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Given = + + , the point V has coordinates , , and the vector has magnitude =
1
+
2 + 2 + 2 = and so a unit vector in the direction of is = + + .
Whereas the direction of a vector in 2 dimension could be determined by looking at the angle the vector
makes with the positive x-axis, the direction of a vector in 3 dimension is given by looking at the angle
the vector makes with each of the coordinate axes leading to what is known as the direction ratio or the
direction cosines of a vector.
The Direction Ratio of = + + is : : . Looking at the angle the vector makes with each
coordinate axis the Cosine Ratios are developed
cos = =
1) 2 + 2 + 2 = 1
cos = =
The cosine ratios lead to 2 additional relationships
2) = , = , =
cos = =
P1
random point P on m we can also say that = since is
parallel to l. Using the triangle law of vectors and the position
m
vector of A, , we can say that = + =
O
+ . is the vector that describes movement from the
origin to any point P with coordinates , , just as the point
M with coordinates , would be any random point on the line = + once the coordinates of M
satisfy the equation of the line.
Now = 1 + 1 + 1 + + + represents the vector equation of the line m the various
points P will be on the line m and so we have the locus of the set of points, P, in a specific direction from
the point A which is on m.
If = 1 + 1 + 1 + + + is the vector equation of a line, then from this form we can
write parametric equations for x, y, and z with parameter . By making the subject of the equations we
can equate them and create the Cartesian equation of the line.
Make the subject of each equation
Parametric Equations
= 1 +
= 1 +
= 1 +
=
Notice that in each form of the equation the direction ratio : : is present.
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S. Kenny-Bennett
If a value for that satisfies all three equations cannot be found the lines should be classified as
non-intersecting or skew lines.
Rewriting = 0
= 0
( ) = 0
1 =0
=
Repeating the process with a we get that
=
Equating we have that = =
It follows that we can represent this relationship between r, a
and n by multiplying both sides of the equation by d to get
=
NB
N
A
P
n
a
r
O
+ + =
E.g. Let a plane l be perpendicular to the vector = 2 + 3 4. Let the point A 2, 1, 3 be on the plane l.
= .
= 2 2 + 3 1 + 4 3 = 4 + 3 12 = 5
The vector equation of the plane l is therefore = 5 2 + 3 4 = 5
==
5
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S. Kenny-Bennett