Themes > Science > Mathematics > Algebra > Foci of a conic section > Topics and Problems > Problems about Lines - Planes - Distances - Angles

..READ THIS FIRST
..Problems about Lines - Planes - Distances - Angles
..Level 1 problems
..Level 2 problems
..Level 3 problems


READ THIS FIRST

If a problem is solved. It is not 'the' answer.
No attempt is made to search for the most elegant answer.
I highly recommend that you at least try to solve the problem before you read the solution.

Problems about Lines - Planes - Distances - Angles

Level 1 problems

  • Take line AB with A(4,5,6) and B(6,7,8). Give direction numbers of that line. Is C(1,2,3) on that line?


    (2,2,2) are direction numbers but also (1,1,1) and (-10,-10,-10).
    Point C is on line AB if and only if the direction AB = direction AC.
    Direction AC has direction numbers (-3,-3,-3) or (1,1,1).
    So, A B and C are on one line.

  • Write the parametric equations and cartesian equations of the x-axis.


    Take two points O(0,0,0) and E(1,0,0). Direction numbers are (1,0,0).
    The parametric equations are
     
                  / x = 0  + r.1       / x = r
                  | y = 0  + r.0  <=>  | y = 0
                  \ z = 0  + r.0       \ z = 0
    
    The cartesian equations are y=0 z=0.

  • Take the triangle ABC with A(2,2,4) B(4,6,0) and C(0,0,2). Calculate the median lines.

    Center of [AB] = C'(3,4,2)
    Center of [BC] = A'(2,3,1)
    Center of [CA] = B'(1,1,3)
    Direction numbers of AA' are (0,1,-3)
    Direction numbers of BB' are (-3,-5,3)
    Direction numbers of CC' are (3,4,0)
     
    The parametric equations of AA' are
                  / x = 2  + r.0
                  | y = 2  + r.1
                  \ z = 4  + r.(-3)
    The cartesian equations are
                    y - 2      z - 4
            x-2=0;  -------- = ---------  <=>  x = 2 ; 3y + z - 10 = 0
                      1         -3
    
    The parametric equations of BB' are
                  / x = 4  + r.(-3)
                  | y = 6  + r.(-5)
                  \ z = 0  + r.3
    The cartesian equations are
    
              x - 4      y - 6      z - 0
              ------ =  -------- = ------ <=> -5x + 3y + 2=0 ; x + z = 4
               -3         -5          3
    
    The parametric equations of CC' are
                  / x = 0  + r.3
                  | y = 0  + r.4
                  \ z = 2  + r.0
    The cartesian equations are
    
                x          y
              ------ =  -------- ; z = 2 <=> 4x = 3y ; z = 2
                3          4
    
    The center of the triangle is (2,8/3,2) and lies on the three median lines.

  • Calculate the parametric equations and cartesian equation of the plane formed by the x-axis and the y-axis.

    Direction numbers are (1,0,0) and (0,1,0). The parametric equations are
     
            / x = 0  + r.1 + s.0       / x = r
            | y = 0  + r.0 + s.1  <=>  | y = s
            \ z = 0  + r.0 + s.0       \ z = 0
    
    The cartesian equation is
     
            | x     y         z |
            | 1     0         0 |  =  0  <=> z = 0
            | 0     1         0 |
    

  • Calculate the cartesian equation of the plane containing the point A(1,2,3) and parallel to the lines b and c
     
    b: 4x = 3y ; z = 2   and c:  -5x + 3y + 2=0 ; x + z = 4
    
    

    First, we calculate direction numbers of the lines b and c.
    Take two points on b. B(0,0,2) and B'(3,4,2).
    Direction numbers of b are (3,4,0).
    Take two points on c. C(4,6,0) and C'(1,1,3).
    Direction numbers of c are (-3,-5,3).
    The cartesian equation of the plane is
     
            | x-1   y-2     z-3 |
            | 3      4        0 |  =  0  <=> 4x - 3y - z + 5 = 0
            | -3    -5        3 |
    

  • The plane ABC has equation 4x - 3y - z + 5 = 0. Calculate the equation of the plane parallel to ABC and containing point D(2,1,3).

    All planes parallel to ABC have equation 4x - 3y - z + t = 0.
    D is in that plane if and only if 8 - 3 - 3 + t = 0 <=> t = -2.
    The plane has equation 4x - 3y - z - 2 = 0.

  •  
    Given :
                    x - 4      y - 6      z - 2
    line b:         ------ =  -------- = ------
                     -3         -1          3
    
                    x - 1      y - 2      z - 3
    line c:         ------ =  -------- = ------
                     -1         -2          2
    
    Calculate the equation of the plane such that A(1,2,3) is in that plane
    and that b and c are parallel to that plane.
    

     
    
    The cartesian equation of the plane is
    
            | x-1   y-2     z-3 |
            | -3     -1       3 |  =  0
            | -1     -2       2 |
    

  •  
    Given :
                    x - 4      y - 6      z - 2
    line b:         ------ =  -------- = ------
                     -3         -1          3
    
                    x - 1      y - 2      z - 3
    line c:         ------ =  -------- = ------
                     -1         -2          2
    
    Are these lines orthogonal?
    

    Direction vectors are A(-3,-1,3) and B(-1,-2,2).
    A.B = 3 + 2 + 6 = 11 . The dot product is not 0. The lines are not orthogonal.

  • Take plane ABC: 3x-2y-4z=3 and plane DEF: x-y-z=3.
    Are these planes orthogonal?

    Normal vectors to the planes are A(3,-2,-4) and B(1,-1,-1) A.B = 3 + 2 + 4 = 9 .The dot product is not 0. The planes are not orthogonal.

Level 2 problems

  •  
    Are the lines b and c intersecting? parallel?
            / x = 4  + r.(-3)
    b:      | y = 6  + r.(-5)
            \ z = 0  + r.3
    
            / x = 3  + r.3
    c:      | y = 1  + r.1
            \ z = 1  + r.3
    

    Since (-3,-5,3) is not a multiple of (3,1,3), b is not parallel to c. If there is an intersection point, this point does not necessarily corresponds with the same parameter value in b and in c. Therefore we call the parameter inthe equations of line c r' instead of r. If there is an intersection point p(x,y,z), there is a r and r' such that
     
            4  + r.(-3)  = 3  + r'.3
            6  + r.(-5)  = 1  + r'.1
            0  + r.3     = 1  + r'.3
    
    <=>
    
            3r + 3r' = 1
            5r +  r' = 5
           -3r + 3r' = -1
    
    This system has no solution. So, the lines are not parallel and not intersecting.

  •  
    Are the lines b and c intersecting? parallel?
    line b:         2x + 3y + z = 5  ; x + y + z = 3
    line c:         x  + 2y - z = 2  ; x - z = 0
    

     
    
    If there is an intersection point, the coordinates are the solutions of
    the system
            2x + 3y + z = 5
            x  + 2y - z = 2
            x + y + z = 3
            x - z = 0
    This system has just one solution x = 1; y = 1; z = 1.
    The intersection point is p(1,1,1)
    

  • Calculate the orthogonal projection A' of point A(1,2,3) on the plane 3x-y+4z = 0.

    The normal direction to the plane is (3,-1,4). The line from A orthogonal to the plane is

     
                  / x = 1  + r.3
                  | y = 2  + r.(-1)
                  \ z = 3  + r.4
    
    The variable point P(1 + r.3, 2 + r.(-1),3 + r.4) of that line is in the plane if and only if
     
            3(1  + r.3)-(2  + r.(-1))+4(3  + r.4) = 0
    <=>
            r = -1/2
    
    The point A' is (-1/2, 5/2, 1).

  •  
    Calculate the sharp angle between the lines
                  / x = 1  + r
                  | y = 2  - r
                  \ z = 1  + r
    and
                  / x = 1  + r.3
                  | y = 2
                  \ z = 3  + r.4
    

    The direction vectors of the lines are A(1,-1,1) and B(3,0,4).
    A.B = 7 = sqrt(3).5.cos(t) => cos(t) = 7/(sqrt(3).5) = 0.808
    t = 36 degrees

  • Calculate the sharp angle between the planes
    2x + y + 4z = 2 and x + y - 4 = 0

    The normal vectors are N(2,1,4) and N'(1,1,0).
    N.N' = 3 = sqrt(21).sqrt(2).cos(t) => t = 62 degrees

  • Given: a(2,1,0) ; b(1,0,1) ; c(3,0,1) d(0,0,2)
    Point d is on a line L orthogonal to the plane abc.
    Calculate the equations of L, the intersection point s with the plane and the distance from d to the plane abc.

    The plane abc has equation
     
            |x-2    y-1     z |
            |-1     -1      1 | = 0  <=> y + z - 1 = 0
            |1      -1      1 |
    The direction of the line L is (0,1,1)
    The parametric equations of the line L are
            x = 0 + 0
            y = 0 + r
            z = 2 + r
    A variable point p on L is p(0, r, 2 + r)
    Point p is in the plane if and only if r + 2 + r - 1 = 0 <=> r = -1/2
    So, the intersection point s is (0, -1/2, 3/2).
    
    The distance  from d to the plane abc is
              ______________________
             |   2       2       2
            \|  0  +(1/2) + (1/2)    = 0.707
    

Level 3 problems

  •  
    Take a plane x + y - z = 1  and point A(1,2,-3).
    A line l has equations
                  / x = 1  + r.3
                  | y = 2  + r.(-1)
                  \ z = 3  + r.4
    Calculate the coordinates of a point B of line l, such that AB is
    parallel to the plane.
    

     
    Consider B(1+3r,2-r,3+4r)  as a variable point of line l.
     
    The direction numbers of AB are (3r,-r,6+4r).
     
    The normal direction to the plane is (1,1,-1).
     
    
            AB is parallel to the plane
    <=>     AB is normal to the direction  (1,1,-1)
    <=>     3r -r-6-4r = 0
    <=>     r = -3
    So, B is point (-8,5,-9)
    

  • Take a point A(1,2,0). A line l has equations
     
                  / x = 1  + r
                  | y = 2  - r
                  \ z = 1  + r
    
    Calculate the coordinates of the points B of line l, such that |AB| is sqrt(6).

    Consider B(1+r,2-r,1+r) as a variable point of line l.
    The coordinates of vector AB are (r,-r,1+r).
    Now, ||AB|| must be sqrt(6).
    <=> 3r.r +2r +1 = 6 <=> r = 1 or r = -5/3
    The points are (2,1,2) and (-2/3, 11/3, -2/3)

 


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