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jmc

geometry intermediate

Problem

Determine the coordinates of the point on the line such that is equidistant from the points and (that is, so that ). Express your answer as an ordered pair .
Solution
If is equidistant from and , it must lie on the perpendicular bisector of . Since has coordinates and has coordinates , has slope . The perpendicular bisector of must have slope , and must also pass through the midpoint of , which is . Therefore, the perpendicular bisector has equation or .

is the point of intersection of the lines and the line . Setting these equations equal and solving for yields . It follows that and .
Final answer
(8,-2)