In the vector plane equation R = A + λ B + μ C, what are λ and μ?

In the vector plane equation R = A + λ B + μ C, what are λ and μ?

• A. Vectors
• B. Scalars
• C. Matrices
• D. Operators

Answer: (B)

In this vector form, you’re describing a plane by starting at a fixed point A and then moving along two independent directions B and C. The quantities λ and μ tell you how far to go along each direction. Since B and C are vectors, you reach a new point by adding scaled versions of them. The scaling factors must be numbers, i.e., scalars, so that λB and μC are vectors to add to A. Hence λ and μ are scalars (real numbers) that can take any real values to generate the whole plane.

In this vector form, you’re describing a plane by starting at a fixed point A and then moving along two independent directions B and C. The quantities λ and μ tell you how far to go along each direction. Since B and C are vectors, you reach a new point by adding scaled versions of them. The scaling factors must be numbers, i.e., scalars, so that λB and μC are vectors to add to A. Hence λ and μ are scalars (real numbers) that can take any real values to generate the whole plane.