Foot of Perpendicular from a Point to a Line

Rarely Tested

Foot of Perpendicular from a Point to a Line

## Formula

For point $$(x_1,y_1)$$ and line:

$$Ax+By+C=0$$

the foot of perpendicular is:

$$\left(x_1-\frac{A(Ax_1+By_1+C)}{A^2+B^2},y_1-\frac{B(Ax_1+By_1+C)}{A^2+B^2}\right)$$

## Usage

- Used to find the exact point on the line where the perpendicular from a given point meets the line.

Question 1

A variable line $$L$$ passes through the fixed point $$P(1,2)$$ and cuts the positive coordinate axes at $$A(a,0)$$ and $$B(0,b)$$ respectively. Let $$O$$ be the origin and $$M$$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $$O$$ to $$L.$$ If the area of $$\triangle OAB$$ is minimum,the coordinates of $$M$$ are $$(x,y)$$ then $$5\left(x+y\right)$$ is:

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