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Three Dimensional Geometry

Question
CBSEENMA12033248

The projections of a directed line segment on the co-ordinate axes are 6, -3, 2. Find its length and direction cosines. 

Solution

Let l, m, n be the direction cosines of the line and let the length of the line segment be r.
∵  projection of the line segment on the axes are 6, - 3, 2
∴ l r = 6, m r = – 3, n r = 2
Squaring and adding, we get,
(l2 + m2 + n2) r2 = 36 + 9 + 4
∴    r2 = 49 ⇒ r = 7
therefore space space space straight l space equals space 6 over 7 comma space space straight m space equals negative 3 over 7 comma space straight n space equals 2 over 7
therefore length of line  = 7  units. 
and direction cosines of line are 6 over 7 comma space space minus 3 over 7 comma space 2 over 7.