[Math] Find the parametric equation of the line passing through the point $ \ (-3,4,1) \ $

geometry

Find the parametric equation of the line passing through the point $ \ (-3,4,1) \ $ parallel to the $ \ xy-plane \ $ and perpendicular to the $ \ yz-plane $ .

Answer:

Let the equation of the line through $ \ (-3,4,1) \ $ is

$ \frac{x+3}{l}=\frac{y-4}{m}=\frac{z-1}{n} \ $

But how to use the given conditions?

Best Answer

These equations suppose you have a directing vector of the line, and if some coordinates of the directing vector are $0$, the corresponding numerator is $0$.

  • Perpendicular to the $yz$-plane: a directing vector is $\vec u=(1,0,0)$.
  • Parallel to the $xy$-plane: that is implied by what the directing vector is.

So the parametric equations are $\;\begin{cases} x=-3+t,\\y=4,\\z=1. \end{cases}$