Senior Secondary Course

Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

35

Plane

A plane is a surface such that if any two For example : The direction ratios of a
points are taken on it, the line segment vector normal to the plane 3x + 2y + 5z
joining them lies completely on the surface. – 6 = 0 are 3, 2, 5 and hence a vector
In other words, every point on the line normal to the plane is
segment joining any two points lies on the 3î + 2 ĵ + 5k̂ .
plane. Vector equation of plane passing
through a point and normal to a given
Equation of a plane passing through a vector
given point
The vector equation of a plane
The general equation of a plane passing passing through a point having
through a point (x1, y1, z1 ) is    
position vector n is ( r – a ) n = 0
a(x – x1) + b(y – y1) + c(z – z1) = 0, Reduction to cartesian form :
where a, b and c are constants.  
If r  xî  yĵ  zk̂ , a  x1î  y1 ĵ  z1k̂
Intercept form of a plane :

The equation of a plane intercepting and n  aî  bĵ  ck̂
lengths a, b and c with x- axis , y-axis  
( r  a )  (x  x1 )î  ( y  y1 ) ĵ  (z  z1 )k̂
and z-axis respectively is
Then can be written as
x y z
+ + =1
a b c
Cartesian Form : If , m, n are {(x  x1 )î  ( y  y1 ) ĵ  (z  z1 )k̂} .
direction cosines of the normal to a {(aî  bĵ  ck̂ )} =0
given plane which is at a distance p from  a ( x  x1 )  b( y  y1 )  c(z  z1 )  0
the origin, then the equation of the plane
Thus, the coefficient of x, y, z in the
is x + my + nz = p.
cartesian equation of a plane are the
A line perpendicular to a plane is called direction ratios of normal to the
a normal to the plane. Clearly, every line plane.
lying in a plane is perpendicular to the
Equation of plane in normal form
normal to the plane.
Vector form

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Mathematics (311)
 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

The vector equation of a plane (i) Vector form : - The length of the
normal to unit vector n̂ and at a distance perpendiclar from a point having

  
d from the originis r . n̂ = d position vector a to, the plane r . n
Cartesian form  
| a .n–d |
If ,, m, n, be the direction cosines of = d is given by P =

|n|
the normal to a given plane and p be
the length of perpendicular from (ii) Cartesian Form : The length of the
origin to the plane, then the equation perpendicular from a point P(x1, y1,
of the plane is ,x + my + nz = p. z1) to the plane ax + by + cz + d = 0
(i) Vector form - The angle between the
is given by
two planes is defined as the angle
| ax1  by1  cz1  d |
between normals.
a 2  b2  c2
Let be the angle between planes;
    Distance between the parallel planes
r . n 1 = d1 and r . n 2 = d2 is given
by (i) Vector form : The distance between
   
n1 . n 2 two parallel plane r . n = d1
cos =  
| n1 || n 2 |  
and r . n = d2 is given by
(ii) Cartesian form - The angle 
| d1 – d 2 |
between the planes a1 x + b1 y + c1 d=

|n|
z + d1 = 0 and
(ii) Cartesian form
a2 x + b2 y + c2 z + d2 = 0 is given
The distance between two parallel
by
planes
a1a 2  b1b 2  c1c 2
cos  = ax + by + cz + d1 = 0 and
a12  b12  c12 a 22  b 22  c 22
ax + by + cz + d2 = 0 is given by
Intersection of plane
( d 2 – d1 )
The equation of a plane passing through the d=
a 2  b2  c2
intersection of a1x + b1y + c1z + d1 = 0 and
a2x + b2y + c2z + d2 = 0 is (a1x + b1y +
c1z + d1) +  (a2x + b2y + c2z + d2) = 0,
where  is a constant

Distance of a point from a plane

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Mathematics (311)
 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

Check Your Progress (C) 5 30 (D) 3 30

1. If the line through the points (4, 1, 2)

and (5, ,, 0) is parallel to the line
5. The equation of the plane through the
through the points (2, 1, 1) and (3, 3,
three points (1, 1, 1), (1, –1, 1) and (–
–1), find ,. 7, –3, –5), is-
(A) 3 (B) –3 (A) 3x – 4z + 1 = 0
(C) 2 (D) 4 (B) 3x – 4y + 1 = 0

2. If co-ordinates of points P, Q, R, S (C) 3x + 4y + 1 = 0

are respectively (1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 7); (–
(D) None of these
4, 3, –6) and (2, 0, 2) then-
6. The co-ordinates of the foot of the
(A) PQ || RS (B) PQ  RS
perpendicular drawn from the origin
(C) PQ = RS (D) None of these to a plane is (2, 4, –3). The equation
of the plane is-
3. The point of intersection of lines
x4 y 1 z x 1 y  2 (A) 2x – 4y – 3z = 29
= = and = =
5 2 1 2 3
z3 (B) 2x – 4y + 3z = 29
is -
4
(C) 2x + 4y – 3z = 29
(A) (–1, –1, –1) (B) (–1, –1, 1)
(D) none of these
(C) (1, –1, –1) (D) (–1, 1, –1)
7. The equation of the plane through
intersection of planes x + 2y + 3z = 4
and 2x + y – z = – 5 & perpendicular
to the plane 5x + 3y + 6z + 8 = 0 is-
4. The shortest distance between the
lines (A) 7x – 2y + 3z + 81 = 0

x 3 y 8 z3 x3 y7 (B) 23x + 14y – 9z + 48 = 0

= = and = =
3 1 1 3 2
(C) 51x + 15y – 50z + 173 = 0
z6
is
4 (D) None of these

(A) 30 (B) 2 30

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Mathematics (311)
 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

8. The equation of the plane containing (A) (2, 1, 0) (B) (3, 2, 5)

the line of intersection of the planes 2x
– y = 0 and
(C) (1, –2, 7) (D) None of these
y – 3z = 0 and perpendicular to the
plane 11. The equation of the plane passing
4x + 5y – 3z – 8 = 0 is- x4 y3 z2
through the lines = =
1 1 2
(A) 28x –17y + 9z = 0
x 3 y2 z
& = = is-
(B) 28x + 17y + 9z = 0 1 4 5

(C) 28x – 17y – 9z = 0 (A) 11x – y – 3x = 35

(D) 7x – 3y + z = 0 (B) 11x + y – 3z = 35

(C) 11x – y + 3z = 35

(D) none of these

9. Equations of the line through (1, 2,

3) and parallel to the plane 2x + 3y + 12. The equation of the plane passing
z + 5 = 0 are through the points (3, 2, 2) and (1, 0,
x 1
x 1 y  2 z3 –1) and parallel to the line =
(A) = = 2
1 1 1
y 1 z  2
= , is-
x 1 y  2 z  3 2 3
(B) = =
2 3 1
(A) 4x – y – 2z + 6 = 0
x 1 y  2 z3
(C) = =
3 2 1 (B) 4x – y + 2z + 6 = 0
x 1 y  2 z  3
(D) = = (C) 4x – y – 2z – 6 = 0
1 2 1

10. The co-ordinates of the point where (D) none of these

the line joining the points (2, –3, 1),
(3, –4, –5) cuts the plane 2x + y + z
= 7 are-

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Mathematics (311)
 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

x 1 y  2
13. The point where the line = Stretch Yourself
2 3
z3
= meets the plane 2x + 4y – z =
4
1. Find the distance between the line
1, is-
x 1 y  2 z 1
= = &
(A) (3, –1, 1) (B) (3, 1, 1) 3 2 2

(C) (1, 1, 3) (D) (1, the plane 2x + 2y – z = 6

3, 1)

2. Find the angle between the line

14. The line drawn from (4, –1, 2) to the x2 y2 z2
= = and the plane
a b c
point
ax + by + cz + 6 = 0
(–3, 2, 3) meets a plane at right
x 1
angles at the point (–10, 5, 4), then 3. Find the angle between the line =
2
the equation of plane is-
y2 z3
= and the plane
1 2
(A) 7x – 3y – z + 89 = 0
x + y + 4 = 0,
(B) 7x + 3y + z + 89 = 0
4. Find the equation of the plane
(C) 7x – 3y + z + 89 = 0
x 1 y  3 z  2
containing the line = =
(D) none of these 3 2 1
and the point (0, 7, – 7)
x 1
5. Find the points on the line =
1
x2 y3 z4
15. The line = = is y3 z2
3 4 5 = distant (14) from the
3 2
parallel to the plane-
point in which the line meets the
(A) 2x + 3y + 4z = 29 (B) 3x plane 3x + 4y + 5z – 5 = 0
+ 4y – 5z = 10

(C) 3x + 4y + 5z = 38 (D) x +
y+z=0

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Mathematics (311)
 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide, Mathematics (311)

Hint to Check Your Progress

1 A 2D 3A 4D 5A

6C 7C 8A 9A 10 C

11D 12D 13A 14 A 15B

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Mathematics (311)