Problems & Solutions to Pts, Lines & Planes 012612

Problem 1 Find the vector equation of the line in which the 2 planes 2x 5y + 3z = 12 and 3x + 4y 3z = 6 meet. Solution The vector <2, 5, 3> is normal (i.e perpendicular) to the plane 2x 5y + 3z = 12. The vector <3, 4, 3> is normal to the plane 3x + 4y 3z = 6. These vectors aren't parallel so the planes do meet! Now, the vector or cross product of these two normal vectors gives a vector which is perpendicular to both of them and which is therefore parallel to the line of intersection of the two planes. So this cross product will give a direction vector for the line of intersection. The cross product of <2, 5, 3> and <3, 4, 3> is <3, 15, 23>. In order to find the vector equation of the line of intersection, we also need to find the position vector from the origin of some point which lies on it. So we need to find some point which lies on both the planes because then it must lie on their line of intersection. Any point which lies on both planes will do. I can see that both planes will have points for which x = 0. These points in 2x 5y + 3z = 12 will have 5y + 3z = 12. These points in 3x + 4y 3z = 6 will have 4y 3z = 6. Solving these two equations simultaneously gives y = 18 and z = 26 so the point with position vector (0, 18, 26) lies on the line of intersection. Therefore the equation of the line of intersection is r = (0, 18, 26) + t (3, 15, 23). Check for yourself that if you choose some value for t (say t =2) that the point that you get does really lie on both planes and so on their line of intersection. ============================ Problem 2; Find the shortest distance between the two skew lines L(1) and L(2) with equations r = (1, 2, 2) + s (4, 3, 2) and r = (1, 0, 3) + t (4, 6, 1). Solution(s);(1) The cross product of the 2 direction vectors, <4, 3, 2> X <4, 6, 1> = a common normal to both lines <4, 3, 2> X <4, 6, 1> = < 9, 12, 36 > = <3, 4, 12> So a unit normal vector to both planes is given by 1/13 <3, 4, 12> Vector P1P2 = (1, 2, 2) (1, 0, 3) = < 0 , 2 , 5 > The dot product of this unit normal with the P1P2 vector is 1/13 <3, 4, 12> dot < 0 , 2 , 5 > = 52 / 13 = 4 (2) The point P with position vector p = (1, 2, 2) lies on L(1). Shifting a copy of L(2) until it intersects with L(1) at P gives plane P(1) with the point P lying in it. The point Q with position vector q = (1, 0, 3) lies on L(2). Shifting a copy of L(1) until it intersects with L(2) at Q gives plane P(2) with the point Q lying in it. The equation of P(1) is 1/13 (3, 4, 12) . r = 1/13 <3, 4, 12> dot <1, 2, 2> = 1. The equation of P(2) is 1/13 (3, 4, 12) . r = 1/13 <3, 4, 12> dot <1, 0, 3> = 3. So the shortest distance between the 2 skew lines L(1) and L(2) is |13| = 4 units. ============================ Problem 3: Find the perpendicular distance d between the line passing through the the point P1 (1, 1, 1) which is parallel to the vector u =<1, 3, 0> and the line passing through point P2 (1, 1, 3) which is parallel to the vector v = <1, 1, 0> Solution; Cross Product for the mutual normal N ; <1, 3, 0> x <1, 1, 0> = < 00 2 > or < 0 0 1 > The Dot Product.of P1P2 with this unit normal = Comp < P1P2 > on < N / | N | > P1P2 = < 11 , 11 , 13 > = < 0, 2, 2 >. < 0, 2, 2 > dot < 0 0 1 > = 2 so d = 2 =============================

Problem 4 : Given A(2,1,0) ; B(1,0,1) ; C(3,0,1); D(0,0,2) Point D is on a line l orthogonal to the plane ABC. Calculate a/ the equations of l, b/ the intersection point S with the plane and c/ the distance from D to the plane ABC. Solution a/ Three direction vectors are AB = <1 1 1> ; BC = <2 0 0> ; CA = <1 1 1> Three plane normals AB x BC = < 0 2 2 > BC x CA = < 0 2 2 > ; CA x AB = < 0 2 2 > Thus the plane normal is < 0 1 1 > The direction of the line l is also < 0 1 1 > Using Pt A, the parametric equations of the line l are x=0+0 y=0+r z=2+r or point P on line l = vector Eq of l = < 0, r, 2 + r > b/ Plane Equation is dot product of the normal with any general vector PP1 in the plane = 0 PP1 = < x 2 , y1 , z > so < x 2 , y1 , z > dot < 0 1 1 > = y + z = 1 or The plane equation for ABC from 3 Points .. A =x1 B=x2 C=x3 |x x1 yy1 z z1 | | x2 y1 z | |x2x1 y2x1 z2z1 | = 0 = | 1 1 1 | |x3 x1 y3x1 z3z1 | | 1 1 1 | => 0(x2) + 2 (y1) + 2z = 0 2y 2 + 2z = 0 for Eq of Plane y+z=1 A variable point P on l is P(0, r, 2 + r) Point P is in the plane if and only if it satisfies y + z = 1 r + (2 + r) = 1 <=> r = 1/2 So, the intersection point S is (0, 1/2, 3/2). c/ The distance from D to the plane ABC is D( 0,0,2 ) ( 0, 1/2, 3/2 ) for ____________________ d = \| 0^2 +(1/2)^2 + (1/2)^2 = 0.707 ================================ Problem 5; Find the angle x between vectors a = < 3 , 4 , 1 > and b = < 2 , 2 , 1 >. Solution; a dot b = ||a|| ||b|| cos x 2 2 2 ||a|| = Sqrt [ ( 3) + 4 + 1 ] = Sqrt 26 2 2 2 ||b|| = Sqrt [ 2 + ( 2) + 1 ] = Sqrt 9 = 3 a dot b = ||a|| ||b|| cos x a dot b = < 3 , 4 , 1 > dot < 2 , 2 , 1 >. a dot b = ( 6) + ( 8) + 1 = 13 so . 13 = ||a|| ||b|| cos x 13 = 3 Sqrt 26 cos x cos x = 13 / 3 Sqrt 26 = [Sqrt 26] / 6 x = ArcCos [Sqrt 26] / 6 = 2.59 radians ============================================== Problem 6; Find the equation of the plane which is perpendicular bisector of the segment [AB] with A(1,2,3) and B(5,6,7). Solution; The center of [AB] is ( [1+5] / 2 , [2+6] / 2 , [3+7] / 2 ) which is the point (3,4,5). The direction of AB is <5 1 , 6 2 , 7 3 > which = <4,4,4> or equivalently <1,1,1> So, <1,1,1> is a normal vector to the requested plane. So <1,1,1> is perpendicular to the arbitrary vector < (x3) , (y4) , (z5 > Their dot product must equal zero, so . The requested plane has an equation <1,1,1> dot < (x3) , (y4) , (z5) > = 0 (x3)+(y4)+(z5) = 0 x + y + z = 12 =======================================

Problem 7 Find out if the line r = (1, 3, 8) + t (2, 5, 7) is parallel to the plane 3x + 4y 2z = 1. Solution The vector <3, 4, 2> is normal or perpendicular to the plane 3x + 4y 2z = 1. Also, <2, 5, 7> is the direction vector for the given line. If this line is parallel to the plane then its direction vector must be perpendicular to the plane's normal vector. If two vectors are perpendicular then their dot product is zero. All we have to do is to work out <3, 4, 2> dot <2, 5, 7>. Doing this gives 6 + 20 14 = 0 so therefore this line is parallel to this plane. ================================== Problem 8; Where does the line r = (1, 2, 5) + t (2, 3, 1) meet the plane 2x + 5y 3z = 6? Solution For points on this line, the components of their position vectors are given by x = 1 + 2t y = 2 3t z = 5 + t We know that 2x + 5y 3z = 6 for all points lying in the plane. For a point in common, all these equations must be simultaneously satisfied. Substituting for x, y and z in the plane equation gives 2 (1 + 2t) + 5 (2 3t) 3 (5 + t) = 6. This gives 14t = 21 so t = 3/2. Substituting this value of t gives x = 4, y = 5/2 and z = 7/2. The position vector of the point where the line meets the plane is < 4, 5/2, 7/2>. Check for yourself that this point does lie on the plane 2x + 5y 3z = 6. ( Doing this gives a quick check against arithmetic errors ! ) =============================== Problem 9 Find the vector equation of the line in which the 2 planes 2x 5y + 3z = 12 and 3x + 4y 3z = 6 meet. Solution The vector <2, 5, 3> is normal (i.e perpendicular) to the plane 2x 5y + 3z = 12. The vector <3, 4, 3> is normal to the plane 3x + 4y 3z = 6. These vectors aren't parallel so the planes do meet! Now, the vector or cross product of these two normal vectors gives a vector which is perpendicular to both of them and which is therefore parallel to the line of intersection of the two planes. So this cross product will give a direction vector for the line of intersection. The cross product of <2, 5, 3> and <3, 4, 3> is <3, 15, 23>. In order to find the vector equation of the line of intersection, we also need to find the position vector from the origin of some point which lies on it. So we need to find some point which lies on both the planes because then it must lie on their line of intersection. Any point which lies on both planes will do. I can see that both planes will have points for which x = 0. These points in 2x 5y + 3z = 12 will have 5y + 3z = 12. These points in 3x + 4y 3z = 6 will have 4y 3z = 6. Solving these two equations simultaneously gives y = 18 and z = 26 so the point with position vector (0, 18, 26) lies on the line of intersection. Therefore the equation of the line of intersection is r = (0, 18, 26) + t (3, 15, 23). Check for yourself that if you choose some value for t (say t =2) that the point that you get does really lie on both planes and so on their line of intersection.

Problem 10; Calculate the orthogonal projection point A' of point A(1,2,3) on the plane 3xy+4z = 0 Solution; The normal direction to the plane is (3,1,4). The line from A orthogonal to the plane is x = 1 + r.3 y = 2 + r.(1) z = 3 + r.4 The variable point P(1 + r.3, 2 + r.(1),3 + r.4) of that line is in the plane if and only if 3(1 + r.3)(2 + r.(1))+4(3 + r.4) = 0 r = 1/2 so The point A' is (1/2, 5/2, 1). ================================== Problem 11; Take a plane x + y z = 1 and point A(1,2,3). A line l has equations x = 1 + r.3 y = 2 + r.(1) z = 3 + r.4 Calculate the coordinates of a point B of line l, such that AB is parallel to the plane. Solution; Consider B(1+3r,2r,3+4r) as a variable point of line l. The direction numbers of AB are (3r,r,6+4r). The normal direction to the plane is <1,1,1> AB is parallel to the plane AB is normal to the direction (1,1,1). So AB dot Plane Normal Vector = 0 So < 3r,r, 6+4r > dot < 1,1,1 > = 0 3r r 6 4r = 0 r = 3 So, B is point ( 8 , 5 , 9 ) ================================== Problem 12; Take a point A(1,2,0). A line l has equations x=1 +r y=2 r z=1 +r Calculate the coordinates of the points B of line l, such that |AB| = sqrt 6 Solution; Point B = (1+r,2r,1+r) . a variable point of line l. The coordinates of vector AB are < r,r,1+r > 2 2 2 2 Now, ||AB|| = Sqrt [ r + ( r) + ( 1 + r ) ] = Sqrt [ 3r + 2r +1 ] 2 So Sqrt [ 3r + 2r +1 ] = Sqrt 6 2 [ 3r + 2r +1 ] = 6 r = 1 or r = 5/3 The points are (2,1,2) and (2/3, 11/3, 2/3) ==================================== Problem 13; Two planes have respectively an equation 2 x 2 y z + 5 = 0 and x + 5 y z 8 = 0 Point A = (3,5,7) Find the equation of a plane through A and perpendicular to the two planes. Solution(s); (1) The cross product of the two Plane Normals is the normal to the requested Plane. Point A (3,5,7) is in the Plane < 2 2 1 > x < 1 5 1 > = < 7 , 1, 12 > With Point and Dir Vector we can write directly an dot < x 3 y 5 z 7 > = 0 < 7 , 1, 2 > dot < x 3 y 5 z 7 > = 0 7 (x 3) + 1 ( y 5 ) + 12 ( z 7 ) = 0 7x + y + 12z 21 5 14 = 0 7x + y + 12z = 40 (2) We can write directly a dot b x c = 0 The requested plane equation is thus |x3 y5 z7| | 2 2 1 | = 0 a dot ( b x c ) | 1 5 1 | For the same result as in (1) above. ===================================

Problem 14; The plane W with equation 2x + 3y z 7 = 0 The line d with equations [ 3x + y z = 0 ; x y z + 2 = 0 ] Find the plane G through d and perpendicular to W. Solution; Find any point A on the line d = A = (0,1,1) by letting x=0 to get 2 equations in y & z. Solve for y and z. This can act as a reference or support point for plane G. The normal vector <2,3,1> of plane W can serve as a direction vector for plane G. The vector <1, 1, 2> is a direction vector of line d. This vector is a direction vector of plane G. <3 , 1, 1> X <1 1 1> = < 2, 2, 4 > = < 1, 1, 2 > = < 1, 1, 2 > = direction vector of line d The requested plane is | x y1 z1| | 2 3 1 | = 0 a dot ( b x c ) | 1 1 2 | ====================================== Problem 15: Fixed point P(3,1,6) and two variable lines a & b. Find the line c through point P such that line c intersects both lines. Find the value of the parameter so that there are infinitely many solutions line a x + (m1)y 2 = 0 y + z 3 = 0 line b (2m3)x 1 = 0 yz+1=0 Solution The line c is the intersection of plane (P,a) and plane (P,b). 1. Plane (P,a) The direction of a is (m1, 1, 1); it is a first direction of the plane (P,a). A simple point of a is A(2,0,3). A second direction of the plane (P,a) is the direction A,P and this is (1,1,3). The plane (P,a) has as equation | x 3 y 1 z 6 | | m 1 1 1 | = 0 <=> 4x + (43m)y + mz 3m+8 = 0 | 1 1 3 | 2. Plane (P,b) In the same way as for plane (P,a) we find (4m6)x + (3m5)y (3m5)z + 3m7 = 0 3. The requested line c through P is the intersection of both planes. So we have immediately the equations for c 4x + (43m)y + mz 3m+8 = 0 (4m6)x + (3m5)y (3m5)z + 3m7 = 0 4. There are infinitely many solutions if and only if P, a and b are all in one plane. The planes (P,a) and (P,b) have point P in common. The planes coincide if and only if the simple point A(2,0,3) of line a is in the plane (P,b).One finds that the condition is fulfilled if and only if m = 2. ==================================== Problem 16; A pyramid has base ABC A(1, 2, 3) ; B(0, 1, 5) ; C(3, 0, 9) The vertex T is a variable point of the line x = 1 + r ; y = 2 + r ; z = 1 2 r 1) Find T such that the height of the pyramid is 4. 2) Find the volume of the pyramid. Solution; 1. First, we calculate the equation of the plane ABC. We use support vector A and direction vectors BA and BC. | x y+1 z5 | | 1 3 8 | = 0 <=> 2x + 2y + z 3 = 0 | 3 1 4 | T has coordinates (1 + r, 2 + r, 1 2 r). The height of the pyramid must be 4. < T A > dot [ an / | an | ] < (1+r)1 , (2+r)2 , (12r (3)) dot < 2,2,1> / sqrt (4+4+1)=4 So . | 2(1 + r) + 2(2 + r) + 1 (1 2 r) 3 | = 4 sqrt ( 4 + 4 + 1) [ 2 + 2r +4 + 2r 1 2r 3 = 2r + 2 ] / [ + or 3 ] = 4 r = 5 or r = 7 So, T = (6, 7, 11) or T = (6, 5, 13)

2. We calculate the area of the triangle ABC. The lengths of the sides of the triangle ABC are : 2 2 2 |AB| = sqrt( 1 + 3 + 8 ) = sqrt(74) = c 2 2 2 |BC| = sqrt( 3 + 1 + 4 ) = sqrt(26) = a 2 2 2 |AC| = sqrt( 4 + 2 + 12 ) = sqrt(164) = b Now, we can calculate the area with Heron's formula. s = (a+b+c)/2 The area = Sqrt [ s(sa)(sb)(sc) ] We find that the area is 15. Volume = 1/3 Base x Height = (1/3) .15 . 4 = 20 ============================== Problem 17; A plane A has an equation x + y + z = 3. P(1,1,1) is in plane A. Point P is on the line d and d has a direction vector (1,2,3). Find the line c, in plane A, such that c and d are orthogonal lines and P is on c. Solution; All lines through P and orthogonal with d are in the plane B through P and perpendicular to line d. The given vector (1,2,3) is a normal vector of plane B. The plane B has an equation 1.(x 1) + 2.(y1) + 3.(z1) = 0 <=> x + 2 y + 3 z 6 = 0 The intersection line of plane A int plane B is the requested line c. Line c has equations x + y + z = 3 , x + 2 y + 3 z = 6 ============================== Problem 18 Distance between two skew lines To calculate the distance between two skew lines the lines are expressed using vectors, x = a + Lb y = c + ud Solution The cross product of b and d is perpendicular to the lines, as is the unit vector n=[bxd]/|bxd| (if |b x d| = 0 the lines are parallel and this method cannot be used). The distance between the lines is then d = | n dot ( a c ) | r = (1, 2, 2) + s (4, 3, 2) and r = (1, 0, 3) + t (4, 6, 1). ============================== Problem 19 Find the shortest distance from a point P to a line L. Solution Suppose the position vector of P from the origin O is OP = < 2, 1, 2 > Suppose that the vector equation of line L is r = (1, 0, 7) + t (4, 1, 2). The shortest distance of P from L is given by the length of the perpendicular from P to L. Suppose this perpendicular meets L at H. Then we want to find the length of PH. (1) Using the dot product Since H lies on L we can say that OH = (1, 0, 7) + t (4, 1, 2) = (1 + 4t, t, 72t) for some value of t which we need to find. Also, vector PH = OP + OH = = (2, 1, 2) + (1 + 4t, t, 7 2t) = (3 + 4t, 1 + t, 5 2t). But PH is perpendicular to direction vector <4, 1, 2> of line L. So the dot product of vector PH and <4, 1, 2> is zero. So (3 + 4t, 1 + t, 5 2t) dot (4, 1, 2) = 0 12 + 16t + 1 + t 10 + 4t = 21 + 21t = 0 so t = 1. Therefore OH = < 3, 1, 5 > and from above OP = < 2, 1, 2 > So vector PH = OH OP = < 1, 2, 3 > Its length |OH| is given by the square root of (1 + 4 + 9) = 3.74 (2) Using the equation of a plane. Just as we found in (1), we have OH = (1 + 4t, t, 72t). Now PH lies in a plane which is perpendicular to line L. So the direction vector (4, 1, 2) of L is perpendicular to this plane. Therefore it is a normal vector to the plane. Also, P lies in the plane. Using the equation of a plane of r.n = p.n, with r = (x, y, z), we get (x, y, z).(4, 1, 2) = (2, 1, 2).(4, 1, 2) so 4x + y 2z = 3. But H also lies in this plane so we can say 4 (1 + 4t) + t 2 (7 2t) = 3 so 21t = 21 so t = 1 as before. From here, proceed as in method (1) above.

Problem 20; Calculate the equation of the plane parallel to Plane P1 4x 3y z = 100 and containing point D(2,1,3). Solution; (1) All planes parallel to P1 have equation 4x 3y z + t = 0. D is in that plane if and only if 8 3 3 + t = 0 <=> t = 2. The plane has equation 4x 3y z 2 = 0. (2) Normal vector is < 4, 3, 1> and general vector in the plane is < x 2 , y 1 , z 3 >. So the dot product = 0 gives the equation of the plane < 4, 3, 1> dot < x 2 , y 1 , z 3 > = 0 4x 3y z 8 + 3 + 3 = 0 4x 3y z = 2 same result ========================== Problem 21 If u = (3, 2, 1) and v = (5, 0, 3) and w = (6, 1, 4) is it possible to find a scalar t such that u + tv is parallel to w? Solution If 2 vectors P and Q are parallel then there is a number or scalar k so that P = kQ. For example, (3, 6, 12) and (1, 2, 4) are parallel and (3, 6, 12) = 3 (1, 2, 4). So this question is asking us whether we can find t so that (3, 2, 1) + t (5, 0, 3) = k (6, 1, 4). This equation can only be satisfied if each separate component matches up. So we have, in fact, 3 equations to look at. We would need... [ How do I get rid of this line ?? ] 3 + 5t = 6k 2=k 1 3t = 4k From the second, k = 2. Then, from the third, we get t = 3. Now, the crucial step is to find out whether these values for k and t fit the first equation. Substituting in, we find that they do, and therefore we know that u + 3v is parallel to w. Geometrically, this means that the vectors u, v and w can all lie in the same plane in 3D space. The vector w is called linearly dependent on u and v. If you pick any 3 vectors in 3 D space, they won't usually have this property. Generally, if you move their 3 tails to the origin then it will be possible to find some combination of them that will take you to any chosen point in 3D space. The 3 vectors i, j and k are the most important example of this. However, if u, v and w have their tails moved to the origin, combinations of them will only take you to points in the 2D plane in which they all lie. No combination of u, v and w will allow you to escape from this plane.

========================================= Equations, Variables, Dimensions & Geometric result Note # of Uknowns must be < or = # of Dimensions E = number of equations Uk = number of unknowns D = number of dimensions E Uk D Geometric Figure ____________________ 1 1 1d point 1 1 2d line 1 1 3d plane 1 2 1d NA 1 2 2d line 1 2 3d line or plane 1 3 1d NA 1 3 2d NA 1 3 3d plane 2 1 1d 2 points 2 1 2d 2 lines => || intersecting or skew 2 1 3d 2 planes => || or intersecting 2 2 1d NA 2 2 2d 2 lines => point or || lines 2 2 3d 2 planes or 2 lines => || intersecting or skew 2 3 1d NA 2 3 2d NA 2 3 3d 2 planes => || or intersecting 3 1 1d 3 points 3 1 2d 3 lines 3 1 3d 3 lines or 3 planes 3 2 1d NA 3 2 2d 3 lines 3 2 3d 3 lines or 3 planes 3 3 1d NA 3 3 2d NA 3 3 3d 3 planes => point, line, || no solution or infinite