School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney
 12. Lines in space
Main menu Section menu   Previous section Next section The parametric scalar equations button disabled
Glossary
Examples
Advanced Examples
Quiz

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.

Feedback
Main menu Section menu   Previous section Next section The parametric scalar equations button disabled