NCERT Solutions
Class 11 Maths
Introduction to Three Dimensional Geometry

Ex.12.3 Q.5
Find the coordinates of the points which trisect the line segment joining the points P (4, 2, –6) and Q (10, –16, 6).
Let A and B be the points that trisect the line segment joining points P (4, 2, –6) and Q (10, –16, 6).
Point A divides PQ in the ratio 1: 2. Therefore, by section formula, the coordinates of point A are given by
{(1 × 10 + 2 × 4) ÷ (1 + 2), (-16 × 1 + 2 × 2) ÷ (1 + 2), (1 × 6 + 2 × (-6)) ÷ (1 + 2)} = (6, -4, -2)
Point B divides PQ in the ratio 2: 1. Therefore, by section formula, the coordinates of point B are given by
{(2 × 10 + 1 × 4) ÷ (2 + 1), (-16 × 1 + 2 × 1) ÷ (2 + 1), (2 × 6 + 1 × (-6)) ÷ (2 + 1)} = (8, -10, 2) Thus, (6, –4, –2) and (8, –10, 2)
are the points that trisect the line segment joining points P (4, 2, –6) and Q (10, –16, 6).