Slide 1: Title Slide – Lines and Planes in Space Using Vector Equation
Script:
Good day everyone! Welcome to Session 3, Topic 2 of MATH 302. Today, we will explore an essential area of
analytic geometry: representing lines and planes in 3D space using vector equations.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to describe lines and planes analytically and compute distances between
points and these geometric figures using vector tools.
Slide 2: Topic Outline and Objectives
Script:
Let me walk you through our objectives for this session:
First, we'll define how to represent lines and planes in 3D space using vector equations.
Then, we’ll dive into parametric and symmetric forms of a line.
We’ll cover vector, standard, and general forms of a plane.
Finally, we’ll solve problems involving the distance from a point to a plane, and the distance from a point to a
line.
This comprehensive look into space geometry equips you for solving spatial problems in engineering, physics, and higher
math.
Slide 3: Line in Space
Script:
Let’s begin with lines in 3D space.
A line in three-dimensional space is a set of points that extends infinitely in both directions along a given
direction. It can be uniquely defined using a point and a direction vector.
A line is defined by:
1. A point it passes through, and
2. A direction vector, indicating its orientation.
Unlike lines in 2D, a line in 3D moves through space, not just a plane. It extends infinitely in both directions but
always in the direction of its vector.
Slide 7
Thus,
Slide 19: Plane in Space
Script:
Now let’s move on to planes in 3D space.
A plane in three-dimensional space is a flat, two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely in all directions. It is
uniquely determined by a point and a normal vector.
To define a plane, we need:
1. A point on the plane
2. A normal vector – a vector that is perpendicular to the plane
The normal vector plays a crucial role in the plane's orientation.
Slide 20
In geometry and vectors, orthogonal means:
"Perpendicular" — that is, two lines, vectors, or planes meet at a 90-degree angle.
Slide 22
Slide 32
Let P be a point in the plane and let Q be a point not in the plane. We are interested in finding the distance from the
point Q to the plane that contains the point P.
We can find the distance between the point, Q, and the plane by projecting the vector from P to Q onto the normal to
the plane and then finding its magnitude or length.
Thus the distance from Q to the plane is the length or the magnitude of the projection of the vector PQ onto the normal.
Slide 33
If the distance from Q to the plane is the length or the magnitude of the projection of the vector PQ onto the normal,
we can write that mathematically:
"The distance from Q to the plane is equal to the magnitude of the projection of vector PQ onto vector n."
Now recall, "The projection of vector PQ onto vector n equal to the fraction of the dot product of PQ and n, divided by
the squared norm of n”
Slide 34
So taking the magnitude of this vector, we get:
"The magnitude of the projection of vector PQ onto vector n equals to the absolute value of the fraction of the dot
product of PQ and n, divided by the squared norm of n, multiplied by the norm of n Equals the absolute value of the
fraction of the dot product of PQ and n, divided by the squared norm of n, multiplied by the norm of n. "Finally, this
simplifies to the absolute value of the dot product of PQ and n, divided by the norm of n"
Slide 35
The distance from a plane containing the point P to a point Q not in the plane is:
"The distance D from point Q to the plane is equal to the absolute value of the dot product of the vector PQ and the
normal vector n, divided by the magnitude of n."
FORMULA FOR Distance Between a Point and a Plane
D equal to the absolute value of the dot product of the vector PQ and the normal vector n, divided by the magnitude of
n."
SLIDE 40
In the picture below, Q is a point not on the line , P is a point on the line, u is a direction vector for the line and THETA
is the angle between u and PQ.
Obvoiusly, "Sine theta is equal to D divided by the magnitude of vector PQ, or D is equal to the magnitude of vector PQ
times sine theta."
Slide 41
We know on cross products that
"The magnitude of the cross product of vector u and vector v is equal to the product of the magnitudes of vector u and
vector v, times sine theta, where theta is the angle between vector u and vector v."
Thus,
"The magnitude of the cross product of vector PQ and vector u is equal to the product of the magnitudes
of vector PQ and vector u, times sine theta."
"Or, dividing both sides by the magnitude of vector u,"
"The magnitude of the cross product of vector PQ and vector u, divided by the magnitude of vector u, is
equal to the magnitude of vector PQ times sine theta."
So if, D equals the magnitude of vector PQ times sine theta then from above "D equals the magnitude of the cross
product of vector PQ and vector u, divided by the magnitude of vector u."
SLIDE 42
The distance, D, between a line and a point Q not on the line is given by:
"D is equal to the norm of the cross product of vector PQ and vector u, divided by the norm of vector u."
where:
u = is the direction vector of the line
P = is a point on the line
SLIDE 44
Find the cross product: