# Thread: Projection of point onto line

1. ## Projection of point onto line

Find the projection of $\begin{pmatrix}-2\\2\\7\end{pmatrix}$ on the direction of the line $\mathbf{x}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\0\\2\end{pmatrix}+\la mbda\begin{pmatrix}-1\\1\\2\end{pmatrix}$

I'm used to finding the projection of a vector onto another vector. But this has confused me a little as it is the projection of the vector onto a line

2. Originally Posted by acevipa
Find the projection of $\begin{pmatrix}-2\\2\\7\end{pmatrix}$ on the direction of the line $\mathbf{x}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\0\\2\end{pmatrix}+\la mbda\begin{pmatrix}-1\\1\\2\end{pmatrix}$

I'm used to finding the projection of a vector onto another vector. But this has confused me a little as it is the projection of the vector onto a line
It's exactly the same thing- the only use you make of the vector is to determine the line. Here the direction of the line is given by the "coefficient" vector $\begin{pmatrix}-1 \\ 1 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}$.

Project onto that vector.