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View Full Version : How to find a vector parallel to a line?


r_swayze
Sep7-09, 03:04 PM
How do I find the vector parallel to the line x+2 = 1/2y = z-3 ?

the book says its < 1,2,1 > but I have no idea how to get there?

tiny-tim
Sep7-09, 05:31 PM
Hi r_swayze! :smile:

Just go for the obvious …

that line is parallel to the line x = 1/2y = z, from which it's pretty obvious that if you increase x by 1, the you increase y by 2, and z by 1 :wink:

r_swayze
Sep7-09, 05:44 PM
oh I think I see now, so the +2 and -3 from the x and z equations are just telling the shift in position?

tiny-tim
Sep7-09, 05:56 PM
Yup! :biggrin: