Equation of the line passing through $(1, 1, 1)$ and parallel to the plane $2x + 3y + z + 5 = 0$ is
A$\frac{x - 1}{-1} = \frac{y - 1}{1} = \frac{z - 1}{-1}$
B$\frac{x - 1}{2} = \frac{y - 1}{3} = \frac{z - 1}{1}$
C$\frac{x - 1}{3} = \frac{y - 1}{2} = \frac{z - 1}{1}$
D$\frac{x - 1}{1} = \frac{y - 1}{3} = \frac{z - 1}{2}$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. $\frac{x - 1}{-1} = \frac{y - 1}{1} = \frac{z - 1}{-1}$
A line parallel to the plane must have a direction vector perpendicular to the plane's normal vector. For the plane $2x + 3y + z + 5 = 0$, a normal vector is $\left(2,3,1\right)$.
So the direction vector $\left(a,b,c\right)$ of the line must satisfy
$$2a+3b+c=0.$$
Now check the direction ratios in the options.
For option $\mathrm{A}$, the direction vector is $\left(-1,1,-1\right)$.
$$2\left(-1\right)+3\left(1\right)+\left(-1\right)=0.$$
So this direction vector is perpendicular to the normal, hence the line is parallel to the plane. It also passes through $\left(1,1,1\right)$, so its symmetric equation is
$$\frac{x-1}{-1}=\frac{y-1}{1}=\frac{z-1}{-1}.$$
Re-checking the options, only option $\mathrm{A}$ satisfies the required condition.
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