12. Lines in space (page 3)

12. Lines in space


The Cartesian equations	Page 3 of 3

For each value of the parameter t, there is a point P with coordinates

(x,y,z) = (x0 + ta,y0 + tb,z0 + tc)

on the line.

If a,b,c are all non-zero, then we can eliminate the parameter t in the parametric (scalar) equations to obtain

x - x0 y - y0 z - z0 -------= ------ = ------ = t. a b c

We call

x- x0 y - y0 z- z0 -------= ------ = ------ a b c

Cartesian equations of the line.

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