How do you find parametric equations for the line through (2, 4, 6) that is perpendicular to the plane x − y + 3z = 7?

1 Answer
Oct 28, 2016

The parametric equation of our line is
#x=2+t#
#y=4-t#
#z=6+3t#

Explanation:

A vector perpendicular to the plane #ax+by+cz+d=0#
is given by #〈a,b,c〉#
So a vector perpendiculat to the plane #x-y+3z-7=0#
is #〈1,-1,3〉#
The parametric equation of a line through #(x_0,y_0,z_0)#
and parallel to the vector #〈a,b,c〉# is
#x=x_0+ta#
#y=y_0+tb#
#z=z_0+tb#

So the parametric equation of our line is
#x=2+t#
#y=4-t#
#z=6+3t#

The vector form of the line is #vecr=〈2,4,6〉+t〈1,-1,3〉#