Three Dimensional Geometry — Class 12 Maths Solution

ncert exercise SA NCERT,EX.11.2,Q.5, Page .477
Question

Find the equation of the line in vector and in cartesian form that passes through the point with position vector $2\hat i - \hat j + 4\hat k$ and is in the direction $\hat i + 2\hat j - \hat k.$

Step-by-step Solution

We have, $\vec a = 2\hat i - \hat j + 4\hat k,\vec b = \hat i + 2\hat j - \hat k$

Vector equation of the line is $\vec r = \vec a + \lambda \vec b$

$\Rightarrow$ $\vec r = (2\hat i - \hat j + 4\hat k) + \lambda (\hat i + 2\hat j - \hat k)$

Now, $\vec r$ is the position vector of any point $P(x,y,z)$ on the line.

$\therefore$ $x\hat i + y\hat j + z\hat k = (2\hat i - \hat j + 4\hat k) + \lambda (\hat i + 2\hat j - \hat k)$

$\Rightarrow$ $x\hat i + y\hat j + z\hat k = (2 + \lambda )\hat i + ( - 1 + 2\lambda )\hat j + (4 - \lambda )\hat k$

Eliminating $\lambda$,

we get
$\cfrac{{x - 2}}{1} = \cfrac{{y + 1}}{2} = \cfrac{{z - 4}}{{ - 1}}$ is the cartesian equation of line.

NCERT & Exemplar solution for CBSE Class 12 Mathematics, Three Dimensional Geometry. Curated by Sachin Sharma. Free for all students.