MHB Finding missing point of a vector when it is perpendicular to a line

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To find the coordinates of point B on line L1 such that vector AB is perpendicular to L1, the scalar product of vector AB and the direction vector of L1 must equal zero. The coordinates of point B can be expressed in terms of parameter t, leading to the equations for the components of vector AB. Substituting these into the scalar product equation yields a quadratic equation in t, which can be solved to find the values of t. The solutions indicate that t can be either 3 or -2, leading to the coordinates of point B being determined based on these t values. The discussion emphasizes the relationship between the vectors and the conditions for perpendicularity in vector geometry.
AJTheRed
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The question:
The line L1 has equation $$r = \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) $$, and point A has coordinates (4, 8, -3).

Find the coordinates of point B on L1, such that $$\overrightarrow{AB}$$ is perpendicular to L1.

My attempt to answer:
I know that $$\overrightarrow{AB} \cdot \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) = 0$$. I also know that this scalar product has to do with finding point B. I also know that $$\overrightarrow{AB}$$ = $$B-A$$ = $$B - \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\8\\-3\\\end{array} \right)$$ and I think that $$\left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) = \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4+t \\-1+t \\0-t\\\end{array} \right)$$. If all of this is plugged into the scalar product, we get $$\left(B - \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\8\\-3\\\end{array} \right)\right)\cdot \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4+t \\-1+t \\0-t\\\end{array} \right) = 0$$, which can be rewritten as $$V_{1}W_{1} + V_{2}W_{2} + V_{3}W_{3} = 0$$ or $$((B_{1}-4)(4+t))+((B_{2}-8)(-1+t))+((B_{3}-(-3))(-t)) = 0$$. Assuming that I've done everything above correctly, what I am struggling with is figuring out how to go about finding the B and t values so that the scalar product is equal to zero. Any hints as to a mistake or mistakes I may have made or what I should do next is very much appreciated and I thank you for taking the time to read through this whole question to lend some support.
 
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AJTheRed said:
The question:
The line L1 has equation $$r = \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) $$, and point A has coordinates (4, 8, -3).

Find the coordinates of point B on L1, such that $$\overrightarrow{AB}$$ is perpendicular to L1.

My attempt to answer:
I know that $$\overrightarrow{AB} \cdot \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) = 0$$. I also know that this scalar product has to do with finding point B. I also know that $$\overrightarrow{AB}$$ = $$B-A$$ = $$B - \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\8\\-3\\\end{array} \right)$$ and I think that $$\left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\-1 \\0\\\end{array} \right) + t\left( \begin{array}{ccc}1 \\1 \\-1\\\end{array} \right) = \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4+t \\-1+t \\0-t\\\end{array} \right)$$. If all of this is plugged into the scalar product, we get $$\left(B - \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4 \\8\\-3\\\end{array} \right)\right)\cdot \left( \begin{array}{ccc}4+t \\-1+t \\0-t\\\end{array} \right) = 0$$, which can be rewritten as $$V_{1}W_{1} + V_{2}W_{2} + V_{3}W_{3} = 0$$ or $$((B_{1}-4)(4+t))+((B_{2}-8)(-1+t))+((B_{3}-(-3))(-t)) = 0$$. Assuming that I've done everything above correctly, what I am struggling with is figuring out how to go about finding the B and t values so that the scalar product is equal to zero. Any hints as to a mistake or mistakes I may have made or what I should do next is very much appreciated and I thank you for taking the time to read through this whole question to lend some support.

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} B \left( b_1, b_2, b_3 \right) \end{align*}$ is a point on $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathbf{r} \left( t \right) \end{align*}$, so we can write $\displaystyle \begin{align*} b_1 = 4 + t , \, b_2 = -1 + t , \, b_3 = -t \end{align*}$. Thus the direction vector $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \vec{AB} = \left( 4 + t - 4 , -1 + t - 8 , -t - \left( - 3 \right) \right) = \left( t , -9 + t , 3 - t \right) \end{align*}$

Since we know $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \vec{AB} \end{align*}$ is perpendicular to $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathbf{r}\left( t \right) \end{align*}$, that means

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \left( 4 + t, -1 + t , -t \right) \cdot \left( t , -9 + t , 3 - t \right) &= 0 \\ t\left( 4 + t \right) + \left( -9 + t \right) \left( -1 + t \right) + \left( 3 - t \right) \left( -t \right) &= 0 \\ 4\,t + t^2 + 9 - 9\,t - t + t^2 - 3 + t + 3\,t - t^2 &= 0 \\ t^2 - t + 6 &= 0 \\ \left( t - 3 \right) \left( t + 2 \right) &= 0 \\ t = 3 \textrm{ or } t &= 2 \end{align*}$
 
If $\vec{AB}$ is perpendicular to the line $L_1$, we should have that $\vec{AB}$ is perpendicular to the direction vector $\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\-1\end{pmatrix}$, shouldn't we? (Wondering)
That means that we should have:
$$\vec{AB} \cdot \begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\-1\end{pmatrix} = 0$$
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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