Week 3 Lecture
Topics: Vector equations of plane in 3D
Distance from a point to a plane in 3D
Equation of a Plane in 3D (Space):
A plane in space is determined by knowing a point on the plane and its “tilt” or orientation. This
“tilt” is defined by specifying a vector that is perpendicular or normal to the plane.
Suppose that a plane M passes through a point 𝑃𝑜 (𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜, 𝑧𝑜 ) and is normal to the non-zero
⃗ , i.e. 𝑛⃗ is a non-zero normal orthogonal vector. Then M is the set of all
vector 𝑛⃗ = 𝐴𝑖 + 𝐵𝑗 + 𝐶𝑘
points 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) for which ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑂 𝑃 is orthogonal to 𝑛⃗. Let us consider ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑂 𝑃 = 𝑢⃗ , such that
𝑢
⃗ = < 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 , 𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 , 𝑧 − 𝑧𝑜 >.
𝑛⃗ is orthogonal to the plane thus it is orthogonal to every vector on
The plane. The vector 𝑢
⃗ lies on the plane.
Thus, the dot product 𝑛⃗ ∙ 𝑢
⃗ = 0.
This equation is equivalent to
⃗ ). [(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 )𝑖 + (𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 )𝑗 + (𝑧 − 𝑧𝑜 )𝑘
(𝐴𝑖 + 𝐵𝑗 + 𝐶𝑘 ⃗]=0
𝐴(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) + 𝐵(𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 ) + 𝐶( 𝑧 − 𝑧𝑜 ) = 0
Remark:
Another form of the equation of plane.
𝐴𝑥 − 𝐴𝑥𝑜 + 𝐵𝑦 − 𝐵𝑦𝑜 + 𝐶𝑧 − 𝐶𝑧𝑜 = 0
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 − (𝐴𝑥𝑜 + 𝐵𝑦𝑜 + 𝐶𝑧𝑜 ) = 0
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 = 𝐴𝑥𝑜 + 𝐵𝑦𝑜 + 𝐶𝑧𝑜
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 = 𝐷 where 𝐷 = 𝐴𝑥𝑜 + 𝐵𝑦𝑜 + 𝐶𝑧𝑜
Example 1:
Find an equation for the plane passing through the point 𝑷(−𝟑, 𝟎, 𝟕) and perpendicular to the
⃗ = 𝟓𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 − ⃗𝒌.
unit normal vector 𝒏
Solution: The equation of plane is
𝐴(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) + 𝐵(𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 ) + 𝐶( 𝑧 − 𝑧𝑜 ) = 0
5(𝑥 − (−3)) + 2(𝑦 − 0) + (−1)( 𝑧 − 7) = 0
5(𝑥 + 3) + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 + 7 = 0
5𝑥 + 15 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 + 7 = 0
5𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 + 22 = 0
5𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = −22
Example 2: Find an equation for the plane passing through three points A (0, 0, 1), B (2, 0, 0)
and C (0, 3, 0).
Solution: A vector normal to the plane is:
𝑛⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 × ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐶
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘⃗
0 −1 2 −1 ⃗ |2 0
= |2 0 −1|= 𝑖 | |-𝑗 | |+𝑘 |
3 −1 0 −1 0 3
0 3 −1
⃗ (6 − 0)
=𝑖[(0 − (−3)] − 𝑗(−2 − 0) + 𝑘
⃗
𝑛⃗ = 3𝑖 + 2𝑗+ 6𝑘
Now the equation of plane is
𝐴(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) + 𝐵(𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 ) + 𝐶( 𝑧 − 𝑧𝑜 ) = 0
3(𝑥 − 0) + 2(𝑦 − 0) + 6( 𝑧 − 1) = 0
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 6
Practice questions:
Thomas Calculus Ex. 12.5: 21-26
Distance from a Point to a Plane in Space
Let 𝑷 be a point on the plane, and 𝑷0 be
⃗ is the unit
any point in the space, then 𝒏
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗𝟎 be denoted by the vector 𝑢
normal vector to the point 𝑷. Let the vector 𝑷𝑷 ⃗ , i.e.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑷𝑷𝟎 = 𝑢 ⃗
Now considering the shortest distance from the point 𝑷𝟎 to the plane is perpendicular
to the plane, then
⃗ . ⃗𝒏 |
|𝒖
𝒅=
⃗|
|𝒏
Proof:
From the figure, we can write
𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅
𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽) = =
𝑯𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 |𝒖
⃗ |
𝒅
𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽) =
⃗ |
|𝒖
⃗ | 𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽) = 𝒅
|𝒖
⃗ | 𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽)
𝒅 = |𝒖
⃗ | 𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽)
⃗ ||𝒏
|𝒖
𝒅=
⃗|
|𝒏
⃗ .𝒏
|𝒖 ⃗|
𝒅=
⃗|
|𝒏
Hence
⃗ .𝒏
|𝒖 ⃗|
𝒅=
⃗|
|𝒏
Example:
Find the distance from the point S (1, 1, 3) to the plane 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 6.
⃗
⃗ = 𝟑𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟔𝒌
Solution: 𝒏
𝑺 = (𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟑)
𝑷 =?
We find a point P in the plane and calculate the length of the vector projection
of ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑆 onto a vector 𝑛⃗ normal to the plane. The point on
plane easiest to find from the plane’s equation are the
intercepts.
If we take P to be the y-intercept (0,3,0) then
⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗
𝑃𝑆 = (1 − 0)𝑖 + (1 − 3)𝑗 + (3 − 0)𝑘
⃗
= 𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘
|𝑛⃗| = √(3)2 + (2)2 + (6)2 = √49 = 7
The distance from S to the plane is
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .𝑛
|𝑃𝑆 ⃗|
𝑑= |𝑛
⃗|
⃗ ). (3 𝑖 + 2 𝑗 + 6 𝑘
= |(𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 ⃗ )| = |3 − 4 + 18| = 17
7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Practice Questions:
Thomas Calculus Ex. 12.5: 39-44, 45, 46
Angle between Two Planes
The angle between two intersecting planes is defined
to be the angle between their normal vectors.
𝑛1 . ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑛2
𝜃 = 𝐶𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
|𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗1 ||𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗2 |
Example:
Find the angle between the planes
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟔𝒚 − 𝟐𝒛 = 𝟏𝟓 and 𝟐𝒙 + 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒛 = 𝟓.
Solution:
⃗
𝑛1 = 3𝑖 − 6j-2𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗
𝑛2 =2𝑖+𝑗-2𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑛1 . ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑛2 =6-6+4 =4
⃗⃗⃗⃗1 |=√(3)2 + (−6)2 + (−2)2 =√9 + 36 + 4 = 7
|𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗2 | = √(2)2 + (1)2 + (−2)2 = √4 + 1 + 4 = √9 = 3
|𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑛1 .𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗2
So 𝜃 = 𝐶𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
|𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗1 ||𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗2 |
4
𝜃 = 𝐶𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )= 79 degrees
7∗3
Practice Questions:
Thomas Calculus Ex. 12.5: 47-52