- #1
nayfie
- 50
- 0
Homework Statement
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Homework Equations
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The Attempt at a Solution
This isn't really a proper homework question so I'll just write my problem here:
I'm trying to compute a closed line integral over a triangular region. I have calculated two of the sides, but am now left with the hypotenuse. I'm trying to find a parametrisation for this to work.
My lecturer told me that the equation for a line is:
[itex]((1 - t)(a, b) + t(c, d))[/itex]
Yet I had always known the equation of a line to be:
[itex](a, b) + t(c, d)[/itex]
I have tried computing this line integral using both parametrisations. The first one works, but the second one doesn't. (They both give the same value but the first one is negative and the second one is positive. For the line integral to give what I believe is the correct answer, the line integral for this section needs to be negative).
Can somebody explain why the first equation works but the second one doesn't? Also can you please give some insight into how the first one works? I don't understand where the [itex](1 - t)[/itex] at the beginning comes from.
Thank you in advance!