Advanced Math/ Equation of a line in

space,
Advertisement

Expert: Paul Klarreich - 7/5/2009

Question QUESTION: I had try already to do this question & i know how to do it using my teacher method by forming two simultaneous equation first but i found out that this method takes a long time & complex for me. I'm asking here if you know any alternatives working which are simpler & short to solve this kind of question. I'm studying "A Level" mathematics on vectors topic. Two planes have equations 2x-y-3z=7 & x+2y+2z=0. Find a vector equation for their line of intersection. Thanks a lot ANSWER: Country: China Category: Advanced Math Private: No Subject: Vector Question: I had try already to do this question & i know how to do it using my teacher method by forming two simultaneous equation first but i found out that this method takes a long time & complex for me. I'm asking here if you know any alternatives working which are simpler & short to solve this kind of question. I'm studying "A Level" mathematics on vectors topic. Two planes have equations 2x-y-3z=7 & x+2y+2z=0. Find a vector equation for their line of intersection. Thanks a lot ........................................ Hi, Warm, A vector equation of a line would be: A (x - x0) = 0 where A is the direction vector (see below) and x0 is a point on the line. That means x0 is a point on both planes, so you will have to do some simultaneous equation stuff to find it. Your equations are: 2x-y-3z=7

x+2y+2z=0 and since you have two equations in 3 variables, an infinite number of solutions, so we can just pick a value for any one of x,y,z. Perhaps pick z = 0? 2x - y = 7 x + 2y = 0 4x - 2y = 14 x + 2y = 0 5x = 14, x = 14/5 - y = 7 - 28/5 - y = 35/5 - 28/5 y = -7/5 ................ OK, now we need a direction vector. Take the two equations: 2x-y-3z=7 ==> <2,-1,-3> normal vector. x+2y+2z=0 ==> <1,2,2> normal vector. Now the cross-product of those normal vectors is what you want.