LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE (Chapter 16)

469

and this line meets the plane x y + 2z = 27 where 2 + t (1 t) + 2(3 + 2t) = 27 ) 2 + t + 1 + t + 6 + 4t = 27 ) 6t + 9 = 27 ) 6t = 18 ) t=3 ) N is (5, 4, 9). p The shortest distance, AN = (5 2)2 + (4 1)2 + (9 3)2 p = 54 units.

Example 20
Find the coordinates of the foot of the normal N from A(2, 1, 3) to the plane with equation r = i + 3k + (4i j + k) + (2i + j 2k), , 2 R : The normal to the plane has direction vector given by ! i j 1 4 1 k 1 = 10 . (4i j + k) (2i + j 2k) = 2 1 2 6 ! ! The equation of the normal through A is
x y z

2 1 3

+t

1 10 6

so N must have coordinates of the form (2 + t, 1 + 10t, 3 + 6t). ! ! ! But N lies in the plane, so 8 <
2+t 1 + 10t 3 + 6t

= 8 <

1 0 3

4 1 1

2 1 2

2 + t = 1 + 4 + 2 1 + 10t = + ) : 3 + 6t = 3 + 2

and so

4 + 2 t = 1 + 10t = 1 : 2 6t = 0
40 137 ,

Solving simultaneously with technology gives = 9 47 54 ) N is the point 2 137 , 137 , 3 137

7 137 ,

t=

9 137

Check by substituting for and in the equation of the plane.

EXERCISE 16D
1 Find the equation of the plane: ! a with normal vector
2 1 3

and through (1, 2, 4)

b perpendicular to the line connecting A(2, 3, 1) and B(5, 7, 2) and through A c perpendicular to the line connecting A(1, 4, 2) and B(4, 1, 4) and containing P such that AP : PB = 1 : 2 d containing A(3, 2, 1) and the line x = 1 + t, y = 2 t, z = 3 + 2t.

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LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE (Chapter 16)

2 State the normal vector to the plane with equation: a 2x + 3y z = 8 b 3x y = 11 c z=2

x=0

3 Find the equation of the: a XOZ -plane b plane perpendicular to the Z -axis and through (2, 1, 4). 4 Find the equation of the plane in i vector form ii Cartesian form, through: a A(0, 2, 6), B(1, 3, 2) and C(1, 2, 4) b A(3, 1, 2), B(0, 4, 0) and C(0, 0, 1) c A(2, 0, 3), B(0, 1, 2) and C(4, 3, 0). 5 Find the equations of the following lines: a through (1, 2, 0) and normal to the plane x 3y + 4z = 8 b through (3, 4, 1) and normal to the plane x y 2z = 11. 6 Find the parametric equations of the line through A(2, 1, 3) and B(1, 2, 0) and hence find where this line meets the plane with equation x + 2y z = 5. 7 Find the parametric equations of the line through P(1, 2, 4) and Q(2, 0, 1) and hence find where this line meets: a the Y OZ -plane c the line with equations b the plane with equation y + z = 2 y+2 z 30 x3 = = . 2 3 1

8 In the following, find the foot of the normal from A to the given plane and hence find the shortest distance from A to the plane: b A(2, 1, 3); x y + 3z = 10 a A(1, 0, 2); 2x + y 2z + 11 = 0 c A(1, 4, 3); 4x y 2z = 8 9 Find the coordinates of the mirror image of A(3, 1, 2) when reflected in the plane x + 2y + z = 1. 10 Does the line through (3, 4, 1) and normal to x + 4y z = 2 intersect any of the coordinate axes? 11 Find the equations of the plane through A(1, 2, 3) and B(0, 1, 2) which is parallel to: a the X -axis b the Y -axis c the Z -axis. 12 Show that the lines x 1 = y2 = z + 3 and x + 1 = y 3 = 2z + 5 are 2 coplanar and find the equation of the plane which contains them.

13 A(1, 2, k ) lies on the plane x + 2y 2z = 8. Find: a the value of k b the coordinates of B such that AB is normal to the plane and 6 units from it. 14 In the following, find the foot of the normal from A to the given plane and hence find the shortest distance from A to the plane: a A(3, 2, 1); r = 3i + j + 2k + (2i + j + k) + (4i + 2j 2k) b A(1, 0, 2); r = i j + k + (3i j + 2k) + (i + j k)