TEACHER .

AXMED CILMI
AXMED
Subject.Al.gebra
group BT4-ONE
In this lesson you will learn:

o Lines in Space
o Parametric equations for a line

o Symmetric equations for a line

o Relationships between lines in space

 Lines in Space

Previously you have studied lines in a two-dimensional coordinate system.

These lines were determined by a point and a direction or the slope.

In 3-dimensional space, a line will also be determined by a point and a

direction, except in 3-dimensional space the direction will be given by a
parallel vector, called the direction vector.
 Lines in Space

To determine the equation of the line passing through the point P x 0 , y 0 , z 0

and parallel to the direction vector, v a , b , c , we will use our
knowledge that parallel vectors are scalar multiples. Thus, the vector
through P and any other point Q x , y , z on the line is a scalar multiple
of the direction vector, v a , b , c .

In other words,

PQ t a , b , c , where t is any real number scalar

or
x x 0 , y y 0 , z z 0 at , bt , ct
 Equations of Lines in
Space
Equate the respective components and there are three equations.

x x 0 at , y y 0 bt and z z 0 ct
or
x x 0 at , y y 0 bt and z z 0 ct

These equations are called the parametric equations of the line.

each equation can be solved for the parameter t and then the three can
be set equal.

x x0 y y0 z z0

a b c

These equations are called the symmetric equations of the line.

 Equations of Lines in
Space

A line passing through the point P x 0 , y 0 , z 0 and parallel to the vector,

Paralle vectore two vectores U and V are parallel if their prodect is zero
v a , b,c
is represented by the parametric equations:

x x 0 at , y y 0 bt and z z 0 ct

And if all three components of the direction vector are nonzero, the line
is also represented by the symmetric equations:

x x0 y y0 z z0

a b c
Example 1: Find the parametric and symmetric equations of the line passing
through the point (2, 3, -4) and parallel to the vector, <-1, 2, 5> .

Solution: Simply use the parametric and symmetric equations for any line given
a point on the line and the direction vector.

Parametric Equations:

x 2 t , y 3 2t and z 4 5t

Symmetric Equations:

x 2 y 3 z 4

1 2 5
Example 2: Find the parametric and symmetric equations of the line passing
through the points (1, 2, -2) and (3, -2, 5).

Solution: First you must find the direction vector which is just finding the
vector from one point on the line to the other. Then simply use the
parametric and symmetric equations and either point.

direction vector v 3 1, 2 2, 5 2 2, 4, 7

parametric equations : x 1 2t , y 2 4t and z 2 7t

x 1 y 2 z 2
symmetric equations :
2 4 7
 Relationships Between Lines

In a 2-dimensional coordinate system, there were three possibilities when

considering two lines: intersecting lines, parallel lines and the two were
actually the same line.

In 3-dimensional space, there is one more possibility. Two lines may be skew,
which means the do not intersect, but are not parallel. For an example see
the picture and description below.

If the red line is down in the xy-

plane and the blue line is above the
xy-plane, but parallel to the xy-
plane the two lines never intersect
and are not parallel.
That is the end of my lacture

Eng.Abdi fitaah mohamuud

mohamed

END