[Math] Finding parametric and symmetric equations for a line

linear algebra

I want to find parametric and symmetric equations for the line of intersection of the planes $x+y+z=1$ and $x+z$=0. Here's what I have so far:

I need to find a point on this line of intersection. So by setting z=0 in the equation of both planes, I get $x=0, y=1, z=0$. So $(0,1,0)$ is on the line. Now since this line is intersecting both planes, it must be perpendicular to both planes. So to find a line parallel to this line, I take the cross product of the normal vectors of both planes. I get $<1,-1,0>$. And now I'm stuck. I dont know what to do next. Any ideas?

Best Answer

The line of intersection is in both planes, not perpendicular to them. You have two equations in three unknowns, which should have a solution depending on one parameter, just like a line. So can you solve the two equations to give something like that?

Added: If you subtract the two equations, you get y=1. If you plug that into the first, they become identical, x+z=0. So all points on both planes have to satisfy both of these. A parameterization of the line would then be (t,1,-t)