In this lesson, we learn how to write parametric equations for lines and curves. We start by looking at lines in space and thinking of them as the trajectory of a moving point. We then use this idea to find formulas for the position of the moving point in terms of time, giving us a parametric equation for the line. We also explore how to use parametric equations to find the intersection of a line and a plane. Finally, we see an example of using parametric equations for an arbitrary motion in space, such as the cycloid curve.
Learn how to write parametric equations for lines and curves.
Denis Auroux. 18.02 Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2007. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare). http://ocw.mit.edu (Accessed March 15, 2009). License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike.