Chapter 1: Problem 1
Write the equation of the line passing through P with normal vector n in (a) normal form and (b) general form. \(P=(0,0), \mathbf{n}=\left[\begin{array}{l}3 \\ 2\end{array}\right]\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The line equation is \(3x + 2y = 0\) in both normal and general forms.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
You need to find the equation of a line passing through a point \( P = (0,0) \) with a given normal vector \( \mathbf{n} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 \ 2 \end{bmatrix} \). This equation should be derived both in the normal form and general form.
02
Using Normal Form of Line Equation
The normal form of a line equation is given as \( ax + by = c \), where \((a, b)\) is the normal vector. Substitute \( a = 3 \) and \( b = 2 \). Since the line passes through \((0, 0)\), the equation becomes \( 3 \times 0 + 2 \times 0 = c \). Thus, \( c = 0 \). The normal form of the line is \( 3x + 2y = 0 \).
03
Converting to General Form
The general form of a line is \( Ax + By + C = 0 \). Notes from the normal form indicate \( A = 3 \), \( B = 2 \), and \( C = 0 \). Therefore, the general form of the line equation is simply \( 3x + 2y + 0 = 0 \), which can also be written as \( 3x + 2y = 0 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Normal Form
The normal form of a line is a way to express the equation of a line using a normal vector. This vector is perpendicular to any vector lying on the line. The equation in normal form is depicted as \( ax + by = c \). In this formulation:
- \( (a, b) \) represents the components of the normal vector \( \mathbf{n} \).
- \( c \) is a constant that usually represents the distance from the origin to the line, if the line doesn't pass through the origin.
General Form
The general form of a line is an expression that's often preferred because of its adaptability in various calculations. The equation is expressed as \( Ax + By + C = 0 \). Here:
- \( A \) and \( B \) correspond to the components of the normal vector of the line.
- \( C \) represents the constant term that shifts or places the line within the coordinate plane.
Normal Vector
A normal vector is a key component when working with line equations in both the normal and general forms. This vector \( \mathbf{n} \) is a perpendicular vector to the line it's associated with. Its components \( (a, b) \) play a vital role in determining the direction and slope of the line:
- The vector \( \mathbf{n} \) defines that any vector along the line is orthogonal to it, meaning their dot product is zero.
- In our current example, \( \mathbf{n} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 \ 2 \end{bmatrix} \), which helps rapidly establish the line equation parameters.
Line Through a Point
A line defined through a specific point forms the basis for drafting its equation in normal and general forms. In our exercise, the line passes through the origin point \( P = (0, 0) \), a special and often simplifying scenario.
- When a line passes through the origin, calculations become simpler because both the \( x \) and \( y \) values are zero.
- This condition directly influences the constant term of our equations, transitioning it to zero, which simplifies both the normal and general forms to omit a separate constant.