Determine if plane perpendicular to line

AI Thread Summary
To determine if the plane defined by the equation 8x + y - z = -1 is perpendicular to the line L that passes through points P(2, 0, -3) and Q(1, -1, 6), the characteristic vector of the line, u = <-1, -1, 9>, must be compared with the plane's normal vector, n = <8, 1, -1>. The dot product of these two vectors should equal zero for them to be perpendicular. The discussion clarifies that the characteristic vector of the line is parallel to the line itself, while the normal vector of the plane is perpendicular to it. Ultimately, it is concluded that the line is indeed perpendicular to the plane.
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Homework Statement



Find cartesian equations of the line L containing P(2, 0, -3) and Q(1, -1, 6) and determine if plane (8x + y - z = -1) is perpendicular to L


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



PQ = (1-2)i + (-1-0)j + (6+3)k = -i -j +9k

(x-2)i + (y-0)j + (z+3)k = -ti - tj +9tk

so, cartesian equation of L is:
\frac{x-2}{-1} = \frac{y}{-1} = \frac{z+3}{9}

The plane normal n = (8, 1, -1). If dot product n and L = 0 then they are perpendicular.

How do I take the dot product of L and n in that form?

I don't understand the general equation of the line, I just followed an example and plugged in some numbers. This question should take about 5 minutes but has taken me about 2 hours and I still have no clue.
 
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L is already perpendicular to the plane.

And what is the characterisitc vector of the line. it is u=<-1,-1,9> right

and of the plane n=<8,1,-9>.

If the plane and the line were perpendicular it means that the characteristic vector of the line, namely u, and that of the plance, namely n, have to be parallel, don't they?

so one can be written as a linear combination of the other.
 
sutupidmath said:
L is already perpendicular to the plane.

how?

sutupidmath said:
And what is the characterisitc vector of the line. it is u=<-1,-1,9> right

So a characteristic vector is the denominators in the cartesian equation? And a characteristic vector is perpendicular to the line?

sutupidmath said:
so one can be written as a linear combination of the other.

Is linear combination the same as scalar multiple?
 
username12345 said:
how??


I meant the vector n. not L. my bad.
username12345 said:
So a characteristic vector is the denominators in the cartesian equation? And a characteristic vector is perpendicular to the line?
yes. and no.

The line is in the same direction as the vector that i wrote in my previous post, it is not perpendicular to it.
the characterisitc vector of a plane is perpendicular to it, while that of a line is parallel to the line itself.
 
username12345 said:
Is linear combination the same as scalar multiple?

in the case of two vectors, yes.
 
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