09-5.

qxp:Calculus 5e 2013/3/23 1:28 AM Page 591

9.5 Lines and Planes in Space 591

EXAMPLE 7 Finding the Distance Between a Point and a Line

Find the distance between the point Q共3, ⫺1, 4兲 and the line given by
x ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ 3t, y ⫽ ⫺2t, and z ⫽ 1 ⫹ 4t.
Solution Using the direction numbers 3, ⫺2, and 4, you know that a direction
vector for the line is
u ⫽ 具3, ⫺2, 4典. Direction vector for line

To find a point on the line, let t ⫽ 0 and obtain

z
P ⫽ 共⫺2, 0, 1兲. Point on the line

6
So,
D
5 PQ ⫽ 具3 ⫺ 共⫺2兲, ⫺1 ⫺ 0, 4 ⫺ 1典 ⫽ 具5, ⫺1, 3典

ⱍ ⱍ
and you can form the cross product
Q = (3, −1, 4) 3
2
i j k
−2 −2 PQ ⫻ u⫽ 5 ⫺1 3 ⫽ 2i ⫺ 11j ⫺ 7k ⫽ 具2, ⫺11, ⫺7典.
1 3 ⫺2 4
2
3 1
4 −1 Finally, using Theorem 9.14, you can find the distance to be
x 2
3 储 PQ ⫻ u储
4 D⫽
5 储u 储
y
冪174
The distance between the point Q and the ⫽
line is 冪6 ⬇ 2.45. 冪29
Figure 9.55 ⫽ 冪6 ⬇ 2.45. See Figure 9.55. ■

9.5 Exercises
In Exercises 1 and 2, the figure shows the graph of a line given In Exercises 3 and 4, determine whether each point lies on the
by the parametric equations. (a) Draw an arrow on the line to line.
indicate its orientation. To print an enlarged copy of the graph,
go to the website www.mathgraphs.com. (b) Find the coordinates 3. x ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ t, y ⫽ 3t, z ⫽ 4 ⫹ t
of two points, P and Q, on the line. Determine the vector PQ . (a) 共0, 6, 6兲 (b) 共2, 3, 5兲
What is the relationship between the components of the vector x⫺3 y⫺7
and the coefficients of t in the parametric equations? Why is this 4. ⫽ ⫽z⫹2
2 8
true? (c) Determine the coordinates of any points of intersection
(a) 共7, 23, 0兲 (b) 共1, ⫺1, ⫺3)
with the coordinate planes. If the line does not intersect a
coordinate plane, explain why. In Exercises 5–8, find sets of (a) parametric equations and
1. x ⫽ 1 ⫹ 3t 2. x ⫽ 2 ⫺ 3t (b) symmetric equations of the line through the point parallel to
the given vector or line (if possible). (For each line, write the
y⫽2⫺t y⫽2
direction numbers as integers.)
z ⫽ 2 ⫹ 5t z⫽1⫺t
z z Point Parallel to
5. 共0, 0, 0兲 v ⫽ 具3, 1, 5典
6. 共⫺2, 0, 3兲 v ⫽ 2i ⫹ 4j ⫺ 2k
7. 共1, 0, 1兲 x ⫽ 3 ⫹ 3t, y ⫽ 5 ⫺ 2t, z ⫽ ⫺7 ⫹ t
x⫺1 y⫹1
8. 共⫺3, 5, 4兲 ⫽ ⫽z⫺3
3 ⫺2
x y x y
09-5.qxp:Calculus 5e 2013/3/23 1:29 AM Page 592

592 Chapter 9 Vectors and the Geometry of Space

In Exercises 9 and 10, find sets of (a) parametric equations and 26. x ⫽ ⫺3t ⫹ 1, y ⫽ 4t ⫹ 1, z ⫽ 2t ⫹ 4
(b) symmetric equations of the line through the two points (if pos- x ⫽ 3s ⫹ 1, y ⫽ 2s ⫹ 4, z ⫽ ⫺s ⫹ 1
sible). (For each line, write the direction numbers as integers.)
x y⫺2 x⫺1 z⫹3
27. ⫽ ⫽ z ⫹ 1, ⫽y⫹2⫽
9. 共0, 4, 3兲, 共⫺1, 2, 5兲 10. 共7, ⫺2, 6兲, 共⫺3, 0, 6兲 3 ⫺1 4 ⫺3
x⫺2 y⫺2 x⫺3 z⫹2
In Exercises 11–18, find a set of parametric equations of the 28. ⫽ ⫽ z ⫺ 3, ⫽y⫹5⫽
⫺3 6 2 4
line.

11. The line passes through the point 共2, 3, 4兲 and is parallel to the CAS In Exercises 29 and 30, use a computer algebra system to graph
xz-plane and the yz-plane. the pair of intersecting lines and find the point of intersection.
12. The line passes through the point 共⫺4, 5, 2兲 and is parallel to 29. x ⫽ 2t ⫹ 3, y ⫽ 5t ⫺ 2, z ⫽ ⫺t ⫹ 1
the xy-plane and the yz-plane. x ⫽ ⫺2s ⫹ 7, y ⫽ s ⫹ 8, z ⫽ 2s ⫺ 1
13. The line passes through the point 共⫺4, 5, 2兲 and is perpendicular 30. x ⫽ 2t ⫺ 1, y ⫽ ⫺4t ⫹ 10, z ⫽ t
to the plane given by ⫺x ⫹ 2y ⫹ z ⫽ 5.
x ⫽ ⫺5s ⫺ 12, y ⫽ 3s ⫹ 11, z ⫽ ⫺2s ⫺ 4
14. The line passes through the point 共2, 3, 4兲 and is perpendicular
to the plane given by 3x ⫹ 2y ⫺ z ⫽ 6. Cross Product In Exercises 31 and 32, (a) find the coordinates
15. The line passes through the point 共5, ⫺3, ⫺4兲 and is parallel to of three points P, Q, and R in the plane, and determine the
v ⫽ 具2, ⫺1, 3典. vectors PQ and PR . (b) Find PQ ⫻ PR . What is the relation-
16. The line passes through the point 共⫺1, 4, ⫺3兲 and is parallel to ship between the components of the cross product and the
v ⫽ 5i ⫺ j. coefficients of the equation of the plane? Why is this true?
17. The line passes through the point 共⫺6, 0, 8兲 and is parallel to 31. 4x ⫺ 3y ⫺ 6z ⫽ 6 32. 2x ⫹ 3y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 4
the line x ⫽ 5 ⫺ 2t, y ⫽ ⫺4 ⫹ 2t, z ⫽ 0. z z
18. The line passes through the point 共2, 1, 2兲 and is parallel to the
line x ⫽ ⫺t, y ⫽ 1 ⫹ t, z ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ t.

In Exercises 19–22, find the coordinates of a point P on the line y y

x
and a vector v parallel to the line. x

19. x ⫽ 3 ⫺ t, y ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 2t, z ⫽ ⫺2
20. x ⫽ 4t, y ⫽ 5 ⫺ t, z ⫽ 4 ⫹ 3t
In Exercises 33 and 34, determine whether the plane passes
x⫹3 y z⫺3 x⫺7 y⫹6
21. ⫽ ⫽ 22. ⫽ ⫽z⫹2 through each point.
5 8 6 4 2
33. x ⫹ 2y ⫺ 4z ⫺ 1 ⫽ 0
In Exercises 23 and 24, determine if any of the lines are paral-
(a) 共⫺7, 2, ⫺1) (b) 共5, 2, 2兲
lel or identical.
34. 2x ⫹ y ⫹ 3z ⫺ 6 ⫽ 0
23. L1: x ⫽ 3 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ ⫺6t, z ⫽ 1 ⫺ 2t
(a) 共3, 6, ⫺2兲 (b) 共⫺1, 5, ⫺1兲
L2: x ⫽ 1 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ ⫺1 ⫺ t, z ⫽ 3t
L3: x ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ 3 ⫺ 10t, z ⫽ 1 ⫺ 4t In Exercises 35–38, find an equation of the plane passing
through the point perpendicular to the given vector or line.
L4: x ⫽ 5 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ 1 ⫺ t, z ⫽ 8 ⫹ 3t
x⫺3 y⫺2 z⫹2 Point Perpendicular to
24. L1: ⫽ ⫽
2 1 2 35. 共1, 3, ⫺7兲 n⫽j
x⫺1 y⫺1 z⫹3 36. 共0, 0, 0兲 n ⫽ ⫺3i ⫹ 2k
L2: ⫽ ⫽
4 2 4 37. 共⫺1, 4, 0兲 x ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ 5 ⫺ t, z ⫽ 3 ⫺ 2t
x⫹2 y⫺1 z⫺3 x⫺1 z⫹3
L3: ⫽ ⫽ 38. 共3, 2, 2兲 ⫽y⫹2⫽
1 0.5 1 4 ⫺3
x⫺3 y⫹1 z⫺2
L4: ⫽ ⫽ In Exercises 39–50, find an equation of the plane.
2 4 ⫺1
39. The plane passes through 共0, 0, 0兲, 共2, 0, 3兲, and 共⫺3, ⫺1, 5兲.
In Exercises 25–28, determine whether the lines intersect, and if
so, find the point of intersection and the cosine of the angle of 40. The plane passes through 共3, ⫺1, 2兲, 共2, 1, 5兲, and 共1, ⫺2, ⫺2兲.
intersection. 41. The plane passes through 共1, 2, 3兲, 共3, 2, 1兲, and 共⫺1, ⫺2, 2兲.
25. x ⫽ 4t ⫹ 2, y ⫽ 3, z ⫽ ⫺t ⫹ 1 42. The plane passes through the point 共1, 2, 3兲 and is parallel to
the yz-plane.
x ⫽ 2s ⫹ 2, y ⫽ 2s ⫹ 3, z ⫽ s ⫹ 1
09-5.qxp:Calculus 5e 2013/3/23 1:30 AM Page 593

9.5 Lines and Planes in Space 593

43. The plane passes through the point 共1, 2, 3兲 and is parallel to In Exercises 71 and 72, determine if any of the planes are
the xy-plane. parallel or identical.
44. The plane contains the y-axis and makes an angle of ␲兾6 with 71. P1: 15x ⫺ 6y ⫹ 24z ⫽ 17 72. P1: 2x ⫺ y ⫹ 3z ⫽ 8
the positive x-axis.
P2: ⫺5x ⫹ 2y ⫺ 8z ⫽ 6 P2: 3x ⫺ 5y ⫺ 2z ⫽ 6
45. The plane contains the lines given by
P3: 6x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 9 P3: 8x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 12z ⫽ 5
x⫺1 x⫺2 y⫺1 z⫺2 P4: 3x ⫺ 2y ⫺ 2z ⫽ 4 P4: ⫺4x ⫺ 2y ⫹ 6z ⫽ 11
⫽ y ⫺ 4 ⫽ z and ⫽ ⫽ .
⫺2 ⫺3 4 ⫺1
In Exercises 73– 76, describe the family of planes represented by
46. The plane passes through the point 共2, 2, 1兲 and contains the
the equation, where c is any real number.
line given by
73. x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ c 74. x ⫹ y ⫽ c
x y⫺4
⫽ ⫽ z. 75. cy ⫹ z ⫽ 0 76. x ⫹ cz ⫽ 0
2 ⫺1

47. The plane passes through the points 共3, 2, 1兲 and 共3, 1, ⫺5兲 In Exercises 77 and 78, (a) find the angle between the two
and is perpendicular to the plane 6x ⫹ 7y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 10. planes, and (b) find a set of parametric equations for the line of
48. The plane passes through the points 共2, 2, 1兲 and 共⫺1, 1, ⫺1兲 intersection of the planes.
and is perpendicular to the plane 2x ⫺ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 3. 77. 3x ⫹ 2y ⫺ z ⫽ 7 78. 6x ⫺ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 5
49. The plane passes through the points 共1, ⫺2, ⫺1兲 and 共2, 5, 6兲 x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 0 ⫺x ⫹ y ⫹ 5z ⫽ 5
and is parallel to the x-axis.
50. The plane passes through the points 共4, 2, 1兲 and 共⫺3, 5, 7兲 In Exercises 79– 82, find the point(s) of intersection (if any) of
and is parallel to the z-axis. the plane and the line. Also determine whether the line lies in
the plane.
In Exercises 51 and 52, sketch a graph of the line and find the
points (if any) where the line intersects the xy-, xz-, and yz-planes. 1 y ⫹ 共3兾2兲 z ⫹ 1
79. 2x ⫺ 2y ⫹ z ⫽ 12, x ⫺ ⫽ ⫽
2 ⫺1 2
51. x ⫽ 1 ⫺ 2t, y ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ 3t, z ⫽ ⫺4 ⫹ t x⫺1 y z⫺3
80. 2x ⫹ 3y ⫽ ⫺5, ⫽ ⫽
x⫺2 z⫺3 4 2 6
52. ⫽y⫹1⫽
3 2 x⫺1 y⫹1
81. 2x ⫹ 3y ⫽ 10, ⫽ ⫽z⫺3
3 ⫺2
In Exercises 53 and 54, find an equation of the plane that
contains all the points that are equidistant from the given points. x⫺4 y⫹1 z⫹2
82. 5x ⫹ 3y ⫽ 17, ⫽ ⫽
2 ⫺3 5
53. 共1, 0, 2兲, 共2, 0, 1) 54. 共⫺5, 1, ⫺3兲, 共2, ⫺1, 6兲
In Exercises 55–60, determine whether the planes are parallel, In Exercises 83–86, find the distance between the point and the
orthogonal, or neither. If they are neither parallel nor plane.
orthogonal, find the angle of intersection.
83. 共0, 0, 0兲 84. 共0, 0, 0兲
55. 5x ⫺ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 4 56. 3x ⫹ y ⫺ 4z ⫽ 3
2x ⫹ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 12 5x ⫹ y ⫺ z ⫽ 9
x ⫹ 4y ⫹ 7z ⫽ 1 ⫺9x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 12z ⫽ 4
85. 共2, 8, 4兲 86. 共1, 3, ⫺1兲
57. 3x ⫹ 2y ⫺ z ⫽ 7 58. x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 6z ⫽ 4
2x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ 5 3x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 5z ⫽ 6
x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 0 5x ⫹ y ⫺ z ⫽ 4
59. x ⫺ 5y ⫺ z ⫽ 1 60. 2x ⫺ z ⫽ 1 In Exercises 87–90, verify that the two planes are parallel, and
find the distance between the planes.
5x ⫺ 25y ⫺ 5z ⫽ ⫺3 4x ⫹ y ⫹ 8z ⫽ 10
87. x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 10 88. 4x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 9z ⫽ 7
In Exercises 61–68, sketch a graph of the plane and label any
x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 6 4x ⫺ 4y ⫹ 9z ⫽ 18
intercepts.
89. ⫺3x ⫹ 6y ⫹ 7z ⫽ 1 90. 2x ⫺ 4z ⫽ 4
61 4x ⫹ 2y ⫹ 6z ⫽ 12 62. 3x ⫹ 6y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 6
6x ⫺ 12y ⫺ 14z ⫽ 25 2x ⫺ 4z ⫽ 10
63. 2x ⫺ y ⫹ 3z ⫽ 4 64. 2x ⫺ y ⫹ z ⫽ 4
65. x ⫹ z ⫽ 6 66. 2x ⫹ y ⫽ 8 In Exercises 91–94, find the distance between the point and the
line given by the set of parametric equations.
67. x ⫽ 5 68. z ⫽ 8
91. 共1, 5, ⫺2兲; x ⫽ 4t ⫺ 2, y ⫽ 3, z ⫽ ⫺t ⫹ 1
CAS In Exercises 69 and 70, use a computer algebra system to graph
92. 共1, ⫺2, 4兲; x ⫽ 2t, y ⫽ t ⫺ 3, z ⫽ 2t ⫹ 2
the plane.
93. 共⫺2, 1, 3兲; x ⫽ 1 ⫺ t, y ⫽ 2 ⫹ t, z ⫽ ⫺2t
69. x ⫺ 3z ⫽ 3 70. ⫺5x ⫹ 4y ⫺ 6z ⫽ ⫺8
94. 共4, ⫺1, 5兲; x ⫽ 3, y ⫽ 1 ⫹ 3t, z⫽1⫹t
09-5.qxp:Calculus 5e 2013/3/23 1:30 AM Page 594

594 Chapter 9 Vectors and the Geometry of Space

In Exercises 95 and 96, verify that the lines are parallel, and 8 in.
8 in.
find the distance between them.

95. L1: x ⫽ 2 ⫺ t, y ⫽ 3 ⫹ 2t, z ⫽ 4 ⫹ t

L2: x ⫽ 3t, y ⫽ 1 ⫺ 6t, z ⫽ 4 ⫺ 3t
96. L1: x ⫽ 3 ⫹ 6t, y ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ 9t, z ⫽ 1 ⫺ 12t 8 in.
L2: x ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 4t, y ⫽ 3 ⫹ 6t, z ⫽ ⫺8t

WRITING ABOUT CONCEPTS

97. Give the parametric equations and the symmetric equations
of a line in space. Describe what is required to find these 6 in.
equations. 6 in.
98. Give the standard equation of a plane in space. Describe
what is required to find this equation. 107. Distance Two insects are crawling along different lines in
three-space. At time t (in minutes), the first insect is at the
99. Describe a method of finding the line of intersection of point 共x, y, z兲 on the line x ⫽ 6 ⫹ t, y ⫽ 8 ⫺ t, z ⫽ 3 ⫹ t.
two planes. Also, at time t, the second insect is at the point 共x, y, z兲 on the
100. Describe each surface given by the equations x ⫽ a, line x ⫽ 1 ⫹ t, y ⫽ 2 ⫹ t, z ⫽ 2t.
y ⫽ b, and z ⫽ c. Assume that distances are given in inches.
101. Describe a method for determining when two planes (a) Find the distance between the two insects at time t ⫽ 0.
a1x ⫹ b1y ⫹ c1z ⫹ d1 ⫽ 0 and (b) Use a graphing utility to graph the distance between the
a2 x ⫹ b2 y ⫹ c2z ⫹ d2 ⫽ 0 insects from t ⫽ 0 to t ⫽ 10.
are (a) parallel and (b) perpendicular. Explain your (c) Using the graph from part (b), what can you conclude
reasoning. about the distance between the insects?
102. Let L1 and L2 be nonparallel lines that do not intersect. Is (d) How close to each other do the insects get?
it possible to find a nonzero vector v such that v is 108. Find the standard equation of the sphere with center 共⫺3, 2, 4兲
perpendicular to both L1 and L2? Explain your reasoning. that is tangent to the plane given by 2x ⫹ 4y ⫺ 3z ⫽ 8.
103. Find an equation of the plane with x-intercept 共a, 0, 0兲, 109. Find the point of intersection of the plane 3x ⫺ y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 7
y-intercept 共0, b, 0兲, and z-intercept 共0, 0, c兲. (Assume a, and the line through 共5, 4, ⫺3兲 that is perpendicular to this
b, and c are nonzero.) plane.
110. Show that the plane 2x ⫺ y ⫺ 3z ⫽ 4 is parallel to the line
CAPSTONE x ⫽ ⫺2 ⫹ 2t, y ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 4t, z ⫽ 4, and find the distance
104. Match the equation or set of equations with the description between them.
it represents. 111. Find the point of intersection of the line through 共1, ⫺3, 1兲
(a) Set of parametric equations of a line and 共3, ⫺4, 2兲, and the plane given by x ⫺ y ⫹ z ⫽ 2.

(b) Set of symmetric equations of a line 112. Find a set of parametric equations for the line passing through
the point 共1, 0, 2兲 that is parallel to the plane given by
(c) Standard equation of a plane in space x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ 5, and perpendicular to the line x ⫽ t,
(d) General form of an equation of a plane in space y ⫽ 1 ⫹ t, z ⫽ 1 ⫹ t.
(i) 共x ⫺ 6兲兾2 ⫽ 共 y ⫹ 1兲兾⫺3 ⫽ z兾1
True or False? In Exercises 113–118, determine whether the
(ii) 2x ⫺ 7y ⫹ 5z ⫹ 10 ⫽ 0 statement is true or false. If it is false, explain why or give an
(iii) x ⫽ 4 ⫹ 7t, y ⫽ 3 ⫹ t, z ⫽ 3 ⫺ 3t example that shows it is false.
(iv) 2(x ⫺ 1) ⫹ ( y ⫹ 3) ⫺ 4(z ⫺ 5) ⫽ 0
113. If v ⫽ a1i ⫹ b1j ⫹ c1k is any vector in the plane given by
a2x ⫹ b2y ⫹ c2z ⫹ d2 ⫽ 0, then a1a2 ⫹ b1b2 ⫹ c1c2 ⫽ 0.
105. Describe and find an equation for the surface generated by 114. Every two lines in space are either intersecting or parallel.
all points 共x, y, z兲 that are four units from the plane 115. Two planes in space are either intersecting or parallel.
4x ⫺ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 10. 116. If two lines L1 and L2 are parallel to a plane P, then L1 and L2
106. Mechanical Design The figure shows a chute at the top of a are parallel.
grain elevator of a combine that funnels the grain into a bin. 117. Two planes perpendicular to a third plane in space are parallel.
Find the angle between two adjacent sides.
118. A plane and a line in space are either intersecting or parallel.