1. ## collinear vectors

Describe a how you use vectors to determine if three given points are collinear ?
Test your method using the set of points p(-3,1) q(2,4) r(5,6)

2. Hello,

Two vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ are colinear if there exists a real number $\lambda$ different from 0 such as $\vec{a}=\lambda \vec{b}$

If three points are colinear, then two vectors joining two of them are colinear.. This means that if there are A, B and C three different points, and that you want to show that they are colinear, you just have to prove that $\vec{AB}$ and $\vec{AC}$, for example, are colinear.

3. Originally Posted by fastman390
Describe a how you use vectors to determine if three given points are collinear ?
Test your method using the set of points p(-3,1) q(2,4) r(5,6)
You can see that $\overrightarrow {pq} = \left\langle {5,3} \right\rangle \,\& \,\overrightarrow {pr} = \left\langle {8,5} \right\rangle$
Are those vectors multiples of each other (i.e. parallel)?
If yes then you can say that they are collinear in $\Re^2$.

4. Hello Plato,

I just have a question :

Is it $\Re$ or $\mathbb{R}$ you use in the USA (or anywhere you are )?

5. Originally Posted by Moo
Is it $\Re$ or $\mathbb{R}$ you use in the USA?
Both are in use. About 10 years or more ago there was in fact a bitter argument afoot about the use of the so-called ‘blackboard font’. There were some very prominent names in the editorial circles who were against. I have forgotten the details. For me I don’t really care. When I am just quickly typing it is easier to use \Re rather than \mathbb{R}. I tend use the latter if I am also using MathType.

6. Ok, thanks for the information