Concept:
• The equation of the line is \( \frac{x}{0} = \frac{y}{0} = \frac{z}{1} \).
• This line passes through the origin \( (0, 0, 0) \) and has direction ratios \( (0, 0, 1) \), which identifies it as the \( z \)-axis.
• The perpendicular distance from a point \( (x, y, z) \) to the \( z \)-axis is \( \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \).
Step 1: Identify the target line
The denominators of the symmetric form are \( 0, 0, 1 \).
This indicates the line is parallel to the vector \( \hat{k} \).
Since it passes through \( (0, 0, 0) \), the line is exactly the \( z \)-axis.
Step 2: Determine the foot of the perpendicular
Let the given point be \( P(3, 4, 2) \).
The foot of the perpendicular \( M \) from \( P \) onto the \( z \)-axis will have coordinates \( (0, 0, z_P) \).
Therefore, \( M = (0, 0, 2) \).
Step 3: Calculate the distance between the point and the foot
Using the distance formula:
\[ \text{Length} = \sqrt{(3 - 0)^2 + (4 - 0)^2 + (2 - 2)^2} \]
\[ \text{Length} = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2 + 0^2} \]
Step 4: Final computation
\[ \text{Length} = \sqrt{9 + 16} \]
\[ \text{Length} = \sqrt{25} = 5 \]