ABCD is a rhombus whose diagonals intersect at E. Then EA+EB+EC+ED equals to
(a) 0
(b) AD
(c) 2BD
(d) 2AD
Exam answer
The diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other, so E is the midpoint of AC and of BD.
Why?
A rhombus is a parallelogram, and the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other. So EA=EC and EB=ED in length.
ECED=−EA…(i)=−EB…(ii)Why?
EA and EC have the same length but point in opposite directions along AC. A vector with the same length and the opposite direction is the negative, so EC=−EA.
In the same way, along BD,ED=−EB.
Using (i) and (ii):
EA+EB+EC+ED=EA+EB−EA−EB=0Why?
Each vector cancels its negative: a+(−a)=0.
(EA−EA)+(EB−EB)=0+0=0
Watch out: a sum of vectors is the zero vector 0, not the number 0. Options (b), (c) and (d) are non-zero vectors, because A=D and B=D.
Answer: (a) 0
Where this comes from
Chapter 10, Vector Algebra: Addition of vectors: diagonals of a rhombus.