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Q.Find the coordinates of the point where the line x−13=y+47=z+42\dfrac{x-1}{3} = \dfrac{y+4}{7} = \dfrac{z+4}{2} cuts the xy-plane.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2020Subjective· 1mImportance★★★★★
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A line cuts the xy-plane when z=0z = 0. Setting the common parameter equal to the value that makes z=0z = 0 gives the intersection point (−5,−10,0)(−5, −10, 0).

The xy-plane is defined by the condition z=0z = 0. Any point on this plane has its z-coordinate equal to zero. When a line intersects the xy-plane, we need to find where along the line this condition is satisfied.

The symmetric form of a line expresses all three coordinates in terms of a common parameter. If we write

x−13=y−47=z−42=t\frac{x-1}{3} = \frac{y-4}{7} = \frac{z-4}{2} = t

then tt is a parameter that traces out points along the line. Each value of tt corresponds to a unique point (x,y,z)(x, y, z) on the line.

Finding the intersection:

  1. Express each coordinate in terms of the parameter tt.

    From the symmetric equations:

    • x−1=3t  ⟹  x=1+3tx - 1 = 3t \implies x = 1 + 3t
    • y−4=7t  ⟹  y=4+7ty - 4 = 7t \implies y = 4 + 7t
    • z−4=2t  ⟹  z=4+2tz - 4 = 2t \implies z = 4 + 2t
  2. Apply the xy-plane condition z=0z = 0.

    Substituting into the z-equation:

4+2t=04 + 2t = 0

2t=−42t = -4

t=−2t = -2

  1. Find the x and y coordinates at this parameter value.

    Substitute t=−2t = -2 into the parametric equations for xx and yy: …

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