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By the definition it follows that the direction cosine of the axis of x are
respectively cos0°, cos90°, cos 90° i.e. (1, 0, 0).
OA = x, OB = y, OC = z.
Similarly y = mr and z = nr
Note:
• If the coordinates of any point P be (x, y, z) and l, m, n be the direction cosines of the line OP, O
being the origin, then (lr, mr, nr) will give us the co-ordinates of a point on the line OP which is at
a distance r from (0, 0, 0).
Direction Ratios:
If a, b, c are three numbers proportional to the direction cosine l, m, n of a straight line, then a, b, c are
called its direction ratios. They are also called direction numbers or direction components.
Example: If 2, – 3, 6 be the direction ratios, then the actual direction cosines are 3/7, –3/7, 6/7.
Note:
• Direction cosines of a line are unique but direction ratios of a line in no way unique but can be
infinite.