Variation of the sum of distances












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$begingroup$


Let $l$ be a line and $A$ and $B$ two points on the same side of $l$. To find the point $P$ for which $AP+PB$ is minimum we take the intersection of $l$ and the line joining $B$ and the symmetric $A'$ of $A$ with respect to $l$. For any point $M$ of $l$ other than $P$ we have $AM+MB=A'M+MB>A'B=AP+PB$ so $P$ is the desired point.



My question is $color{red}{text{how to prove that $AM+MB$ increases with $PM$?}}$.



My attempt: If $M'$ is another point of $l$ such that $PM'>PM$ then $AM<AM'+MM'$ and $BM<BM'+MM'$. I want to prove that $AM+MB<AM'+M'B$ using only the triangle inequality.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    1












    $begingroup$


    Let $l$ be a line and $A$ and $B$ two points on the same side of $l$. To find the point $P$ for which $AP+PB$ is minimum we take the intersection of $l$ and the line joining $B$ and the symmetric $A'$ of $A$ with respect to $l$. For any point $M$ of $l$ other than $P$ we have $AM+MB=A'M+MB>A'B=AP+PB$ so $P$ is the desired point.



    My question is $color{red}{text{how to prove that $AM+MB$ increases with $PM$?}}$.



    My attempt: If $M'$ is another point of $l$ such that $PM'>PM$ then $AM<AM'+MM'$ and $BM<BM'+MM'$. I want to prove that $AM+MB<AM'+M'B$ using only the triangle inequality.










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      Let $l$ be a line and $A$ and $B$ two points on the same side of $l$. To find the point $P$ for which $AP+PB$ is minimum we take the intersection of $l$ and the line joining $B$ and the symmetric $A'$ of $A$ with respect to $l$. For any point $M$ of $l$ other than $P$ we have $AM+MB=A'M+MB>A'B=AP+PB$ so $P$ is the desired point.



      My question is $color{red}{text{how to prove that $AM+MB$ increases with $PM$?}}$.



      My attempt: If $M'$ is another point of $l$ such that $PM'>PM$ then $AM<AM'+MM'$ and $BM<BM'+MM'$. I want to prove that $AM+MB<AM'+M'B$ using only the triangle inequality.










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Let $l$ be a line and $A$ and $B$ two points on the same side of $l$. To find the point $P$ for which $AP+PB$ is minimum we take the intersection of $l$ and the line joining $B$ and the symmetric $A'$ of $A$ with respect to $l$. For any point $M$ of $l$ other than $P$ we have $AM+MB=A'M+MB>A'B=AP+PB$ so $P$ is the desired point.



      My question is $color{red}{text{how to prove that $AM+MB$ increases with $PM$?}}$.



      My attempt: If $M'$ is another point of $l$ such that $PM'>PM$ then $AM<AM'+MM'$ and $BM<BM'+MM'$. I want to prove that $AM+MB<AM'+M'B$ using only the triangle inequality.







      geometry euclidean-geometry triangle reflection






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      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question








      edited Jan 6 at 14:51







      Trump

















      asked Dec 30 '18 at 17:01









      TrumpTrump

      62




      62






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          0












          $begingroup$

          Sometimes a figure is worth a thousand words:



          enter image description here



          This distance from $A$ to $B$ via the line is the same as the distance from $A$ to $B'$... the shortest of which is a straight line. Using the elementary fact from Euclidean geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line we see:
          $color{red}{text{all other such paths (see green) must be longer.}}$ Proof completed.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
            $endgroup$
            – Trump
            Dec 30 '18 at 17:38



















          0












          $begingroup$

          Your inequality is false: see diagram below for a counterexample.



          enter image description here






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
            $endgroup$
            – BPP
            Jan 16 at 17:09










          • $begingroup$
            Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
            $endgroup$
            – Aretino
            Jan 16 at 19:33











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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes








          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          0












          $begingroup$

          Sometimes a figure is worth a thousand words:



          enter image description here



          This distance from $A$ to $B$ via the line is the same as the distance from $A$ to $B'$... the shortest of which is a straight line. Using the elementary fact from Euclidean geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line we see:
          $color{red}{text{all other such paths (see green) must be longer.}}$ Proof completed.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
            $endgroup$
            – Trump
            Dec 30 '18 at 17:38
















          0












          $begingroup$

          Sometimes a figure is worth a thousand words:



          enter image description here



          This distance from $A$ to $B$ via the line is the same as the distance from $A$ to $B'$... the shortest of which is a straight line. Using the elementary fact from Euclidean geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line we see:
          $color{red}{text{all other such paths (see green) must be longer.}}$ Proof completed.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
            $endgroup$
            – Trump
            Dec 30 '18 at 17:38














          0












          0








          0





          $begingroup$

          Sometimes a figure is worth a thousand words:



          enter image description here



          This distance from $A$ to $B$ via the line is the same as the distance from $A$ to $B'$... the shortest of which is a straight line. Using the elementary fact from Euclidean geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line we see:
          $color{red}{text{all other such paths (see green) must be longer.}}$ Proof completed.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Sometimes a figure is worth a thousand words:



          enter image description here



          This distance from $A$ to $B$ via the line is the same as the distance from $A$ to $B'$... the shortest of which is a straight line. Using the elementary fact from Euclidean geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line we see:
          $color{red}{text{all other such paths (see green) must be longer.}}$ Proof completed.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Dec 30 '18 at 17:36

























          answered Dec 30 '18 at 17:18









          David G. StorkDavid G. Stork

          10.6k31332




          10.6k31332








          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
            $endgroup$
            – Trump
            Dec 30 '18 at 17:38














          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
            $endgroup$
            – Trump
            Dec 30 '18 at 17:38








          1




          1




          $begingroup$
          Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
          $endgroup$
          – Trump
          Dec 30 '18 at 17:38




          $begingroup$
          Using your image Let $M'$ be another point on the black line. Draw the path $AM'B'$ in blue. How to prove that if $PM'>PM$ then the blue path is longer then the green path?
          $endgroup$
          – Trump
          Dec 30 '18 at 17:38











          0












          $begingroup$

          Your inequality is false: see diagram below for a counterexample.



          enter image description here






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
            $endgroup$
            – BPP
            Jan 16 at 17:09










          • $begingroup$
            Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
            $endgroup$
            – Aretino
            Jan 16 at 19:33
















          0












          $begingroup$

          Your inequality is false: see diagram below for a counterexample.



          enter image description here






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
            $endgroup$
            – BPP
            Jan 16 at 17:09










          • $begingroup$
            Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
            $endgroup$
            – Aretino
            Jan 16 at 19:33














          0












          0








          0





          $begingroup$

          Your inequality is false: see diagram below for a counterexample.



          enter image description here






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Your inequality is false: see diagram below for a counterexample.



          enter image description here







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Jan 7 at 19:01

























          answered Jan 6 at 17:43









          AretinoAretino

          22.9k21443




          22.9k21443












          • $begingroup$
            Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
            $endgroup$
            – BPP
            Jan 16 at 17:09










          • $begingroup$
            Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
            $endgroup$
            – Aretino
            Jan 16 at 19:33


















          • $begingroup$
            Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
            $endgroup$
            – BPP
            Jan 16 at 17:09










          • $begingroup$
            Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
            $endgroup$
            – Aretino
            Jan 16 at 19:33
















          $begingroup$
          Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
          $endgroup$
          – BPP
          Jan 16 at 17:09




          $begingroup$
          Maybe $M$ and $M'$ should be on the same side of $P$.
          $endgroup$
          – BPP
          Jan 16 at 17:09












          $begingroup$
          Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
          $endgroup$
          – Aretino
          Jan 16 at 19:33




          $begingroup$
          Maybe... But the OP, apparently, doesn't care to explain his thoughts.
          $endgroup$
          – Aretino
          Jan 16 at 19:33


















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