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Interpret parametric lines and zero cross products

(a) Interpret geometrically the vector equation r=a+tb\mathbf r=\mathbf a+t\mathbf b, where a\mathbf a and b\mathbf b are constant vectors and tt is a parameter.

(b) The points PP, QQ and RR have position vectors p\mathbf p, q\mathbf q and r\mathbf r respectively. The points PP and QQ are fixed and RR varies. Given that p\mathbf p is non-zero and (r−p)×q=0(\mathbf r-\mathbf p)\times\mathbf q=\mathbf0, describe geometrically the set of all possible positions of the point RR.

CJC · Discussion · Question 8

Separate the cases q nonzero and q zero before applying the parallel-vector interpretation.

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