Vector Algebra: Finding a parallel vector

[squelch]

Homework Statement

A line is given by the equation $x + 2y - 3z = 7$.
Find any vector in the direction parallel to this line in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Homework Equations

I imagine that there are some fundamental relationships I am missing here that would make this more comprehensible to me.

The Attempt at a Solution

[/B]
Looking at the problem at the surface it would make much more sense if he had described the equation as a "plane" rather than as a "line," and if he were asking for a vector either orthogonal or parallel to the plane. As it is, it's quite confusing. I've been sifting through materials but I can't get past that this looks like the equation for a plane, not a line, and it's worded (and written) very specifically -- the notation above is the notation the professor used (no vectors, "hats," etc, but that notation appears in other questions immediately around this one, so I feel he omitted it on purpose).

What I think I want to do is convert this to a vector equation of a line in form
\mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup$}} <br /> \over r} = \left\langle {{x_0},{y_0},{z_0}} \right\rangle + t\left\langle {a,b,c} \right\rangle, but I'm not sure how to do that from this form.

 

[member 587159]

Homework Statement

A line is given by the equation $x + 2y - 3z = 7$.
Find any vector in the direction parallel to this line in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Homework Equations

I imagine that there are some fundamental relationships I am missing here that would make this more comprehensible to me.

The Attempt at a Solution

[/B]
Looking at the problem at the surface it would make much more sense if he had described the equation as a "plane" rather than as a "line," and if he were asking for a vector either orthogonal or parallel to the plane. As it is, it's quite confusing. I've been sifting through materials but I can't get past that this looks like the equation for a plane, not a line, and it's worded (and written) very specifically -- the notation above is the notation the professor used (no vectors, "hats," etc, but that notation appears in other questions immediately around this one, so I feel he omitted it on purpose).

What I think I want to do is convert this to a vector equation of a line in form
\mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup$}}<br /> \over r} = \left\langle {{x_0},{y_0},{z_0}} \right\rangle + t\left\langle {a,b,c} \right\rangle, but I'm not sure how to do that from this form.

What are the coordinates of the vector that describe the direction of this line? Once you have this, the problem is trivial. You might want to use parametric equations.

 

[squelch]

What are the coordinates of the vector that describe the direction of this line? Once you have this, the problem is trivial. You might want to use parametric equations.

Finding that is, I think, precisely my problem. I have a candidate relation:
\hat x{A_x} + \hat y{A_y} + \hat z{A_z} = \mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup$}} <br /> \over A}
But I'm not completely sure if I am using it correctly if I say:
\hat x + \hat y2 - \hat z3 = \mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup$}} <br /> \over A}

 

[member 587159]

The coordinate of this vector is any (x,y,z) for which: x + 2y - 3z = 0

This is the line going through (0,0,0), any coordinates on this line are coordinates of the direction of the vector you seek. Do you understand why?

 

[squelch]

The coordinate of this vector is any (x,y,z) for which: x + 2y - 3z = 0

This is the line going through (0,0,0), any coordinates on this line are coordinates of the direction of the vector you seek. Do you understand why?

I do not, precisely. I'm still not getting past the idea that the equation seems to describe a plane to me. It seems that if I pick any z, there would be infinitely many x and y that satisfy the equation, and that I wouldn't be able to pick out a particular direction.

 

[member 587159]

As far as I can tell, this is a plane and not a line. Forget what I posted before (it's been a long time since I used this). The intersection of two planes would be the line, the equation represents an infinite amount of lines, aka a plane.

 

[Mark44]

Homework Statement

A line is given by the equation $x + 2y - 3z = 7$.
Find any vector in the direction parallel to this line in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Looking at the problem at the surface it would make much more sense if he had described the equation as a "plane" rather than as a "line," .

I agree. The equation above is definitely that of a plane.

 

[squelch]

As far as I can tell, this is a plane and not a line. Forget what I posted before (it's been a long time since I used this). The intersection of two planes would be the line, the equation represents an infinite amount of lines, aka a plane.

So I suppose my only recourse here is to go ask for clarification from the actual professor.

Thanks for the sanity check.