Question:medium

Direction cosines of the line given by equations : \(\frac{2x-1}{4} = \frac{1-y}{3} = \frac{-z}{6}\) are

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Make the coefficients of x, y, z equal to 1 to read the direction ratios 2, -3, -6, then divide each by 7.
Updated On: Oct 22, 2026
  • \(2, -3, -6\)
  • \(\frac{2}{7}, \frac{-3}{7}, \frac{-6}{7}\)
  • \(\frac{2}{7}, \frac{-3}{7}, \frac{6}{7}\)
  • \(\frac{4}{\sqrt{61}}, \frac{-3}{\sqrt{61}}, \frac{-6}{\sqrt{61}}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Set the common ratio:
Let $\frac{2x-1}{4} = \frac{1-y}{3} = \frac{-z}{6} = \mu$.
Now write $x$, $y$, $z$ in terms of $\mu$.

Step 2: Express the coordinates:
From the first part, $2x - 1 = 4\mu$, so $x = \frac{1}{2} + 2\mu$.
From the second, $1 - y = 3\mu$, so $y = 1 - 3\mu$.
From the third, $-z = 6\mu$, so $z = -6\mu$.

Step 3: Read the direction ratios:
The numbers multiplying $\mu$ are the direction ratios of the line.
They are $2, -3, -6$.

Step 4: Normalise:
The length is $\sqrt{4 + 9 + 36} = 7$.
So the direction cosines are $\frac{2}{7}, \frac{-3}{7}, \frac{-6}{7}$.
(The negative of all three, $-\frac{2}{7}, \frac{3}{7}, \frac{6}{7}$, is also valid for the opposite direction, but it is not an option.)

Step 5: Eliminate:
Option (A) is not normalised. Option (C) changes the sign of one value only, so it is not a direction of this line. Option (D) divides by $\sqrt{61}$, which comes from the wrong ratios $4, -3, -6$.

Final Answer:
Option (B) is correct. \[ \boxed{\left(\frac{2}{7}, \frac{-3}{7}, \frac{-6}{7}\right)} \]
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