do 3D perpendicular lines have negative reciprocal slopes?

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it's stated in this answer that the directional vector is a nice analog for the slope in $3D$ space



$⟨x,y,z⟩=⟨x0,y0,z0⟩+t⟨mx,my,mz⟩$



now suppose I have two perpidicular lines $L1$ and $L2$ where $L_1$ is



$(a,b,c) + t (m_x,m_y,m_z)$.



The slopes of the perpendicular lines should be the negative reciprocals of each other thus I tried to define $L2$ as



$⟨x_2,y_2,z_2⟩ = (a,b,c) + t (-1/m_x,-1/m_y,-1/m_z)$



for many reasons, clearly that is not true, e.g. the dot product between the two directional vectors would equal $-3$ not $zero$, is the directional vector the same thing as the slope? do the perpendicular lines only have negative reciprocal slopes in $2D$ space? if not, what would be a nice analog to explain that fact in $3D$?










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    it's stated in this answer that the directional vector is a nice analog for the slope in $3D$ space



    $⟨x,y,z⟩=⟨x0,y0,z0⟩+t⟨mx,my,mz⟩$



    now suppose I have two perpidicular lines $L1$ and $L2$ where $L_1$ is



    $(a,b,c) + t (m_x,m_y,m_z)$.



    The slopes of the perpendicular lines should be the negative reciprocals of each other thus I tried to define $L2$ as



    $⟨x_2,y_2,z_2⟩ = (a,b,c) + t (-1/m_x,-1/m_y,-1/m_z)$



    for many reasons, clearly that is not true, e.g. the dot product between the two directional vectors would equal $-3$ not $zero$, is the directional vector the same thing as the slope? do the perpendicular lines only have negative reciprocal slopes in $2D$ space? if not, what would be a nice analog to explain that fact in $3D$?










    share|cite|improve this question























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      it's stated in this answer that the directional vector is a nice analog for the slope in $3D$ space



      $⟨x,y,z⟩=⟨x0,y0,z0⟩+t⟨mx,my,mz⟩$



      now suppose I have two perpidicular lines $L1$ and $L2$ where $L_1$ is



      $(a,b,c) + t (m_x,m_y,m_z)$.



      The slopes of the perpendicular lines should be the negative reciprocals of each other thus I tried to define $L2$ as



      $⟨x_2,y_2,z_2⟩ = (a,b,c) + t (-1/m_x,-1/m_y,-1/m_z)$



      for many reasons, clearly that is not true, e.g. the dot product between the two directional vectors would equal $-3$ not $zero$, is the directional vector the same thing as the slope? do the perpendicular lines only have negative reciprocal slopes in $2D$ space? if not, what would be a nice analog to explain that fact in $3D$?










      share|cite|improve this question













      it's stated in this answer that the directional vector is a nice analog for the slope in $3D$ space



      $⟨x,y,z⟩=⟨x0,y0,z0⟩+t⟨mx,my,mz⟩$



      now suppose I have two perpidicular lines $L1$ and $L2$ where $L_1$ is



      $(a,b,c) + t (m_x,m_y,m_z)$.



      The slopes of the perpendicular lines should be the negative reciprocals of each other thus I tried to define $L2$ as



      $⟨x_2,y_2,z_2⟩ = (a,b,c) + t (-1/m_x,-1/m_y,-1/m_z)$



      for many reasons, clearly that is not true, e.g. the dot product between the two directional vectors would equal $-3$ not $zero$, is the directional vector the same thing as the slope? do the perpendicular lines only have negative reciprocal slopes in $2D$ space? if not, what would be a nice analog to explain that fact in $3D$?







      algebra-precalculus geometry






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          The "negative reciprocal" argument in the plane is just a restatement of the more natural dot product condition. In the plane a line has a direction vector too: it can be written as
          $$
          (x,y) = (a,b) + t(m_x, m_y) .
          $$

          The slope when the line is not parallel to the $y$=axis isis then $m_y/m_x$.



          Now the assertion that the product of two slopes is $-1$ is equivalent to the assertion that the dot product of the two direction vectors is $0$.






          share|cite|improve this answer



























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            Notice that in two dimensions, the slope (when defined) is the ratio of the components of the directional vector:
            $$ langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle land m_x neq 0
            implies y = fracm_ym_x x + left(y_0 - fracm_ym_xx_0 right). $$



            Note that flipping the signs of $m_x$ and $m_y$ simultaneously does nothing to the line at all.
            The line given by
            $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle -m_x, -m_yrangle$
            is exactly the same as the line given by
            $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle.$



            The "negative reciprocal" rule is actually telling you to change
            $fracm_ym_x$ to $-fracm_xm_y.$ A simple way to do this is to swap the two components and negate just one of them:
            $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_y, -m_xrangle.$
            Notice how the dot product shows that the new vector $langle m_y, -m_xrangle$
            is perpendicular to the old vector $langle m_x, m_yrangle$:
            $$
            langle m_x, m_yrangle cdot langle m_y, -m_xrangle = m_x m_y + m_y(-m_x) = 0.
            $$



            In short, even in two dimensions, the rule is not to take the negative reciprocal of each component of the direction vector simultaneously.



            In two dimensions there is only one line perpendicular to a given line,
            but in three dimensions, there are many lines perpendicular to a given line.
            We therefore have more choices for the direction vector for the perpendicular line.
            Given a direction vector $langle m_x, m_y, m_zrangle,$
            where $m_x$ and $m_y$ are not both zero,
            one possible choice of a perpendicular vector is
            $langle m_y, -m_x, 0rangle,$
            which is an application of the negative reciprocal rule to the first two dimensions;
            this still works, even in three dimensions, as long as we make sure not to allow the third dimension to make the dot product non-zero.
            (That is why the third component of the perpendicular vector is zero.)



            Another vector perpendicular to both of these is
            $langle m_x m_z, m_y m_z, -(m_x^2 + m_y^2)rangle.$






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              The "negative reciprocal" argument in the plane is just a restatement of the more natural dot product condition. In the plane a line has a direction vector too: it can be written as
              $$
              (x,y) = (a,b) + t(m_x, m_y) .
              $$

              The slope when the line is not parallel to the $y$=axis isis then $m_y/m_x$.



              Now the assertion that the product of two slopes is $-1$ is equivalent to the assertion that the dot product of the two direction vectors is $0$.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                The "negative reciprocal" argument in the plane is just a restatement of the more natural dot product condition. In the plane a line has a direction vector too: it can be written as
                $$
                (x,y) = (a,b) + t(m_x, m_y) .
                $$

                The slope when the line is not parallel to the $y$=axis isis then $m_y/m_x$.



                Now the assertion that the product of two slopes is $-1$ is equivalent to the assertion that the dot product of the two direction vectors is $0$.






                share|cite|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote









                  The "negative reciprocal" argument in the plane is just a restatement of the more natural dot product condition. In the plane a line has a direction vector too: it can be written as
                  $$
                  (x,y) = (a,b) + t(m_x, m_y) .
                  $$

                  The slope when the line is not parallel to the $y$=axis isis then $m_y/m_x$.



                  Now the assertion that the product of two slopes is $-1$ is equivalent to the assertion that the dot product of the two direction vectors is $0$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  The "negative reciprocal" argument in the plane is just a restatement of the more natural dot product condition. In the plane a line has a direction vector too: it can be written as
                  $$
                  (x,y) = (a,b) + t(m_x, m_y) .
                  $$

                  The slope when the line is not parallel to the $y$=axis isis then $m_y/m_x$.



                  Now the assertion that the product of two slopes is $-1$ is equivalent to the assertion that the dot product of the two direction vectors is $0$.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  Ethan Bolker

                  38.1k543101




                  38.1k543101




















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote













                      Notice that in two dimensions, the slope (when defined) is the ratio of the components of the directional vector:
                      $$ langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle land m_x neq 0
                      implies y = fracm_ym_x x + left(y_0 - fracm_ym_xx_0 right). $$



                      Note that flipping the signs of $m_x$ and $m_y$ simultaneously does nothing to the line at all.
                      The line given by
                      $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle -m_x, -m_yrangle$
                      is exactly the same as the line given by
                      $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle.$



                      The "negative reciprocal" rule is actually telling you to change
                      $fracm_ym_x$ to $-fracm_xm_y.$ A simple way to do this is to swap the two components and negate just one of them:
                      $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_y, -m_xrangle.$
                      Notice how the dot product shows that the new vector $langle m_y, -m_xrangle$
                      is perpendicular to the old vector $langle m_x, m_yrangle$:
                      $$
                      langle m_x, m_yrangle cdot langle m_y, -m_xrangle = m_x m_y + m_y(-m_x) = 0.
                      $$



                      In short, even in two dimensions, the rule is not to take the negative reciprocal of each component of the direction vector simultaneously.



                      In two dimensions there is only one line perpendicular to a given line,
                      but in three dimensions, there are many lines perpendicular to a given line.
                      We therefore have more choices for the direction vector for the perpendicular line.
                      Given a direction vector $langle m_x, m_y, m_zrangle,$
                      where $m_x$ and $m_y$ are not both zero,
                      one possible choice of a perpendicular vector is
                      $langle m_y, -m_x, 0rangle,$
                      which is an application of the negative reciprocal rule to the first two dimensions;
                      this still works, even in three dimensions, as long as we make sure not to allow the third dimension to make the dot product non-zero.
                      (That is why the third component of the perpendicular vector is zero.)



                      Another vector perpendicular to both of these is
                      $langle m_x m_z, m_y m_z, -(m_x^2 + m_y^2)rangle.$






                      share|cite|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        Notice that in two dimensions, the slope (when defined) is the ratio of the components of the directional vector:
                        $$ langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle land m_x neq 0
                        implies y = fracm_ym_x x + left(y_0 - fracm_ym_xx_0 right). $$



                        Note that flipping the signs of $m_x$ and $m_y$ simultaneously does nothing to the line at all.
                        The line given by
                        $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle -m_x, -m_yrangle$
                        is exactly the same as the line given by
                        $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle.$



                        The "negative reciprocal" rule is actually telling you to change
                        $fracm_ym_x$ to $-fracm_xm_y.$ A simple way to do this is to swap the two components and negate just one of them:
                        $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_y, -m_xrangle.$
                        Notice how the dot product shows that the new vector $langle m_y, -m_xrangle$
                        is perpendicular to the old vector $langle m_x, m_yrangle$:
                        $$
                        langle m_x, m_yrangle cdot langle m_y, -m_xrangle = m_x m_y + m_y(-m_x) = 0.
                        $$



                        In short, even in two dimensions, the rule is not to take the negative reciprocal of each component of the direction vector simultaneously.



                        In two dimensions there is only one line perpendicular to a given line,
                        but in three dimensions, there are many lines perpendicular to a given line.
                        We therefore have more choices for the direction vector for the perpendicular line.
                        Given a direction vector $langle m_x, m_y, m_zrangle,$
                        where $m_x$ and $m_y$ are not both zero,
                        one possible choice of a perpendicular vector is
                        $langle m_y, -m_x, 0rangle,$
                        which is an application of the negative reciprocal rule to the first two dimensions;
                        this still works, even in three dimensions, as long as we make sure not to allow the third dimension to make the dot product non-zero.
                        (That is why the third component of the perpendicular vector is zero.)



                        Another vector perpendicular to both of these is
                        $langle m_x m_z, m_y m_z, -(m_x^2 + m_y^2)rangle.$






                        share|cite|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          Notice that in two dimensions, the slope (when defined) is the ratio of the components of the directional vector:
                          $$ langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle land m_x neq 0
                          implies y = fracm_ym_x x + left(y_0 - fracm_ym_xx_0 right). $$



                          Note that flipping the signs of $m_x$ and $m_y$ simultaneously does nothing to the line at all.
                          The line given by
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle -m_x, -m_yrangle$
                          is exactly the same as the line given by
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle.$



                          The "negative reciprocal" rule is actually telling you to change
                          $fracm_ym_x$ to $-fracm_xm_y.$ A simple way to do this is to swap the two components and negate just one of them:
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_y, -m_xrangle.$
                          Notice how the dot product shows that the new vector $langle m_y, -m_xrangle$
                          is perpendicular to the old vector $langle m_x, m_yrangle$:
                          $$
                          langle m_x, m_yrangle cdot langle m_y, -m_xrangle = m_x m_y + m_y(-m_x) = 0.
                          $$



                          In short, even in two dimensions, the rule is not to take the negative reciprocal of each component of the direction vector simultaneously.



                          In two dimensions there is only one line perpendicular to a given line,
                          but in three dimensions, there are many lines perpendicular to a given line.
                          We therefore have more choices for the direction vector for the perpendicular line.
                          Given a direction vector $langle m_x, m_y, m_zrangle,$
                          where $m_x$ and $m_y$ are not both zero,
                          one possible choice of a perpendicular vector is
                          $langle m_y, -m_x, 0rangle,$
                          which is an application of the negative reciprocal rule to the first two dimensions;
                          this still works, even in three dimensions, as long as we make sure not to allow the third dimension to make the dot product non-zero.
                          (That is why the third component of the perpendicular vector is zero.)



                          Another vector perpendicular to both of these is
                          $langle m_x m_z, m_y m_z, -(m_x^2 + m_y^2)rangle.$






                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          Notice that in two dimensions, the slope (when defined) is the ratio of the components of the directional vector:
                          $$ langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle land m_x neq 0
                          implies y = fracm_ym_x x + left(y_0 - fracm_ym_xx_0 right). $$



                          Note that flipping the signs of $m_x$ and $m_y$ simultaneously does nothing to the line at all.
                          The line given by
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle -m_x, -m_yrangle$
                          is exactly the same as the line given by
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_x, m_yrangle.$



                          The "negative reciprocal" rule is actually telling you to change
                          $fracm_ym_x$ to $-fracm_xm_y.$ A simple way to do this is to swap the two components and negate just one of them:
                          $langle x,yrangle = langle x_0, y_0rangle + tlangle m_y, -m_xrangle.$
                          Notice how the dot product shows that the new vector $langle m_y, -m_xrangle$
                          is perpendicular to the old vector $langle m_x, m_yrangle$:
                          $$
                          langle m_x, m_yrangle cdot langle m_y, -m_xrangle = m_x m_y + m_y(-m_x) = 0.
                          $$



                          In short, even in two dimensions, the rule is not to take the negative reciprocal of each component of the direction vector simultaneously.



                          In two dimensions there is only one line perpendicular to a given line,
                          but in three dimensions, there are many lines perpendicular to a given line.
                          We therefore have more choices for the direction vector for the perpendicular line.
                          Given a direction vector $langle m_x, m_y, m_zrangle,$
                          where $m_x$ and $m_y$ are not both zero,
                          one possible choice of a perpendicular vector is
                          $langle m_y, -m_x, 0rangle,$
                          which is an application of the negative reciprocal rule to the first two dimensions;
                          this still works, even in three dimensions, as long as we make sure not to allow the third dimension to make the dot product non-zero.
                          (That is why the third component of the perpendicular vector is zero.)



                          Another vector perpendicular to both of these is
                          $langle m_x m_z, m_y m_z, -(m_x^2 + m_y^2)rangle.$







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                          answered 37 mins ago









                          David K

                          50.5k340113




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