Equation of line - given point and //vector
Equation of line - given point and //vector
Last updated at August 19, 2026 by Teachoo
Transcript
Example 6 Find the vector and the Cartesian equations of the line through the point (5, 2, โ 4) and which is parallel to the vector 3๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 8๐ ฬ . Vector equation Equation of a line passing through a point with position vector ๐ โ , and parallel to a vector ๐ โ is ๐ โ = ๐ โ + ๐๐ โ Since line passes through (5, 2, โ4) ๐ โ = 5๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 4๐ ฬ Since line is parallel to 3๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 8๐ ฬ ๐ โ = 3๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 8๐ ฬ Equation of line ๐ โ = ๐ โ + ๐๐ โ ๐ โ = (5๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 4๐ ฬ) + ๐ (3๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ 8๐ ฬ) Cartesian equation Equation of a line passing through a point (x, y, z) and parallel to a line with direction ratios a, b, c is (๐ โ ๐๐)/๐ = (๐ โ ๐๐)/๐ = (๐ โ ๐๐)/๐ Since line passes through (5, 2, โ4) ๐1 = 5, y1 = 2 , z1 = โ4 Also, line is parallel to 3๐ ฬ + 2๐ ฬ โ8๐ ฬ , ๐ = 3, b = 2, c = โ8 Equation of line in Cartesian form is (๐ฅ โ ๐ฅ1)/๐ = (๐ฆ โ ๐ฆ1)/๐ = (๐ง โ ๐ง1)/๐ (๐ฅ โ 5)/3 = (๐ฆ โ 2)/2 = (๐ง โ (โ4))/( โ8) (๐ โ ๐)/๐ = (๐ โ ๐)/๐ = (๐ + ๐)/(โ๐)