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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE (Two dimensional)
AND IN SPACE (Three dimensional)
We denote the directed line segment extending from the
point P (the initial point) to the point Q (the terminal point)
by
We refer to the length of as its magnitude, denoted
We use the term vector to describe any quantity that has
both a magnitude and a direction.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Three Dimensional Space:
A point in three-dimensional Euclidean space,
, is specified
as an ordered triple (a, b, c), where the
coordinates a, b and c represent the
distance from the origin along each of
three coordinates axes (x, y and z).
Ex 1: Plot the point (3, 2, 4).
Sol:

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Ex 2: Plot the points (2, 3, 2) and (-1,-1,-3).
2

Remark: In
the coordinate axes only x and y, is specified
as an ordered of (a, b), where the coordinates a and b
represent the distance from the origin along each of two
coordinates axes (x and y).
Scalar Multiplication: If we multiply a vector u by a scalar
c > 0, the resulting vector will
have the same direction as u ,
but will have magnitude
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
On the other hand, multiplying a vector u by a
scalar c < 0 will result in a vector with opposite
direction from u and magnitude
A vector with its initial point located at the origin is
called a position vector.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
The position vector a with initial point at the
origin (0,0,0) and terminal point A at the
point is denoted by a1, a2 & a3 are the
components of a .
a1 first component ;
a2 second component
a3 Third component.
The magnitude of the position vector a may be written as

a a12 a22 a32

Remark: In 2 we have two components a1 and a2. The
magnitude written as a a12 a22
The following table provides us with some important
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vectors and information:

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
VECTORS IN THE PLANE
Two position vectors, a = a1, a2 and
b = b1, b2, are equal, i.e., a b, if
and only if their components are
equal, i.e., if a1 = b1 and a2 = b2.

VECTORS IN THE IN SPACE

Two position vectors, a = a1, a2, a3

and b = b1, b2, b3, are equal, i.e.,
a b , if and only if their components
are equal. i.e., a1 = b1, a2 = b2 & a3 = b3.

The zero vector is defined to be

The zero vector is defined to be
0 0,0 ; it is the only vector with zero 0 0,0,0 ; it is the only vector with
length.
zero length.
We define the additive inverse a of
a vector a to be a a1 , a2 . This
says that the vector a is a vector
with the opposite direction as a and
same length
a a1 , a2

1 a1 , a2 1 a a

We define the additive inverse a of

a vector a to be a a1 , a2 , a3 This
says that the vector a is a vector
with the opposite direction as a and
same length
a a1 , a2 , a3

1 a1 , aPrepared
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2 , a3
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Two vectors having the same or opposite direction are called
parallel. The vectors a and b are parallel if and only if b ca,
for some scalar c.
Note: The zero vector is considered parallel to every vector.
EX: Determine whether the given pair of vectors is parallel:
(a) a = 2, 3 and b = 4, 5,
(b) a = 2, 3 and b = 4,6.
Sol:
(a) a = 2, 3 and b = 4, 5, If b ca , then
That is, 4 = 2c (so that c = 2) and 5 = 3c (so that c = 5/3).
This is a contradiction, thus, a and b are not
parallel.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
(b) a = 2, 3 and b = 4,6

If b ca , then
That is, we have 4 = 2c (so that c = 2) and 6 = 3c (which
again leads us to c = 2).
This says that 2 a = 4,6 = b and so, 2, 3 and 4,6
are parallel.
Two-Dimensional Position Vectors: We denote the set of
all position vectors in two-dimensional space by

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Vectors in Space: The position vector a with terminal point
at A(a1, a2, a3) and initial point at the origin (0,0,0) is denoted
by a1, a2, a3.
We denote the set of all three-dimensional position vectors
by
The vector with initial point at P(a1, a2, a3) and terminal point
at Q(b1, b2, b3) corresponds to the position vector

For any two points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2), the vector
corresponds to the position vector x2 x1, y2 y1.
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Ex: Find the vector with initial point at A(2,3) and terminal
point B(3,-1)
Sol:
AB 3 2, 1 3 1, 4
Ex: Find the vector with initial point at A(2,3,1) and terminal
point B(3,-1,-1)
3

The distance formula for a point in

d x1 , y1 , z1 , x2 , y2 , z2

x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
2

The distance formula for a point in

d x1 , y1 , x2 , y2

is given by

is given by

x2 x1 y2 y1
2

2
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
EX: Find the distance between the points (1, 3, 5) and
(5, 2, 3).
SOL: From the distance formula, we have

Exercises:Find the distance between the given points

1- (0, 3, 1), (3, 6, 8)
2- (5,4,7),(2.-3.6)
3-(-1,-1,-1),(2,2,1)

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Operations on Position Vectors:- For vectors a and b , and
any scalar c we have
VECTORS IN THE PLANE

a b a1 , a2 b1 , b2

addition:

VECTORS IN THE IN SPACE

addition: a b a1 , a2 , a3 b1 , b2 , b3

a1 b1 , a2 b2

a1 b1 , a2 b2 , a3 b3

subtraction: a b a1 , a2 b1 , b2

subtraction: a b a1 , a2 , a3 b1 , b2 , b3

a1 b1 , a2 b2
scalar multiplication:
ca c a1 , a2 ca1 , ca2
Further, we have

ca c a

a1 b1 , a2 b2 , a3 b3
scalar multiplication:
ca c a1 , a2 , a3 ca1 , ca2 , ca3
Further, we have
ca c a
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
3
EX: Let u 2, 1,5 , v 4,3,1 and w 6, 2,0 vectors in .
Find:1- x if x 2u v 3w
Sol:
2u 2 2, 1,5 4, 2,10

v 3w 4,3,1 3 6, 2,0 4,3,1 18,6,0 14,9,1

x 2u v 3w 4, 2,10 14,9,1 18, 11,9

2- 3x w
Sol:
3x w 3 18, 11,9 6, 2,0

54, 33, 27 6, 2,0 48, 31, 27

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3/15/2015

VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
3- 2u v x
Sol:
2u v x 4, 2,10 4,3,1 48, 31, 27 48, 36,36
Exercises:Compute

1. 2a 5b
2. 3a 3b
3. 10a 4b
If a 2i 4 j + k ,

b 4i + j + 4k

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Theorem: For any vectors a, b and c in V3, and any scalars d
in
the following hold:

1. a b b a

Commutativaty

2. a b c a b c

Associativity

3. a 0 a

Zero Vector

5. d a b d a db

Distributive Law

6. 1 a a

Multiplication by 1& 0

4. a a 0

&

0 a 0

Additive Invers

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Standard Basis Vectors: We define the standard basis
vectors i, j and k by
i 1,0,0
, j 0,1,0
&
k 0,0,1

i, j and k form a basis for V3, since we can write any vector
a V3 uniquely in terms of i, j and k , as follows:

a a1 , a2 , a3 a1 i a2 j a3 k
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Unit Vectors:
For any nonzero position vector a a1 , a2 , a3 , a unit vector
having the same direction as a is given by
1
u
a
a
The basis vectors are unit vectors, since

i j k 1
EX: Find a unit vector in the same direction as 1,2, 3 and
write 1,2, 3 as the product of its magnitude and a unit
vector.
Sol: First, we find the magnitude of the vector:
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE

The unit vector is

1
1
u
a
1, 2,3
14
a

1
2 3
,
,
.
14 14 14

Further,

Exercises:Find two unit vectors parallel to the vectors

1,8, 3 , 12, 2, 12 and 9,3, 5

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
Finding The Equation of a Sphere:
A sphere is the set of all points
whose distance from a fixed
point (the center) is constant;
that is here, all points (x, y, z)
whose distance from (a, b, c) is r.
We have
d x, y, z , a, b, c

x a y b z c r
Squaring both sides gives us
2

the standard form of the equation of a sphere.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.1 &10.2: VECTORS IN THE PLANE AND IN SPACE
EX: Find the geometric shape described by the equation:
Sol:
Completing the squares in each variable, we have

Adding 9 to both sides gives us a sphere

which has a radius of 3 and center (2, 4, 5).

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Definition: The dot product of two vectors a a1 , a2 , a3 and
b b1 , b2 , b3 in V3 is defined by

a b a1 , a2 , a3

b1 , b2 , b3 a1b1 a2b2 a3b3 .

Likewise, the dot product of two vectors in V2 is defined by

a b a1 , a2

b1 , b2 a1b1 a2b2 .

Remark: The dot product of two vectors is a scalar (i.e., a

number, not a vector). For this reason, the dot product is also
called the scalar product.
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Ex: Compute the dot product a b for a 1, 2,3 and
b 5, 3, 4 .
Sol:

a b 1, 2,3 5, 3, 4 1 5 2 3 3 4 11
Ex: Find the dot product of the two vectors a 2i 5 j and
b 3i 6 j .
Sol:
a b 2, 5 3,6 2 3 5 6 6 30 24
Exercises:- Compute a b for

1. a 1, 2,3 , b 5, 3, 4
2. a 8i 8 j 9k , b 2i 6 j 7k

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Theorem: For any vectors a, b and c in V3, and any scalars d
in the following hold:
1. a b b a
Commutativaty

2. a b c a b a c

Distributive Law

3. d a b d a b a db
4. 0 a 0
5. a a a

6. a b a b
7. a b a b

Cauchy Schwartz Inequality

Triangle Inequality

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Angle Between Vectors in
For two nonzero vectors a and b in V3, we define the angle
(0 ) between the vectors to be the smaller angle
between a and b , formed by placing their initial points at the
same point.
If a and b have the same direction,
then = 0; if a and b have opposite
directions, then = .
We say that a and b are orthogonal
(or perpendicular) if = /2 .
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Theorem: Let be the angle between nonzero vectors a
and b . Then
a b a b cos
The angle between two vectors a and b given by

cos 1

a b
a b

Ex: Find the angle between the vectors a = 2, 1,3 and

b = 1, 5, 6 .
Sol:
a b
a b a b cos

cos 1
a b
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT

a b 2,1, 3 1,5,6 2 1 1 5 3 6 2 5 18 11
a 2,1, 3
b 1,5,6

cos 1

a b
a b

2 1 3
2

1 5 6
2

cos 1

4 1 9 14

1 25 36 62

11
1.953 radians 112
14 62

Ex: Let a 3i 2 j 2k and b 5i j 2k . Find

1- a b

2- a b

3- Find the angle between a and b .

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Ex: Find the angle between u i 2 j 2k and v 6i 3 j 2k
Theorem:
Two vectors a and b are orthogonal (perpendicular) if and
only if
a b 0.
EX: Determine whether the following pairs of vectors are
orthogonal:
1- a = 1, 3,5 and b = 2, 3, 10
Sol:
a b 1,3, 5 2,3,10 2 9 50 39 0

a and b are not orthogonal.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
2- a = 4, 2,1 and b = 2, 3, 14.
Sol:

a b 4, 2, 1 2,3,14 8 6 14 0

a and b are orthogonal.

EX: Determine whether u 3i 2 j k and v 2 j 4k are
orthogonal or not.
Sol:
u v 3, 2,1 0, 2, 4 3 0 2 2 1 4 0 4 4 0
u and v are orthogonal.
Remark: 0 is orthogonal to any vector a , since

0 a 0, 0, 0

a1 , a2 , a3 0

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Components:
Let be the angle between two nonzero position vectors a
and b .
Drop a perpendicular line segment
from the terminal point of a to the
line containing the vector b , then
the base of the triangle has length given
by a cos .
The component of a along b is
written as

Compb a a cos

a cos

Component of a along b
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
But
a b
cos
a b

Compb a a cos a

a b
a b

a b
b

Projections:
If the vector a represents a force, we are
often interested in finding a force vector
parallel to b having the same component
along b as a .

Projection of a onto b

Projb a

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
We call this vector the projection of a onto b , denoted Projb a

Projb a Compb a

bb

a b b a b
b

Projb a

b b b2

b
where
represents a unit vector in the direction of b .
b
Ex: For a = 2, 3 and b = 1, 5, find the component of a
along b and the projection of a onto b .
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Sol:
2,3 1,5
a b
Compb a

1,5
b

Projb a Compb a

bb

2 15

1 5
2

13
26

13 1,5

26 26

13
1
1 5
1,5 1,5
,
26
2
2 2

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Ex: For u 6i 3 j 2k and b i 2 j 2k , find the component
of u along v and the projection of u onto v .
Sol:
6,3, 2 1, 2, 2
u v
Compv u

1, 2, 2
v

6 1 3 2 2 2 6 6 4

2
2
2
9
1 2 2

Projv u Compv u

vv

4
9

4 1, 2, 2

9
9

4
4 8 8
4 8
8
1, 2, 2
, ,
i j k
9
9 9 9
9
9
9

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Work:
Definition: The work done by the forcePQ as its point of
application move along the vector PR is defined by

w PQ PR

P
Direction of
Motion

Ex: Find the work done by the force F 5i 2 j and the

direction of the vector v i 3 j
Sol:
w F V 5i 2 j i 3 j 11

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.3: THE DOT PRODUCT
Ex: If the handle makes an angle of /4
with the horizontal and you pull the wagon
along a flat surface for 1 mile (5280 feet),
find the work done.

Exercises:Find the Compb a and Projb a for the following vectors:

1. a 3, 9 , b 1,7
2. a 3i 9 j 6k , b 5i 4 j 7 k
3. a 2i 5 j 6k , b 9i 5 j 2k
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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Definition: The determinant of a 2 2 matrix of real
numbers is defined by

EX: Find the determinate of

2
4

1
3

Sol:

2 3 4 1 6 4 10
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Definition: The determinant of a 3 3 matrix of real
numbers is defined as follows:

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT

Ex:

Sol:

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Ex: Evaluate the determinate

2
4

1
3

1
1

Definition: For two vectors a a1 , a2 , a3 and b b1 , b2 , b3 in

V3 , we define the cross product (or vector product) of a
and b to be
i

a b a1

a2

a3 i

b1

b2

b3

a2

a3

b2

b3

a1

a3

b1

b3

a1

a2

b1

b2

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Ex:
Sol:

Remark: The cross product is defined only for vectors in V3.

There is no corresponding operation for vectors in V2.
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Theorem: For any vector a V3 , we have
1- a a 0
2- a 0 0
Ex: Find u v and v u , if u 2i j k and v 4i 3 j k
Exercises:- Compute a b for

1. a 7,8, 7 , b 3, 4, 2
2. a 3i 2 j , b 2i 7 k
3. a i 2 j 4k , b 4i 2 j 3k

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Theorem: For any vectors a, b and c in V3 , and any scalars d
in
the following holds:

1. a b b a

3. a b c a b a c
2. d a b d a b a db

4. i j k ,

j k i,

k i j

Theorem: For nonzero vectors a and b in V3 , if is the

angle between a and b (0 ), then

a b a b sin
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Corollary: Two nonzero vectors a, b V3 are parallel if and
only if
ab 0
The Area of a Parallelogram: Consider the parallelogram
formed by the vectors a and b with an angle of between
them. Then
Area of parallelogram = a b sin a b

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
EX: Find the area of the parallelogram with two adjacent
sides formed by the vectors a = 1, 2, 3 and b = 4, 5, 6.
Sol:
Area of the parallelogram= a b

i
ab 1

j
2

4 5

k
2
3 i
5
6

3
1
j
6
4

3
k
6

i 12 15 j 6 12 k 5 8 3i 6 j 3k 3,6, 3

a b 3,6, 3

3 6 3
2

9 36 9 54

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
EX: Find the area of the triangle determined by the three
points P(1,1,0), Q(0,-2,1) and R(1,-3,0).
Hints: Area of the triangle = 1 a b
2
Finding the Volume of a Parallelepiped:The volume of parallelepiped determined by the vectors a, b
and c is the scalar triple product of the vectors and given by

Volume of parallelepiped c a b
where
c1
c2
c3

c a b a1

a2

a3

b1

b2

b3

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Ex: Find the volume of parallelepiped with three adjacent
edges formed by the vectors a 1, 2,3 , b 4,5,6 and
c 7,8,0 .
Sol: Volume of parallelepiped c a b

c1

c2

c3

c a b a1

a2

a3 1

b1

b2

b3

7 12 15 8 6 12 0

7 3 8 6 21 48 27

The volume of parallelepiped V c a b 27

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.4: THE CROSS PRODUCT
Exercises:1- Find the area of the triangle with vertices (0,0,0), (-4,-7,2),
and (-1, 5, -1).
2- Find the volume of the parallelpiped with three adjacent
edges formed by

u 1, 6,0 , v 1, 3,8 and w 2, 7, 6

3- Find the area of the parallelogram with two adjacent sides
formed by

u 6,5,0 and v 5, 3,0

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

OF SPACE
10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE
Let L be the line that passes through
the point P1(x1, y1, z1) and that is
parallel to the position vector

a a1 , a2 , a3 .
For any other point P(x, y, z) on the
line L, observe that the vector P1 P
will be parallel to a , so that

PP
1 ta
for some scalar t.
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Since
PP
1 x x1 , y y1 , z z1
we have that

PP
1 x x1 , y y1 , z z1 ta t a1 , a2 , a3 ta1 , ta2 , ta3 .
We obtain the parametric equations for a line

Provided none of a1 , a2 or a3 are zero.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE
We can solve for the parameter in each of the three equations,
to obtain

We refer to the above equation as symmetric equations of

the line.
EX: Find equations for the line through the point (1, 5, 2) and
parallel to the vector 4, 3, 7. Also, determine where the line
intersects the yz-plane.
Sol:
Parametric Equations:
x x1 ta1 x 1 4t
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y y1 ta2 y 5 3t
z z1 ta3 z 2 7t
Symmetric Equations:

The line intersects the yz-plane where x = 0. Setting x = 0

0 1 y 5 z 2

4
3
7
1 y 5
3
3 17
For y

y 5 y 5
4
3
4
4 4
1 z 2
7
7 1
For z

z 2 z 2
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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So, the line intersects the yz-plane at the point

EX: Find equations for the line passing through the points
P(1, 2,1) and Q(5,3, 4).
Exercises:
1. Find parametric equations of the line through (-2,5,-6)
parallel to 2, 4, 1 .
2. Find symmetric equations of the line through (7,-3,2) and
parallel to 6, 9, 8 .
3. Find parametric equations of the line through (7,-5,7)
and (4,5,0).
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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Definition: Let L1 and L2 be two lines in
, with parallel
vectors a and b , respectively, and let be the angle between
a and b .
1- The lines L1 and L2 are parallel whenever a and b are
parallel.
2- If L1 and L2 intersect, then
(a) the angle between L1 and L2 is
(b) the lines L1 and L2 are orthogonal whenever a and b
are orthogonal.

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Definition: Nonparallel, Non intersection lines are called
Skew lines.

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Ex: Show that the lines

L1 : x 2 t ,

y 1 2t

and

z 5 2t

L2 : x 1 s,

y 2 s

and

z 1 3s

are not parallel, yet do not intersect. (skew lines)

SOL:
Parallel:- You can read from the parametric equations that
the vector a a1 , a2 , a3 parallel to L1 is a 1, 2, 2 , while
the vector b b1 , b2 , b3 parallel to L2 is b 1, 1,3 .
Since a is not a scalar multiple of b , the vectors are not
parallel, and neither are the lines L1 and L2.
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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Intersection: If the line L1 intersect with the line L2, there is
a point (x,y,z) which would satisfy both lines equations.
Setting the x-value (for both lines) equal, we get
x 2 t x t 2
2 t s 1 s 2 t 1 s 1 t
x 1 s x s 1
Setting the y-value equal,
y 1 2t y 2t 1
2t 1 s 2 s 2t 1
y 2 s y s 2
Solving this for t yields

s 1 t and s 2t 1 1 t 2t 1 3t 0 t 0
which implies that s 1

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Setting the z-components equal gives
but this is not satisfied when t = 0 and s = 1.
So, L1 and L2 are not parallel, yet do not intersect.
Ex: Let
L1 : x 1 4t ,

L2 : x 2 8s,

y 5 4t

and

z 1 4t

y 4 3s

and

z 5 s

Be two lines in . Determine whether L1 and L2 are parallel

or intersect or skew lines.
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The Equation of a Plane:
Let be a plane in 3 and P1 x1 , y1 , z1
Is any point on .
Let a a1 , a2 , a3 be any non zero
vector such that a . (a orthogonalon )
To find an equation of the plane,
let P(x, y, z) represent any point in
the plane.

P and P1 are both points in the plane , so the vector

PP
x x1 , y y1 , z z1 lies in the plane and must be
1
orthogonal to a .
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That is
PP
a a1 , a2 , a3 x x1 , y y1 , z z1 0
1

a1 x x1 a2 y y1 a3 z z1 0
Expanding the above expression, we get

We refer to this last equation as a linear equation in the

three variables x, y and z. This says that every linear
equation of the form
is the equation of a plane with normal
vector a, b, c.

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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE
Ex: Find the plane containing the three points P(1, 3, 2),
Q(3,1, 6) and R(5, 2, 0).
Sol:

PQ x2 x1 , y2 y1 , z2 z1 3 1, 1 3,6 2 2, 4, 4
PR x2 x1 , y2 y1 , z2 z1 5 1, 2 3,0 2 4, 1, 2
Since both PQ and PR lie in the plane, their cross product
PQ PR is orthogonal to the plane and can be taken as
normal vector
i
j k

n PQ PR 2 4 4 12i 20 j 14k
4 1 2

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With the point P(1, 3, 2) and the normal vector n PQ PR ,
an equation of the plane is
a1 x x1 a2 y y1 a3 z z1 12 x 1 20 y 3 14 z 2 0
or

12 x 12 20 y 60 14 z 28 0 12 x 20 y 14 z 100
EX: Find the equation of the plane containing the point
(1,3,2) with normal vector 2, 1,5 .
Sol:
2 x 1 1 y 3 5 z 2 0.

EX: Find the equation of the plane containing the point

(-2,1,0) with normal vector 3,0, 2

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Intersection of Planes:
We say that the two planes are parallel whenever their normal
vectors are parallel and the planes are orthogonal whenever
their normal vectors are orthogonal.
EX: Find an equation for the plane through the point (1, 4, 5)
and parallel to the plane defined by 2x 5y + 7z = 12.
Sol:
A normal vector to the given plane is 2,5, 7.
Since the two planes are to be parallel, this vector is also
normal to the second plane. The equation of the plane is
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10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE

EX: Find the line of intersection of the planes x + 2y + z = 3
and x 4y + 3z = 5.
SOL:
x 2y z 3
1
x 4 y 3z 5
2
-----------------------6 y 2 z 2 2 z 6 y 2
2
z 3y 1
3
Substitute 3 in 1 we get
x 2 y 3 y 1 3 x 5 y 2 x 2 5 y.
Taking y as the parameter (i.e., letting y = t), we obtain
parametric equations for the line of intersection:
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INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES
10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE
Ex:
1- Find the angle between the plane x+y+z=1 and x-2y+3z=1
2- Find symmetric equation for the line of intersection of these
two plane.
Remark: A line is parallel to a plane if and only if the direction
vector of the line is perpendicular to the normal vector of the
plane.
EX: Determine whether the line L : x 5, y 2 t , z 10 4t
and the plane : x 2 z 10 are parallel.
Ex: find the equation of the plane that contains two lines

L1 : x 3 t ,

y 3 3t

and

z 4t

L2 : x 2 s,

y 1 2s

and

z 6 2s
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Distance From a Point to a Line:
The distance from a point P( x, y, z ) to a line passes
through a point P0 ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) which is parallel to
a vector a , is given by
a
P0 P a
P x , y ,z
d
a
0

P x, y , z

Ex: Find the distance from the point Q(1, 2, 1) to the line
through the points P(2, 1,3) and R(2,1, 3).
Sol
First, we have the position vectors
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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which gives us

Now, we have

Ex: Find the distance from the point P(1,1,5) to the line

L : x 1 t,

y 3t

and

z 2t
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Distance From a Plane to a Point:
Let P be a point on a plane with
normal vector n, then the distance
from any point S to the plane is
given by
n
PS n
d PS

n
n

EX: Find the distance from the point (1,3,0) and the plane
3x y 5 z 2.
Sol:
First, find the point P in the plane which is easy to find from
the planes equation by taking the intercepts.

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We take P to be y-intercept (x=0, z=0). We get

3 0 y 5 0 2. y 2 P 0, 2,0
From plane equation the normal vectors is n 3,1, 5

3 1 5
S 1,3,0 , P 0, 2,0
n

9 1 25 35

PS 1 0,3 2,0 0 1,1,0

d

PS n
n

1,1,0

3,1, 5
35

3 1
4

35
35
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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10.5: LINES AND PLANES IN SPACE
Ex: Find the distance from the point (1,1,3) and the plane
3x 2 y 6 z 6 0.
EX: Find the distance from the point (2,0,1) and the plane
2 x y 2 z 4.
Ex: Find the distance between the two parallel planes:
1 : 2 x 3 y z 6

2 : 4 x 6 y 2 z 8
Sol:
Note that the planes are parallel, since their normal vectors
2,3, 1 and 4,6, 2 are parallel, and the distance from the
plane 1 to every point in the plane 2 must be the same.
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VECTORS AND THE GEOMETRY

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Accordingly, pick any point in 1 , say P(0, 0, 6), and another
point in 2, say S(0,0,4), (we took the z-intercept for both
planes). We have

PS 0 0,0 0, 4 6 0,0, 2
n

2 3 1
2

4 9 1 14

The distance from the point (0, 0, 4) which is in 2

to the plane 1 is then
d

PS n
n

0,0, 2

2, 3,1

2 3 1
2

002
2
2

14
14
14

which is the distance between the two planes.

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