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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 7i+2j−4k7\mathbf i+2\mathbf j-4\mathbf k and parallel to to i−3j+k\mathbf i-3\mathbf j+\mathbf k

(b) passing through the points (2,−2,1)(2,-2,1) and (0,4,9)(0,4,9)

(c) passing through the point with position vector 7i7\mathbf i and parallel to the line r=(2−p)i+pj+5k\mathbf r=(2-p)\mathbf i+p\mathbf j+5\mathbf k.

CJC · Discussion · Question 1

Answer

(a) r=(7,2,−4)+λ(1,−3,1)\mathbf r=(7,2,-4)+\lambda(1,-3,1); x−7=(y−2)/(−3)=z+4x-7=(y-2)/(-3)=z+4. (b) r=(2,−2,1)+λ(−1,3,4)\mathbf r=(2,-2,1)+\lambda(-1,3,4); 2−x=(y+2)/3=(z−1)/42-x=(y+2)/3=(z-1)/4. (c) r=(7,0,0)+λ(−1,1,0)\mathbf r=(7,0,0)+\lambda(-1,1,0); 7−x=y7-x=y, z=0z=0.

(a) Point plus direction

The point is (7,2,−4)(7,2,-4) and direction (1,−3,1)(1,-3,1). A vector equation is

r=(7,2,−4)+λ(1,−3,1),λ∈R.\mathbf r=(7,2,-4)+\lambda(1,-3,1),\quad\lambda\in\mathbb R.

Eliminating the parameter gives

x−7=y−2−3=z+4.x-7=\frac{y-2}{-3}=z+4.

How did this part go?

(b) Use the two given points

The source difference (2,−2,1)−(0,4,9)=(2,−6,−8)=−2(−1,3,4)(2,-2,1)-(0,4,9)=(2,-6,-8)=-2(-1,3,4) gives direction (−1,3,4)(-1,3,4). Thus

r=(2,−2,1)+λ(−1,3,4),λ∈R.\mathbf r=(2,-2,1)+\lambda(-1,3,4),\quad\lambda\in\mathbb R.

The Cartesian equation is

2−x=y+23=z−14.2-x=\frac{y+2}{3}=\frac{z-1}{4}.

Parameter 2 recovers (0,4,9)(0,4,9).

How did this part go?

(c) Extract the parallel direction

Rewrite the given line as r=(2,0,5)+p(−1,1,0)\mathbf r=(2,0,5)+p(-1,1,0). The required line passes through (7,0,0)(7,0,0) with that direction:

r=(7,0,0)+λ(−1,1,0),λ∈R.\mathbf r=(7,0,0)+\lambda(-1,1,0),\quad\lambda\in\mathbb R.

Its Cartesian description is

7−x=y,z=0.7-x=y,\qquad z=0.

A zero direction component means a constant coordinate, not division byzero.

How did this part go?

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.

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