ABSTRACT
Consider a straight line L which passes through a point A with position
vector a and is parallel to a vector b, as shown in Fig. 130, and let P be any point on L with position vector r.
Then from the vector triangle OAP, we see that
OAAPOP,
or
raAP:
Now AP is parallel to b, so we may always find a scalar multiplier l, which
may be either positive or negative, such that
APl b:
Notice that l will be positive if P lies to the side of A toward which b is
directed; otherwise it will be negative.
