Worked solution
Write vector and Cartesian equations without dividing by zero
Find a vector equation and cartesian equation of the following lines:
(a) passing through the point with position vector and parallel to to
(b) passing through the points and
(c) passing through the point with position vector and parallel to the line .
CJC · Discussion · Question 1
Answer
(a) ; . (b) ; . (c) ; , .
(a) Point plus direction
The point is and direction . A vector equation is
Eliminating the parameter gives
(b) Use the two given points
The source difference gives direction . Thus
The Cartesian equation is
Parameter 2 recovers .
(c) Extract the parallel direction
Rewrite the given line as . The required line passes through with that direction:
Its Cartesian description is
A zero direction component means a constant coordinate, not division byzero.
Common mistakes
The line in(c) does not inherit z=5 from its parallel line; its own given point has z=0.
Solution notes
Source duplicate wording “parallel to to” retained. Tuple notation represents the printed column vectors.