13.

1 Three-Dimensional Coordinate Systems

1. Terms

(1) Three-dimensional rectangular(Cartesian) coordinate system : A coordinate system on a space(three

dimensional) in which a point is addressed uniquely by three numerical coordinates with respect to
the three perpendicular directed lines called x, y, and z axes. The three axes meet at a single point
and the point is called the origin, often denoted by O.
(2) Right hand rule : In the three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system, the x, y, and z axes
are conventionally put in the direction to which the thumb, index, and middle fingers of a right
hand(when the fingers are perpendicular to each other) are pointing.
(3) Rectangular(Cartesian) coordinates of a point in a space : When P is a point in a rectangular coordinate system and A, B, and C are perpendicular feet from P to x, y, and z axes respectively, the
three signed distances from the origin to A, B, and C are called x, y, and z coordinates of P . The
three ordered numbers form the rectangular coordinates of P .
(4) Coordinate planes :

xy plane

the plane containing x and y axes. Points in xy plane have zero z coordinate.

yz plane

the plane containing y and z axes. Points in yz plane have zero x coordinate.

zx plane

the plane containing z and x axes. Points in zx plane have zero y coordinate.

(5) Octants : A space is divided into eight octants by the coordinate planes. The octant bounded by
all three positive coordinates is referred to as the first octant. There is no generally used naming
convention for the other seven octants.
2. Example Draw all points in the space satisfying each equation.

(a)

(a) x = 1

(b) y = 3

(c) z =

(d) x = y

(e) y = z

(f) z = y 2

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

3. Formula (Distance between two points)

When P1 (x1 , y1 , z1 ) and P2 (x2 , y2 , z2 ) are distinct points in a
rectangular coordinate system, the distance between the two
points is
kP1 P2 k =

p
(x1 x2 )2 + (y1 y2 )2 + (z1 z2 )2

4. Example Determine if the triangle 4ABC is an isosceles, a right triangle, both, or neither.
(a) A(5, 5, 1), B(3, 3, 2), C(1, 1, 4)
(b) A(3, 4, 1), B(5, 3, 0), C(6, 7, 4)
5. Example

(a) Find an equation for a point P(x, y, z) whose distance from O(0, 0, 0) equals r(> 0).
(b) Find an equation for a point P(x, y, z) whose distance from C(a, b, c) equals r(> 0).

p
Answers : (a) (x 0)2 + (y 0)2 + (z 0)2 = r x2 + y 2 + z 2 = r 2
p
(b) (x a)2 + (y b)2 + (z c)2 = r (x a)2 + (y b)2 + (z c)2 = r 2

6. Definition (Sphere)
The collection of all points in space whose distances from a fixed
point C(a, b, c) is equal to a positive number r is called a sphere.
We call the point C the center and the number r the radius of the
sphere. We call
(x a)2 + (y b)2 + (z c)2 = r2
the standard equation of a sphere centered at (a, b, c) with radius
r(> 0).
7. Example

(a) Find an equation of the sphere centered at (1, 2, 4) with radius 3.

(b) Determine if the equation is a sphere :
(b1) x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 6x + 4y + 10z
(b2) 2x2 + 2y 2 + 2z 2 + 4y 2z + 2 = 0