But first we need to recall a fact from vector geometry about points that divide a line
segment in a given ratio.
If a, b represent two distinct points A, B in R
3
the typical point on the line AB is
represented by: p = (1 ) a + b where =
AP
AB
and where AP and AB represent the
directed lengths of the respective sub-intervals (taking the direction from A to B as
positive).
Special cases are: = 0, where P = A; = ½, where P is the midpoint of AB) and
= 1, where P = B.
For > 1 P lies beyond B (on the opposite side to A) and for < 0 P lies beyond A (on
the opposite side to B.) As ranges from to + the point P traverses the line in the
direction from A to B.