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Intersections of three planes

Starter
1. (Review of last lesson) (a) Find the value of a for which these simultaneous equations do
not have a unique solution:
3x + 2y − z = 10 5x − y − 4z = 17 x + 5y + a z = b
(b) Given that there is no unique solution, nd the value of b that makes the equations
consistent.

Notes
These are the possibilities for the intersection of three planes.
Determinant ≠ 0 (non-singular matrix)

Unique solution

Planes intersect at a single point

Determinant = 0 and equations are consistent

In nitely many solutions

Planes intersect in a line and form a sheaf

Determinant = 0 (singular matrix) and the equations are inconsistent

Inconsistent ⇒ No solutions

All 3 planes all parallel Two planes are parallel Planes form a triangular prism
(no parallel planes)

N.B. Two planes are parallel when the coef cients of x, y and z are in the same ratio but the
constant is not.

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Success criteria — intersection of three planes
1. Find the determinant of the matrix of coef cients:
Determinant ≠ 0 ⇒ planes meet at a unique point
Determinant = 0 ⇒ planes do not meet at a unique point
If determinant ≠ 0:
2. Find the point of intersection using the inverse matrix
If determinant = 0:
3. Use Gaussian elimination to eliminate one of the unknowns from 2 of the equations:
Equations are multiples ⇒ equations are consistent
⇒ planes form a sheaf (intersect in a line)
Equations not multiples ⇒ equations are inconsistent
⇒ planes are parallel or form a prism
If determinant = 0 and the equations are inconsistent:
4. By inspection, check if any of the planes are parallel (i.e. the coef cients of x, y and z
are in the same ratio but the constant is not).
Two or three equations are multiples ⇒ planes are parallel
⇒ equations are inconsistent
⇒ no solutions
Only coef cients in the same ratio ⇒ form a triangular prism
N.B. In practice, it is quicker to check whether planes are parallel rst.

Determinant of the matrix of coef cients ≠ 0 ⇒ unique solution (point of intersection)

Determinant = 0 and equations are consistent ⇒ in nitely many solutions (sheaf)
Determinant = 0 & 2/3 parallel planes ⇒ equations are inconsistent ⇒ no solutions
Determinant = 0 & equations are consistent & no parallel planes ⇒ no solutions (prism)
Determinant = 0 & three coincident planes ⇒ in nitely many solutions

E.g. 1 Determine the geometrical arrangement of the following planes in three dimensions:
(a) π1 : x + y + z = 4 π2 : 2x + 3y − 4z = 3 π3 : 5x + 8y − 13z = 8
(b) π1 : 2x − y = 1 π2 : 3x + 2z = 13 π3 : 3y + 4z = 23

Working: (a) Determinant of coef cients:

1 1 1
2 3 −4 = − 39 + 32 + 26 − 20 + 16 − 15 = 0
5 8 −13
Since the determinant = 0, there is no unique solution.
π1 : x + y + z = 4
π2 : 2x + 3y − 4z = 3
π3 : 5x + 8y − 13z = 8
By inspection, none of the planes are parallel.
Eliminate x:
π2 − 2 × π1: y − 6z = − 5
π3 − 5 × π1: 3y − 18z = − 8
Since these equations are not multiples, the system of equations is
inconsistent i.e. there are no solutions, therefore they form a
triangular prism.

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E.g. 2 Consider the system of equations:
x + 3y − 2z = − 2 −3x + y + m z = 6 −3x + 11y − 4z = k
(a) Find the value(s) of m and k such that the planes meet in a unique point.
(b) Find the value(s) of m and k such that the planes form a sheaf.
(c) Find the value(s) of m and k such that the planes form a triangular prism.

1 3 −2 x −2
(−3 11 −4) (z) ( k )
Working: (a) In matrix form: −3 1 m y = 6

The planes meet in a unique point when the determinant of the

matrix of coef cients is not zero.
1 3 −2
−3 1 m ≠ 0: −2(−33 + 3) − m(11 + 9) − 4(1 + 9) ≠ 0
−3 11 −4
60 − 20m − 40 ≠ 0 ⇒ m≠1
By inspection, no value of k makes the planes parallel.
The planes intersect at a unique point when m ≠ 1 and k can be any
value.

Finding the equation of the intersection line between planes

To nd the equation of the line of intersection, in the form r = p + λd, when three planes meet in
a sheaf it is necessary to introduce a parameter, say λ.

In E.g. 1(b), we had π1 : 2x − y = 1 π2 : 3x + 2z = 13 & π3 : 3y + 4z = 23

After eliminating y, both equations reduced to 3x + 2z = 13
13 2
To introduce the parameter λ, let z =λ ⇒ 3x + 2λ = 13 ∴x= − λ
3 3
26 4 23 4
Substituting into π1 : 2x − y = 1 gives y = 2x − 1 = − λ−1= − λ
3 3 3 3
13 2 13 13
x 3
− 3λ 3
− 23 3 −2
(z) (3)
r= y = 23
− λ =
4 23 + λ −4 i.e. r = 23 + λ −4
3 3 3 3 3
λ 0 1 0

N.B. Arithmetic would have been easier had we chosen z = 3λ, since 3 is the coef cient of x in
3x + 2λ = 13.
If we had let x = λ, the point p would have changed but the direction vector would have
been different.

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E.g. 3 Find the equation of the line of intersection between these systems of planes:
(a) π1 : x + 2y + 3z = 6 π2 : 2x + 3y + z = 7
(b) π1 : x − y + z = 3 π2 : 2x + y − 2z = 5
Working: (a) π2 − 2 × π1: −y − 5z = − 5 ⇒ y + 5z = 5
Let z = λ: y = 5 − 5λ
Substitute in π1: x + 2(5 − 5λ) + 3λ = 6
x = − 4 + 7λ
x −4 + 7λ −4 7
(z) (0) (1)
r= y = 5 − 5λ = 5 + λ −5
λ

E.g. 4 Prove these systems of planes meet in a sheaf and hence nd the equation of their line of
intersection.
(a) π1 : x + y + 2z = 5 π2 : 2x − y + z = 1 π3 : x − 2y − z = − 4
(b) π1 : 2x + 3y − z = 8 π2 : 3x + y − z = 8 π3 : 4x − y − z = 8

Working: (a) π2 − 2 × π1: −3y − 3z = − 9

π3 − π1: −3y − 3z = − 9
Since the equations are identical, the planes form a sheaf.
−3y − 3z = − 9 ⇒ y +z =3
Let z = λ: y =3−λ
Substitute in π1: x + 3 − λ + 2λ = 5
x =2−λ
x 2−λ 2 −1
(z) (0) (1)
r= y = 3 − λ = 3 + λ −1
λ

Video: Intersection of three planes

Solutions to Starter and E.g.s

Exercise
p109 5B Qu 1i, 2-13

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Summary
Success criteria — intersection of three planes
1. Find the determinant of the matrix of coef cients:
Determinant ≠ 0 ⇒ planes meet at a unique point
Determinant = 0 ⇒ planes do not meet at a unique point
If determinant ≠ 0:
2. Find the point of intersection using the inverse matrix
If determinant = 0:
3. Use Gaussian elimination to eliminate one of the unknowns from 2 of the equations:
Equations are multiples ⇒ equations are consistent
⇒ planes form a sheaf (intersect in a line)
Equations not multiples ⇒ equations are inconsistent
⇒ planes are parallel or form a prism
If determinant = 0 and the equations are inconsistent:
4. By inspection, check if any of the planes are parallel (i.e. the coef cients of x, y and z
are in the same ratio but the constant is not).
Two or three equations are multiples ⇒ planes are parallel
⇒ equations are inconsistent
⇒ no solutions
Only coef cients in the same ratio ⇒ form a triangular prism
N.B. In practice, it is quicker to check whether planes are parallel rst.

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