I need some help understanding the process of how you go about answering this question:
The vertices of a triangle are A(-1, 1) B(4,0) and C(1,6) Find the equation of the altitude of the triangle ABC drawn from A.
Not going to lie, in a higher maths course and still struggling with some basic stuff like this, this isn't my homework persay it's pretty much me starting my revision for my assessments next year.
I know I need to use y2 – y1 / x2 – x1 to find the graident.
my problem is, which points do I use?
Do I use B and C, C and A? do I use all three?
I don't uderstand the process past this point.
My straight line equation is Y-b=m(x – a)
Like I've said, if you could help me out I'd appreciate it.
Best Answer
Since the slope of the line $BC$ is $$\frac{0-6}{4-1}=-2,$$ the line you want, whose slope is $\frac{-1}{-2}=\frac 12$, is $$y-1=\frac{1}{2}(x-(-1))\iff y=\frac 12x+\frac 32.$$