Menelaus' Thoerem: Suppse there isa triangle ABC. If AF/FB * BD/DC * CE/EA = -1, then EDF is collinear.
How is it possible to have ratio of lengths be equal to -1 when multiplied together?
Please explain what this theorem means.
2007-12-11 08:59:09 · 3 answers · asked by UnknownD 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
That's exactly where I found the theorem.... Please don't lead me back to my own source. It's very confusing.
2007-12-11 09:08:01 · update #1
The ratios you are talking about involve signed lengths. If X Y and Z are points on a line in that order, and you have XZ being a "positive" length, then YZ would also be a positive length, but ZX and ZY would be negative lengths. That's all.
2007-12-11 09:09:52 · answer #1 · answered by Grumpy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is rather confusing. The reference below explains when line segments are considered to have negative length when using Menelaus' Theorem.
2007-12-11 17:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by jgoulden 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to tell us what is meant by E, D, and F. are these points on the triangle? outside it? inside it? without this information the formula is meaningless
2007-12-11 17:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋