3 – dimensional geometry – day – 4

Equation Of A Line In Three Dimensions

Equation of a line is defined as y= mx+c, where c is the y-intercept and m is the slope. Vectors
can be defined as a quantity possessing both direction and magnitude. Position vectors simply
denote the position or location of a point in the three-dimensional Cartesian system with respect
to a reference origin. Further, we shall study in detail about vectors and Cartesian equation of a
line in three dimensions. It is known that we can uniquely determine a line if:

 It passes through a particular point in a specific direction, or

 It passes through two unique points
Let us study each case separately and try to determine the equation of a line in both the given
cases.

Equation of a Line passing through a point and parallel to a vector

Let us consider that the position vector of the given point be  a⃗  with respect to the origin. The
line passing through point A is given by l and it is parallel to the vector k⃗  as shown below. Let
us choose any random point R on the line l and its position vector with respect to origin of the
rectangular co-ordinate system is given by r⃗ .
Since the line segment, AR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ is parallel to vector  k⃗ , therefore for any real number α,
AR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ = α k⃗ 
Also, AR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯=OR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ – OA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Therefore, α r⃗  = r⃗  – a⃗ 
From the above equation it can be seen that for different values of α, the above equations give
the position of any arbitrary point R lying on the line passing through point A and parallel to
vector k. Therefore, the vector equation of a line passing through a given point and parallel to a
given vector is given by:
r⃗  = a⃗  + αk⃗ 
If the three-dimensional co-ordinates of the point ‘A’ are given as (x , y , z ) and the direction
1 1 1

cosines of this point is given as a, b, c then considering the rectangular co-ordinates of point R as
(x, y, z):

Substituting these values in the vector equation of a line passing through a given point and
parallel to a given vector and equating the coefficients of unit vectors i, j and k, we have,

<
Eliminating α we have:

This gives us the Cartesian equation of line.

Equation of a Line passing through two given points
Let us consider that the position vector of the two given points A and B be a⃗  and b⃗  with respect
to the origin. Let us choose any random point R on the line and its position vector with respect to
origin of the rectangular co-ordinate system is given by r⃗ .

Point R lies on the line AB if and only if the vectors  AR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ are collinear.
Also,
AR¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ = r⃗  – a⃗ 
AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ = b⃗  – a⃗ 
Thus R lies on AB only if;
r⃗ –a⃗ =α(b⃗ –a⃗ )
Here α is any real number.
From the above equation it can be seen that for different values of α, the above equation gives
the position of any arbitrary point R lying on the line passing through point A and B. Therefore,
the vector equation of a line passing through two given points is given by:
r⃗ =a⃗ +α(b⃗ –a⃗ )
If the three-dimensional coordinates of the points A and B are given as (x , y , z ) and (x , y , z )
1 1 1 2 2 2

then considering the rectangular co-ordinates of point R as (x, y, z)

Substituting these values in the vector equation of a line passing through two given points and
equating the coefficients of unit vectors i, j and k, we have
Eliminating α we have:

This gives us the Cartesian equation of a line.

The Vector Equation of a Line

You're already familiar with the idea of the equation of a line in two dimensions: the line
with gradient m and intercept c has equation

y=mx+c

When we try to specify a line in three dimensions (or in n dimensions), however, things
get more involved. It can be done without vectors, but vectors provide a really clear and
quick way into the problem.

So, let's work in three dimensions. How much information is needed in order to specify a
straight line? The answer is that we need to know two things: a point through which the
line passes, and the line's direction. Both of those things can be described using
vectors.

Figure 1:  straight line through the point A (with position vector a), parallel to the
vector d

Figure 1 shows the straight line through the point A (with position vector a), parallel to
the vector d. How do we get from the origin, O, to some general point P on the line
(where P has position vector r)? One answer is that we first get to the point A, by
travelling along the vector a, and then travel a certain distance in the direction of the
vector d. If the position vector of P is r, this implies that for some value of  ,

r=a+ d

So for example, the line through the point  2 0 −1   parallel to the vector −3i+j−k has
equation

r=2i−k+ −3i+j−k  

TYPE:1. The Cartesian equation of a line is: 2x – 3 = 3y + 1 = 5 – 6z. Find the vector
equation of a line passing through (7, -5, 0) and parallel to the given line.

Solution : Given equation of the line is: 2x – 3 = 3y + 1 = – 6z + 5

TYPE 2 :
1. Determine the vector equation of the straight line passing through the point with position
vector i − 3j + k and parallel to the vector, 2i + 3j − 4k.

Express the vector equation of the straight line in standard cartesian form.

Solution The vector equation of the straight line is r = i − 3j + k + t(2i + 3j − 4k)

or xi + yj + zk = (1 + 2t)i + (−3 + 3t)j + (1 − 4t)k.

Eliminating t from each component, we obtain the cartesian form of the straight line,

x – 1/ 2 = y + 3 /3 = z – 1/ −4 .

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