Calculus, 10th Edition (Anton)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 0-47064-772-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-47064-772-1

Chapter 11 - Three-Dimensional Space; Vectors - 11.5 Parametric Equations Of Lines - Exercises Set 11.5 - Page 811: 34

Answer

The lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ are not parallel.

Work Step by Step

Step 1 For two lines to be parallel, the vector from their parametric equations should be parallel. Vectors can be checked if their unit vectors are equal or conjugate with each other. Step 2 Based on the parametric equation form of: $L_1: \begin{pmatrix} x, y, z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 3, -2, 3 \end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix} 3, -2, 3 \end{pmatrix}$ $L_2: \begin{pmatrix} x, y, z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 9, -6, -8 \end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix} 9, -6, -8 \end{pmatrix}$ where $\begin{pmatrix} a \ b \ c \end{pmatrix}$ are the vector components parallel to the line we can determine the vector parallel to the given lines $L_1$ and $L_2$. Get the vector $\vec{v_1}$ parallel to $L_1$. $$\vec{v_1} = \begin{pmatrix} 3, -2, 3 \end{pmatrix}$$ Get the vector $\vec{v_2}$ parallel to $L_2$. $$\vec{v_2} = \begin{pmatrix} 9, -6, -8 \end{pmatrix}$$ Step 3 Determine the unit vector vectors $\vec{v_1}$ and $\vec{v_2}$ by dividing the component by their magnitude. The magnitude formula is $\sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}$. Get the unit vector $\vec{v_1}$. $$\begin{aligned} |\vec{v_1}| &= \sqrt{3^2 + (-2)^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{22} \\ \hat{v_1} &= \frac{\vec{v_1}}{|\vec{v_1}|} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{22}} \begin{pmatrix} 3, -2, 3 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} \frac{3}{\sqrt{22}} \ -\frac{2}{\sqrt{22}} \ \frac{3}{\sqrt{22}} \end{pmatrix} \end{aligned}$$ Get the unit vector $\vec{v_2}$. $$\begin{aligned} |\vec{v_2}| &= \sqrt{9^2 + (-6)^2 + (-8)^2} = \sqrt{181} \\ \hat{v_2} &= \frac{\vec{v_2}}{|\vec{v_2}|} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{181}} \begin{pmatrix} 9, -6, -8 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} \frac{9}{\sqrt{181}} \ -\frac{6}{\sqrt{181}} \ -\frac{8}{\sqrt{181}} \end{pmatrix} \end{aligned}$$ Step 4 Since the vectors parallel to the lines do not have the same unit vector nor its conjugate, the lines are not parallel. Result The lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ are not parallel.
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