11

Chapter
THREE DIMENSIONAL
GEOMETRY

NCERT CRUX
(ii) The direction ratios of the line segment joining
Direction-Cosines and P(x1, y1,z1) and Q (x2, y2, z2) may be taken as
Direction-Ratios of a Line x2 – x1, y2 – y1, z2 – z1 or x1 – x2, y1 – y2, z1 – z2

If α, β, γ are the angles that a given line makes with the positive
directions of the co-ordinate axes, then cos α, cos β, cos γ are Equation of a Line in Space
called the Direction-Cosines (or d.c.’s) of the given line.
z A line is uniquely determined if
P L (i) it passes through a given point and has given direction,
(ii) it passes through two given points.
z
r g
α
Equation of a Straight Line
β
o y Y 1. One Point Form: Vector equation of a line passing
x 
X through a point with position vector a and parallel to
   
If the given line in space does not pass through the origin, then, the vector b is r = a + λ b
in order to find its direction cosines, we draw a line through Z 
b
the origin and parallel to the given line i.e., two parallel lines
have same set of direction cosines. P l
A
(i) If l, m, n are the direction cosines of a line, then 
a 
l2 + m2 + n2 = 1 r
Y
(ii) Direction cosines of a line joining two points P (x1,y1,z1) O
and Q (x2,y2,z2) are X
x 2 − x1 y 2 − y1 z 2 − z1 
, , , where Note: If b = aiˆ + bjˆ + ckˆ , then a, b, c are direction ratios
PQ PQ PQ of the line and conversely.

PQ= ( x 2 − x1 ) + ( y 2 − y1 ) + ( z 2 − z1 )
2 2 2 Cartesian Form:
Let the coordinates of the given point A be
Direction-Ratios of a line: Quantities proportional to (x1, y1, z1) and the direction ratios of the line be l, m,
direction-cosines of a line are called direction-ratios of that n. Consider the coordinates of the given point P be
line. Thus if l, m, n are direction-cosines and a, b, c direction- (x, y, z). Then
ratios of the line, then  
a = x1ˆi + y1ˆj + z1kˆ , b =l ˆi + m ˆj + n kˆ and
l m n l 2 + m2 + n 2 1 
= = = = ± r = xiˆ + yjˆ + zkˆ
a b c 2
a +b +c 2 2
a + b2 + c2 2
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
(i) If a, b, c are direction-ratios, then actual direction- This gives = = =( t )
l m n
cosines are
2. Two Point Form: Vector equation of a line
 ±a ±b ±c  through two given points A (x1, y1, z1) and B

 2 , ,   
2
 a +b +c
2 2 2
a +b +c 2
a + b2 + c2
2
 (x2, y2, z2) having position vectors a and b.
 2 NTA CUET (UG) - Mathematics PW
    Let the given lines be

r= a + λ b − a ( )   
r= a1 + λb1  ...(i)
Z ,z 2)   
, z ) (x 2,y 2 and = r a 2 + µb 2  ...(ii)
,z 1) (x,y B
(x 1,y 1A P The given lines are coplanar if:
     

a
r b ( )
( a 2 − a1 ) ⋅ b1 × b2 =
0
Y
O Cartesian form:
X x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
Two lines = = and
a1 b1 c1
Cartesian form:
  x − x 2 y − y2 z − z2
If a = x1ˆi + y1ˆj + z1kˆ and b = x 2 ˆi + y 2 ˆj + z 2 kˆ , then its = = are coplanar if
a2 b2 c2
cartesian form its:
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1 x 2 − x1 y 2 − y1 z 2 − z1
= = a1 b1 c1 = 0
x 2 − x1 y 2 − y1 z 2 − z1
a2 b2 c2

Angles between Two Lines

Shortest Distance between
Let L1 and L2 be two lines passing through the origin and with Two Skew Lines
direction ratios a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 respectively. Let θ be
the acute angle between L1 and L2 Skew lines are lines in the space which are neither parallel nor
Z intersecting. They lie in the different planes. Angle between
skew lines is the angle between two intersecting lines drawn
Q L2 from any point (preferably through the origin) parallel to each
L1 of the skew lines.
θ
O P The shortest distance between two skew lines is the length of
Y the line segment perpendicular to both the lines.
T
X Q
l2
a1a 2 + b1b 2 + c1c 2
Then, cos θ =
a12 + b12 + c12 a 22 + b 22 + c 22
 If direction cosines, l1, m1, n1, for L1 S P l1
and l2, m2, n2 for L2 are given, then The shortest distance between two skew lines with equations:
cos θ = | l1 l2 + m1m2 + n1 n2 |    
 We find the angle between two lines when their
     
r= a1 + λ b1 ; r= a 2 + µ b 2 is
(
b1 × b 2 ⋅ a 2 − a1
 
)( )
equations are given. If θ is acute, the angle between the b1 × b 2
     
lines r1= a1 + λb1 and r2= a 2 + µb 2
Cartesian form: Shortest distance between the lines:
  x − x 2 y − y2 z − z2
b1 . b 2 x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
then, cos θ =   = = and = = is
a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2
b1 b 2
x 2 − x1 y 2 − y1 z 2 − z1
Note: Two lines whose direction-cosines are [l1, m1, n1]
a1 b1 c1
and [l2, m2, n2] are perpendicular if l1l2 + m1m2 + n1n2 = 0
l1 m1 n1 a2 b2 c2
and parallel if = =
( b1c2 − b2c1 ) + ( c1a 2 − c2a1 ) + ( a1b2 − a 2 b1 )
2 2 2
l2 m 2 n 2

Coplanarity of Two Lines [RC] Distance between Parallel Lines


  
Two lines are said to be coplanar when they both lie on the r= a1 + λ b  ...(i)
  
same plane in a three-dimensional space. and =r a 2 + µ b  ...(ii)
Three Dimensional Geometry 3

T (a2 ) Z
l2 
N
 A
a 
r P(x,y,z)
θ P O Y
 l1
S( a1 ) X

The distance between the given parallel lines is Cartesian form: Equation of a plane perpendicular
   to a given line with direction ratios a, b, c and passing

=d PT=
(
 b × a 2 − a1

) through a given point (x1 , y1 , z1) is a (x – x1) + b
b (y – y1) + c (z – z1) = 0.

Equation of a Plane Passing Through Three

Plane [RC] Non-collinear Points [RC]
Vector equation of a plane that contains three
  
Every equation of the first degree in x, y, z represents a plane non-collinear points having position vectors a, b,c is
i.e., ax + by + cz + d = 0.      
A plane is determined uniquely if any one of the following is
( ) ( ) (
r −a ⋅ b−a × c−a  =
 
0 )
known: Z

(i) the normal to the plane and its distance from the origin  
R (RS × RT)
is given, i.e., the equation of a plane in normal form. P
  
(ii) it passes through a point and is perpendicular to a given r a S c T
b
direction. O Y
(iii) it passes through three given non collinear points. X

Equation of a Plane in Normal Form [RC] Cartesian form:

Equation of the plane passing through three non-collinear
The vector equation of a plane which is at a distance d from
points (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3) is
the origin, where n is the unit vector normal to the plane, is
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
r ⋅ n =.
d
x 2 − x1 y 2 − y1 z 2 − z1 =
0
Z
x 3 − x1 y3 − y1 z 3 − z1

 P(x,y,z) Intercept Form of the Equation of a Plane [RC]

r
d N Equation of a plane that cuts the co-ordinates axes at
O Y x y z
(a, 0, 0), (0, b, 0) and (0, 0, c) is + + =1
X a b c
Z
Cartesian form: Equation of a plane which is at a distance
d from the origin with direction cosines of the normal to the R(0,0,c)
plane as l, m, n is lx + my + nz = d.
Note: If d is the distance from the origin and l, m, n
are the direction cosines of the normal to the plane O Y
Q(0,b,0)
through the origin, then the foot of the perpendicular is
P(a,0,0)
(ld, md, nd).
X
Equation of a Plane Perpendicular to a given
Plane Passing Through the Intersection of
Vector and Passing Through a Given Point [RC]
Two Given Planes [RC]
The equation of a plane through a point whose position vector
      Let P1 and P2 be two planes with equations
( )
is a and perpendicular to the vector N is r − a ⋅ N = 0.
 4 NTA CUET (UG) - Mathematics PW
 
=r.nˆ 1 d= ˆ
1 and r.n 2 d2
Distance of a Point from a Plane
P3
 [RC]
Vector form: The length of the perpendicular from a point
 
having position vector a to the plane r.n = d is given by
P2
→ →
P1 | a .n – d |
P=
→
|n|
then, any plane passing through the intersection of
  Cartesian Form: The length of the perpendicular from a
the planes
= r.nˆ 1 d= ˆ
1 and r.n 2 d 2 has the equation
   point P(x1, y1, z1) to the plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 is given by
r.( n1 + λn 2 )= d1 + λd 2
| ax1 + by1 + cz1 + d |
Cartesian form: In Cartesian system,
(A1x + B1y + C1z – d1) + λ (A2x + B2y + C2z – d2) = 0 a 2 + b2 + c2

Angle between Two Planes [RC] Angle between a Line and a Plane

The angle between two planes is defined as the angle between  [RC]
their normals.
The angle between a line and a plane is the complement of the
angle between the normals angle between the line and the normal to the plane.
Plane 1  = [90 - (90 - q)]
n2
q
 Normal
n1 Line
90-q
Plane 2 θ
the angle between q
90–θ
the planes

In vector form, if θ is the acute angle between the two planes, Plane
 
    −1 n1 ⋅ n 2
r ⋅ n1 =
d1 and r ⋅ n 2 =d 2 then θ =cos   If α, β, γ be the direction ratios of the line and ax + by
n1 ⋅ n 2 + cz + d = 0 be the equation of plane and θ be the angle between
 
Note: The planes are perpendicular to each other if n1 ⋅ n 2 =
0 the line and the plane.
 
and parallel if n1 is parallel to n 2 . aα + bβ + cγ
⇒ cos(90°– θ) =
Cartesian form: Let θ be the angle between the planes, a + b 2 + c 2 α 2 +β2 + γ 2
2

A1x + B1y + C1z + D1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 = 0

aα + bβ + cγ
A1A 2 + B1B2 + C1C 2 or sin θ =
Therefore, cos θ = a + b 2 + c 2 α 2 +β2 + γ 2
2
A12 + B12 + C12 A 22 + B22 + C22
  
(i) If the planes are at right angles, then θ = 90°. Hence, Vector form: If θ is the angle between the line r = a + λb and

cos θ = A1 A2 + B1 B2 + C1 C2 = 0. plane r.n = d
 
(ii) If the planes are parallel, then A=1 B1 C1
= ⇒ sin θ =  
b. n
A 2 B2 C 2 | b || n |