PLANE

A plane is defined as a surface such that the line joining any two points on it lies wholly on the
surface.

Equations of plane in different forms:

(1)Equation of a plane when the normal to the plane and its distance from origin are given:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane when D.Cs of the normal to the plane are l, m, n and its
perpendicular distance from the origin is p ; l x + m y + n z = p.

Vector form: Equation of a plane when the normal unit vector to plane is and perpendicular
distance from the origin is d ; . =d

(2)Equation of a plane passing through a given point and D.Cs of whose normal are given:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane passing through a point ( , , ) and D.Rs of whose normal
are a,b and c ; a (x - ) + b (y - ) + c (z - ) = 0.

Vector form: Equation of a plane which passes through a point and whose normal vector is ;

( - ). =0

(3)Equation of a plane passing through a given point and parallel to two given lines:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane passing through a point ( , , ) and parallel to two lines whose

D.Rs are , , and , , =0

Vector form: Equation of a plane passing through a point and parallel to two given vectors and
; ( - ).( x ) =0

(4)Equation of a plane containing two given straight lines:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane containing two straight lines

= = and = = is

=0
Vector Form: Equation of a plane containing two straight lines = +λ and = +µ ;

( - ).( x ) =0

(5)Equation of a plane passing through three given points:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane passing through the points ( , , ),( , , ) and ( ,

, ); =0

Vector form: Equation of a plane passing through three points , , ;

( - ) . [( - ) x ( - )] = 0

(6) Equation of a plane through two given planes:

Cartesian form: Equation of a plane passing through the intersection of the planes

and ;

Vector form: Equation of a plane passing through the intersection of two planes

. = and . = ;

[( . )- ] +λ [( . )- ] = 0.

(7) INTERCEPT FORM OFA PLANE: Equation of a plane making a , b , c intercepts on x-axis , y-axis ,
z-axis ; + + = 1.

(8) Condition of coplanarity of two straight lines:

Cartesian form: The condition that two straight lines = = and = =

lie in the same plane;

=0

Vector form: The condition that two straight lines = + and = +µ lie in the same
plane ; ( - ).( x ) = 0.
(9) Angle between two given planes:

Cartesian form: If θ be the angle between two planes

and , then

θ= .

Vector form: If be the angle between two planes . = and . = , then

θ= .