{2}$ and $Q_{3}$
in the Argand diagram are represented by the complex numbers $z_{1},z_{2},z_{3},w_{1},w_{2}$
and $w_{3}$ respectively. Show that the triangles $P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$
and $Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}$ are similar, with $P_{i}$ corresponding to
$Q_{i}$ ($i=1,2,3$) and the rotation from $1$ to $2$ to $3$ being
in the same sense for both triangles, if and only if 
\[
\frac{z_{1}-z_{2}}{z_{2}-z_{3}}=\frac{w_{1}-w_{2}}{w_{1}-w_{3}}.
\]
Verify that this condition may be written 
\[
\det\begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2} & z_{3}\\
w_{1} & w_{2} & w_{3}\\
1 & 1 & 1
\end{pmatrix}=0.
\]
\begin{questionparts}
\item Show that if $w_{i}=z_{i}^{2}$ ($i=1,2,3$) then triangle
$P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$ is not similar to triangle $Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}.$ 
\item Show that if $w_{i}=z_{i}^{3}$ ($i=1,2,3$) then triangle
$P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$ is similar to triangle $Q_{1}Q_{2}Q_{3}$ if and
only if the centroid of triangle $P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$ is the origin. 
{[}The \textit{centroid }of triangle $P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$ is represented
by the complex number $\frac{1}{3}(z_{1}+z_{2}+z_{3})$.{]} 
\item Show that the triangle $P_{1}P_{2}P_{3}$ is equilateral if
and only if 
\[
z_{2}z_{3}+z_{3}z_{1}+z_{1}z_{2}=z_{1}^{2}+z_{2}^{2}+z_{3}^{2}.
\]
\end{questionparts}