Intersection of Lines & Planes: Find Point?

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To find the intersection of two lines, the method involves setting the parametric equations equal to each other. The discussion highlights that if the distance between the lines is zero, the parameters t1 and t2 will yield the same point of intersection. The equations can be expressed in vector form, which simplifies the process of determining if the lines intersect. Additionally, understanding the relationship between the lines and their corresponding vectors is crucial for finding intersections. The conversation emphasizes the importance of ensuring the lines are coplanar to confirm their intersection.
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To find the point of intersection of two lines, do I use the same method as in finding the intersection of a line and a plane?
 
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what method do you use to find the intersection of a line and a plane?
 
The line intersects the xy-plane when z=0
 
well, here's what i do to find the point of intersection of two lines. i just set them equal to each other.
 
ooh a graphics question...sorry i can't remember the solution off the top of my head its in my graphics book but assuming you no that the 2 lines intersect then the solution
evolves using the parametrics

aight i go get the book...

This ist he distance between 2 lines: obviously if there is an intersection
then d=0 but the solution points still hold true to what your looking for

|t1| = |V1.V1 ,-V1.V2|^-1 * |(P2-P1).V1|
|t2|... |V1.V2 ,-v2.v2|...|(P2-P1).V2|
hope this doesn't look ugly

t1,t2 will give you the parametric solution plug into one and you get your point.
 
neurocomp2003 said:
ooh a graphics question...sorry i can't remember the solution off the top of my head its in my graphics book but assuming you no that the 2 lines intersect then the solution
evolves using the parametrics

aight i go get the book...

This ist he distance between 2 lines: obviously if there is an intersection
then d=0 but the solution points still hold true to what your looking for

|t1| = |V1.V1 ,-V1.V2|^-1 * |(P2-P1).V1|
|t2|... |V1.V2 ,-v2.v2|...|(P2-P1).V2|
hope this doesn't look ugly

t1,t2 will give you the parametric solution plug into one and you get your point.

I'm sorry, but I don't really understand the forumla. Is that the distance formula?
 
Should I find the line that is the cross-product of the normal vectors?
 
its a matrix form(2 equation Linear system)formula for distance...and if the distance is zero than the parameters t1,t2 find the same point...sorry but i don't know how to make the spaces stick.

The formula(from a math game book but found in any text)
takes the parametric form of lines and then solves the dist...using minimization and PDEs it results in the 2 equation linear system above.
 
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EvaBugs said:
Should I find the line that is the cross-product of the normal vectors?

What form are you equations in? Lines in three dimensions are usually written by specifying a point on the line as a vector, plus a multiple of a vector parallel to the line. The multiplying constant is called a parameter, often designated by t

\overrightarrow r = \overrightarrow r _0 + t\overrightarrow r _\parallel

Another way of specifying a line is to eliminate the parameter and write the multiple equalities

\frac{{x - x_0 }}{a} = \frac{{y - y_0 }}{b} = \frac{{z - z_0 }}{c}

Whichever way your lines are written, to find their intersection you need to have the lines passing through the same point in space. For the first form of the equation, that means

\overrightarrow r_1 = \overrightarrow r _{0,1} + t_1\overrightarrow r _{\parallel,1} = \overrightarrow r_2 = \overrightarrow r _{0,2} + t_2\overrightarrow r _{\parallel,2}

I think this is probably easier to deal with than the second form. It is a vector equation, which is really three equations. The only way two vectors can be equal is if their individual components are each equal.
 
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  • #10
Another way to look at this situation:

If your equations are in vector form, consider the vector

\overrightarrow r_2 - \overrightarrow r_1

The two lines go through the points that are defined by these vectors. For the lines to intersect, they must be coplaner with this difference vector. Do you know how to find out if three vectors lie in the same plane?
 
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