Q.Find the parametric form of vector equation and Cartesian equations of the straight line passing through the point (−2,3,4) and parallel to the straight line −4x−1=5y+3=68−z.
Concept understanding — Equation of a Line (vector/Cartesian)
A line in R3 is uniquely fixed by (i) one point plus a direction, or (ii) two points (whose difference gives the direction). Every form below is built from these two ingredients.
Point + direction, through A(a) parallel to b:
- Parametric vector: r=a+tb, t∈R.
- Non-parametric vector: (r−a)×b=0.
- Cartesian (symmetric): b1x−x1=b2y−y1=b3z−z1, where b1,b2,b3 are the direction ratios of b (or, scaled to unit length, the line's direction cosines).
Through two points A(a),B(b): identical forms with b−a in place of b — direction ratios x2−x1,y2−y1,z2−z1.
Reading off direction ratios/cosines is the master skill: whatever form a line is given in, the numbers under x,y,z in the symmetric form (or the coefficients of t in the parametric form) are its direction ratios; dividing by their magnitude b12+b22+b32 gives the direction cosines l,m,n (with l2+m2+n2=1).
Angle between two lines (directions b,d): θ=cos−1(∣b∣∣d∣b⋅d) — parallel iff b=λd, perpendicular iff b⋅d=0.
Point of intersection of two lines: write each line's general point with its own parameter, equate coordinatewise, solve any two of the three resulting equations, and check the third — if it holds, the lines meet there; if not, they are parallel or skew.
A line's Cartesian symmetric equation with a 0 in a denominator (say 0x−x1) is NOT a division by zero — it is shorthand for "x=x1 always," i.e. that coordinate is constant along the line.
Read direction ratios (−4,5,−6) from the given line; use point (−2,3,4).
r=(−2i^+3j^+4k^)+t(−4i^+5j^−6k^); Cartesian: −4x+2=5y−3=−6z−4.
The required line is parallel to the given line, so it inherits that line's direction ratios; only the base point changes.
Step 1. Read the direction ratios from the given line. −4x−1=5y+3=68−z; rewrite the z-part as −6z−8 so all three are in "⋅⋅−⋅" form. Direction ratios: (−4,5,−6).
Step 2. Parametric vector equation through (−2,3,4) with this direction:
r=(−2i^+3j^+4k^)+t(−4i^+5j^−6k^),t∈R.
Step 3. Cartesian equations.
−4x−(−2)=5y−3=−6z−4 ⟹ −4x+2=5y−3=−6z−4.
r=(−2i^+3j^+4k^)+t(−4i^+5j^−6k^); Cartesian: −4x+2=5y−3=−6z−4.
Read direction ratios off the given parallel line, keep them, change only the base point
- Missing the sign flip needed to rewrite 68−z as −6z−8
- Using the given line's point instead of the required new point (−2,3,4)
- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The point of intersection of the lines r=(−i+2j+3k)+t(−2i+j+k) and r=(2i+3j+5k)+s(i+2j+3k) is :(a) (1,1,2)(b) (2,1,1)(c) (1,1,1)(d) (1,2,1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Solving the parametric equations of the two given lines simultaneously gives the intersection point (1,1,2).
- Line 1: r=(−i+2j+3k)+t(−2i+j+k), i.e. (x,y,z)=(−1−2t, 2+t, 3+t).
- Line 2: r=(2i+3j+5k)+s(i+2j+3k), i.e. (x,y,z)=(2+s, 3+2s, 5+3s).
- Equate the y-components: 2+t=3+2s⇒t=1+2s.
- Equate the z-components: 3+t=5+3s⇒t=2+3s.
- Set the two expressions for t equal: 1+2s=2+3s⇒−1=s⇒s=−1.
- Then t=1+2(−1)=−1.
- Check with the x-components: line 1 gives x=−1−2(−1)=1; line 2 gives x=2+(−1)=1 — consistent, so the lines do intersect.
- Compute the point using either line: x=1, y=2+t=2−1=1, z=3+t=3−1=2.
- Verify with line 2: x=2+s=2−1=1, y=3+2s=3−2=1, z=5+3s=5−3=2 — matches.
✓Final answerThe lines intersect at (1,1,2) — option (a).
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The equation of the line parallel to 1x−3=5y+3=32z−5 and passing through the point (1,3,5) in vector form, is :(a) r=(i+5j+3k)+t(i+3j+5k)(b) r=(i+3j+5k)+t(i+5j+3k)(c) r=(i+5j+23k)+t(i+3j+5k)(d) r=(i+3j+5k)+t(i+5j+23k)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewriting the third ratio in standard form gives direction ratios (1,5,3/2); the required line through (1,3,5) is r=(i+3j+5k)+t(i+5j+23k).
- The given line is 1x−3=5y+3=32z−5. Rewrite the third fraction so the coefficient of z is 1: 32z−5=32(z−25)=23z−25.
- So the direction ratios of the given line are (1,5,23).
- A line parallel to it shares the same direction ratios.
- The required line passes through (1,3,5), i.e. has position vector i+3j+5k, so its vector equation is r=(i+3j+5k)+t(i+5j+23k).
- This matches option (d); options (a) and (c) use the wrong point, and option (b) uses the un-normalised ratio 3 instead of 3/2 for the z-component.
✓Final answerr=(i+3j+5k)+t(i+5j+23k) — option (d).
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The point of intersection of the lines −6x−6=4y+4=−8z−4 and 2x+1=4y+2=−2z+3 is :(a) (0,0,−4)(b) (1,0,0)(c) (0,2,0)(d) (1,2,0)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write both lines in parametric form and check each candidate point against both sets of parametric equations; (0,0,−4) satisfies both lines (at t=1 on line 1 and s=0.5 on line 2), confirming it as the intersection.
- Line 1: −6x−6=4y+4=−8z−4=t, giving parametric form x=6−6t, y=−4+4t, z=4−8t.
- Line 2: 2x+1=4y+2=−2z+3=s, giving parametric form x=−1+2s, y=−2+4s, z=−3−2s.
- Test option (a), (0,0,−4), against Line 1: from x: 6−6t=0⇒t=1. Check y: −4+4(1)=0 ✓. Check z: 4−8(1)=−4 ✓. So (0,0,−4) lies on Line 1 at t=1.
- Test the same point against Line 2: from x: −1+2s=0⇒s=0.5. Check y: −2+4(0.5)=0 ✓. Check z: −3−2(0.5)=−4 ✓. So (0,0,−4) also lies on Line 2 at s=0.5.
- Since (0,0,−4) lies on both lines for consistent parameter values, it is the common point of intersection.
- (The other candidate points can be checked similarly and fail to satisfy both lines simultaneously.)
- This matches option (a).
✓Final answerThe point of intersection is (0,0,−4).
- CBSE 2016Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The point of intersection of the lines r=(−i+2j+3k)+t(−2i+j+k) and r=(2i+3j+5k)+s(i+2j+3k) is :(a) (2,1,1)(b) (1,2,1)(c) (1,1,2)(d) (1,1,1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Solving the three simultaneous parametric equations for t and s (with a consistency check) locates the intersection at (1,1,2).
- Line 1: r=(−1,2,3)+t(−2,1,1), so a general point is (−1−2t, 2+t, 3+t).
- Line 2: r=(2,3,5)+s(1,2,3), so a general point is (2+s, 3+2s, 5+3s).
- Equate coordinates:
- x: −1−2t=2+s … (i)
- y: 2+t=3+2s … (ii)
- z: 3+t=5+3s … (iii)
- From (ii): t=1+2s. From (iii): t=2+3s.
- Equate these two expressions for t: 1+2s=2+3s⇒−1=s⇒s=−1.
- Then t=1+2(−1)=−1.
- Verify with (i): LHS =−1−2(−1)=−1+2=1; RHS =2+s=2+(−1)=1. Consistent, confirming the lines genuinely intersect (not skew).
- Substitute t=−1 into Line 1's point: (−1−2(−1), 2+(−1), 3+(−1))=(1, 1, 2).
- This matches option (c); the other options fail the consistency check across all three coordinate equations.
✓Final answerThe point of intersection is (1,1,2) (option c).
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