Question:

Find the vector and the cartesian equations of the line that passes through the points(3,-2,-5),(3,-2,6).

Updated On: Sep 19, 2023
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Solution and Explanation

Let the line passing through the points P (3,-2,-5) and Q(3,-2,6), be PQ.

Since PQ passes through P (3,-2,-5), its position vector is given by, 

\(\overrightarrow a=3\widehat{i}-2\widehat j-5\widehat k\)
The direction ratios of PQ are given by, (3-3)=0, (-2+2)=0, (6+5)=11
The equation of the vector in the direction of PQ is 

\(\overrightarrow b=0 \widehat i-0. \widehat j+11 \widehat k=11 \widehat k\)

The equation of PQ in vector form is given by, \(\overrightarrow r= \overrightarrow a+ \lambda \overrightarrow b, \lambda \in R\)
\(\Rightarrow \overrightarrow r=(3 \widehat i-2\widehat j-5\widehat k)+11 \lambda \widehat k\)

The equation of PQ in cartesian form is

\(\frac{x-x_1}{a}=\frac{y-y_1}{b}=\frac{z-z_1}{c} i.e.,\frac{x-3}{0}=\frac{y+2}{0}=\frac{z+5}{11}\)

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Concepts Used:

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In a plane, the equation of a line is given by the popular equation y = m x + C. Let's look at how the equation of a line is written in vector form and Cartesian form.

Vector Equation

Consider a line that passes through a given point, say ‘A’, and the line is parallel to a given vector '\(\vec{b}\)‘. Here, the line ’l' is given to pass through ‘A’, whose position vector is given by '\(\vec{a}\)‘.  Now, consider another arbitrary point ’P' on the given line, where the position vector of 'P' is given by '\(\vec{r}\)'.

\(\vec{AP}\)=𝜆\(\vec{b}\)

Also, we can write vector AP in the following manner:

\(\vec{AP}\)=\(\vec{OP}\)\(\vec{OA}\)

𝜆\(\vec{b}\) =\(\vec{r}\)\(\vec{a}\)

\(\vec{a}\)=\(\vec{a}\)+𝜆\(\vec{b}\)

\(\vec{b}\)=𝑏1\(\hat{i}\)+𝑏2\(\hat{j}\) +𝑏3\(\hat{k}\)