If the three points (1,a,b)(a,2,b)(a,b,3) are collinear (in 3-space), what is the value of a+b ?
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
The first two points are distinct (otherwise we would have a=1 and a=2 simultaneously), and they both lie on the plane z=b, so the whole line is in this plane and b=3. Reasoning similarly with the last two points gives a=1, so a+b=4.
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