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Question -

Find the direction cosines of a line which makes equal angles with the coordinate axes.



Answer -

Given:

Angles are equal.

So let the angles be α, β, γ

Let the direction cosines of the line be l, m and n

l = cos α, m = cos β and n = cos γ

Here given α = β = γ (Since, line makes equal angles with thecoordinate axes) … (1)

The direction cosines are

l = cos α, m = cos β and n = cos γ

We have,

l2 + m 2 + n2 =1

cos2 α + cos2β + cos2γ= 1

From (1) we have,

cos2 α + cos2 α + cos2 α= 1

3 cos2 α = 1

Cos α = ± √(1/3)

The directioncosines are

l = ± √(1/3), m= ± √(1/3), n = ± √(1/3)

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