Detailed Revision Notes Three Dimensional Geometry
Detailed Revision Notes Three Dimensional Geometry
System of Co-ordinates
Co-ordinates of a Point in Space.
(1) Cartesian Co-ordinates : Let O be a fixed point, known as origin and let OX, OY and OZ be three
mutually perpendicular lines, taken as x-axis, y-axis and z-axis respectively, in such a way that they form a
right-handed system.
Z
C E
k
F j P(x, y, z)
O Y
B
i
A D
X
The planes XOY, YOZ and ZOX are known as xy-plane, yz-plane and zx-plane respectively.
Let P be a point in space and distances of P from yz, zx and xy-planes be x, y,
Z
z respectively (with proper signs), then we say that co-ordinates of P are (x, y, z). Y
O X
Also OA = x, OB = y, OC = z. X
The three co-ordinate planes (XOY, YOZ and ZOX) divide space into eight Y Z
parts and these parts are called octants.
Signs of co-ordinates of a point : The signs of the co-ordinates of a point in three dimension follow the
convention that all distances measured along or parallel to OX, OY, OZ will be positive and distances moved
along or parallel to OX , OY , OZ will be negative.
The following table shows the signs of co-ordinates of points in various octants :
Octant OXYZ OX YZ OXY Z OX Y Z OXYZ OX YZ OXY Z OX Y Z
co-
ordinate
x + – + – + – + –
y + + – – + + – –
z + + + + – – – –
(r, , )
O X
X
Z N
Y
(x, y, 0)
(ii) Spherical polar co-ordinates : The measures of quantities r, , are known as spherical or three
dimensional polar co-ordinates of the point P. If the rectangular cartesian co-ordinates of P are (x, y, z) then
z = r cos , u = r sin x = u cos = r sin cos , y = u sin = r sin sin and z = r cos
u x2 y2 y
Also r 2 x2 y2 z 2 and tan ; tan
z z x
Note : The co-ordinates of a point on xy-plane is (x, y, 0), on yz-plane is (0, y, z) and on zx-plane is (x,
0, z)
The co-ordinates of a point on x-axis is (x, 0, 0), on y-axis is (0, y, 0) and on z-axis is (0, 0, z)
Position vector of a point : Let i, j, k be unit vectors along OX, OY and OZ respectively. Then
Distance Formula.
(1) Distance formula : The distance between two points A(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) is given by
AB [(x 2 x 1 )2 (y 2 y 1 )2 (z 2 z 1 )2 ]
(2) Distance from origin : Let O be the origin and P(x, y, z) be any point, then OP (x 2 y2 z2).
(3) Distance of a point from co-ordinate axes : Let P(x, y, z) be any point in the space. Let PA, PB and
PC be the perpendiculars drawn from P to the axes OX, OY and OZ respectively.
Then, PA (y 2 z2) Z
C
P(x,y,z)
2 2
PB (z x )
O A
X
2 2 B
PC (x y ) Y N
Section Formulas.
(1) Section formula for internal division : Let P(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and
Q(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) be two points. Let R be a point on the line segment joining P Z P(x1,y1,z1)
m1
R(x,y,z)
and Q such that it divides the join of P and Q internally in the ratio m 1 : m 2 m2
r1 Q(x2,y2,z2)
r
r2
. Then the co-ordinates of R are O Y
X
m1 x 2 m 2 x1 m1y 2 m 2 y1 m1 z 2 m 2 z1
, , .
m1 m2 m1 m2 m1 m2
(2) Section formula for external division : Let P(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and Q(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) be two points, and let R be
a point on PQ produced, dividing it externally in the ratio m 1 : m 2 (m 1 m 2 ) . Then the co-ordinates of R are
m1 x 2 m 2 x1 m1y 2 m 2 y1 m1 z 2 m 2 z1
, , .
m1 m2 m1 m2 m1 m2
Note : Co-ordinates of the midpoint : When division point is the mid-point of PQ then ratio will be
x1 x 2 y1 y 2 z1 z2
1 : 1, hence co-ordinates of the mid point of PQ are , , .
2 2 2
Co-ordinates of the general point : The co-ordinates of any point lying on the line joining
kx 2 x 1 ky 2 y 1 kz 2 z 1
points P(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and Q(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) may be taken as , , , which
k 1 k 1 k 1
divides PQ in the ratio k : 1. This is called general point on the line PQ.
Triangle.
(1) Co-ordinates of the centroid
(i) If (x 1 , y1 , z 1 ), (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and (x 3 , y 3 , z 3 ) are the vertices of a triangle, then co-ordinates of its centroid
x1 x2 x 3 y1 y2 y 3 z1 z2 z3
are , , .
3 3 3
x1 x2 x3 x 4 y1 y2 y3 y 4 z1 z2 z3 z4
, , .
4 4 4
(2) Area of triangle : Let A(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) , B(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and C(x 3 , y 3 , z 3 ) be the vertices of a triangle, then
y1 z1 1 x1 z1 1 x1 y1 1
1 1 1
x y2 z2 1 , y x2 z2 1 , z x2 y2 1
2 2 2
y3 z3 1 x3 z3 1 x3 y3 1
2 2 2
Now, area of ABC is given by the relation x y z . A(x1,y1,z1)
i j k
1 1
Also, | AB AC | x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
2 2
x3 x1 y3 y1 z3 z1 B(x2,y2,z2) C(x3,y3,z3)
(3) Condition of collinearity : Points A(x 1 , y1 , z 1 ), B(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and C(x 3 , y 3 , z 3 ) are collinear
x1 x2 y1 y2 z1 z2
If
x2 x3 y2 y3 z2 z3
Volume of Tetrahedron.
x1 y1 z1 1
1 x2 y2 z2 1
Volume of tetrahedron with vertices (x r , y r , z r ) ; r = 1, 2, 3, 4, is V
6 x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1
By definition, it follows that the direction cosine of the axis of x are respectively cos 0 o , cos 90 o , cos 90 o
i.e. (1, 0, 0). Similarly direction cosines of the axes of y and z are respectively (0, 1, 0) and (0, 0, 1).
Relation between the direction cosines : Let OP be any line through the origin O which has direction
cosines l, m, n. Let P = (x, y, z) and OP = r. Then OP 2 x2 y2 z2 r2 .....(i)
x Z
From triangle AOP, l cos x lr
r P(x,y,z)
C
z
Similarly y mr and z nr . O
y Y
x B
A
X
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Hence from (i), r (l m n ) x y z r l m n 1
Note : If OP = r and the co-ordinates of point P be (x, y, z), then d.c.’s of line OP are x/r, y/r, z/r.
a b c
Direction cosines of r ai bj ck are , , .
| r| | r| | r|
Since –1 ≤ cosx ≤ 1, x R , hence values of l, m, n are such real numbers which are not
less than – 1 and not greater than 1. Hence d.c.' s [ 1, 1] .
The direction cosines of a line parallel to any co-ordinate axis are equal to the direction
cosines of the co-ordinate axis.
The number of lines which are equally inclined to the co-ordinate axes is 4.
1
If l, m, n are the d.c.’s of a line, then the maximum value of lmn .
3 3
Important Tips
| r|
If a vector r has d.r.’s a, b, c then r (ai bj ck)
a2 b2 c2
(iii) D.c.’s and d.r.’s of a line joining two points : The direction ratios of line PQ joining P(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and
x 2 x1 y 2 y1 z 2 z1
i.e., l ,m ,n .
PQ PQ PQ
Projection.
(1) Projection of a point on a line : The projection of a point P on a line AB is the foot N of the
perpendicular PN from P on the line AB.
P
N is also the same point where the line AB meets the plane through
P and perpendicular to AB.
A B
N
(3) Projection of a line joining the points P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) on another line whose
direction cosines are l, m and n : Let PQ be a line segment where P (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and Q (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and
AB be a given line with d.c.’s as l, m, n. If the line segment PQ makes angle with the line AB, then
Q
Z K M
N Q P
P
N
M K
O X
Y A P Q B
(x 2 x 1 )l (y 2 y1 )m (z 2 z 1 )n
Important Tips
(l1 m 2 l 2 m 1 )2 (m 1 n 2 m 2 n1 ) 2 (n1 l 2 n 2 l1 ) 2
2 2 2
l1 m1 m1 n1 n1 l1
The value of sin can easily be obtained by the following form. sin
l2 m2 n2 n2 n2 l2
When d.r.’s of the lines are given if a1 , b1 , c1 and a 2 , b 2 , c 2 are d.r.’s of given two lines, then angle
(a1 b 2 a 2 b1 ) 2
between them is given by sin
a12 b12 c12 a 22 b 22 c 22
Condition of perpendicularity : If the given lines are perpendicular, then 90 i.e. cos = 0
l1 l2 m1 m 2 n1 n 2 0 or a1 a2 b1 b 2 c1 c 2 0
Condition of parallelism : If the given lines are parallel, then 0 o i.e. sin = 0
l1 m 2 l2 m1 0 , m1 n 2 m 2 n1 0 and n1 l2 n 2 l1 0
l1 m1 n1
.
l2 m2 n2
a1 b1 c1
Similarly, .
a2 b2 c2
1
Note : The angle between any two diagonals of a cube is cos 1
.
3
2
The angle between a diagonal of a cube and the diagonal of a faces of the cube is cos 1
3
.
If a straight line makes angles , , , with the diagonals of a cube, then
4
cos 2 cos 2 cos 2 cos 2
3
If the edges of a rectangular parallelopiped be a, b, c, then the angles between the two
1 a2 b 2 c2
diagonals are cos
a2 b 2 c2
(2) Vector form : Let the vector equations of two lines be r a1 b 1 and r a 2 b2
As the lines are parallel to the vectors b 1 and b 2 respectively, therefore angle between the lines is same
as the angle between the vectors b 1 and b 2 . Thus if is the angle between the given lines, then
b 1 .b 2
cos .
| b 1 || b 2 |
r
O
Y
Important Tips
x x1 y y1 z z1
The parametric equations of the line are x x1 a , y y1 b , z z1 c , where is the
a b c
parameter.
x x1 y y1 z z1
The co-ordinates of any point on the line are (x1 a , y1 b , z1 c ) , where R.
a b c
Since the direction cosines of a line are also direction ratios, therefore equation of a line passing through
x x1 y y1 z z1
(x1, y1, z1) and having direction cosines l, m, n is .
l m n
Since x, y and z-axes pass through the origin and have direction cosines 1, 0, 0; 0, 1, 0 and 0, 0, 1
x 0 y 0 z 0 x 0 y 0 z 0
y-axis : or x = 0 and z = 0; z-axis : or x = 0 and y = 0.
0 1 0 0 0 1
x x1 y y1 z z1
x 2 x1 y 2 y1 z 2 z1
The co-ordinates of a variable point on AB can be expressed in terms of a parameter in the form
x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
x ,y ,z
1 1 1
being any real number different from –1. In fact, (x, y, z) are the co-ordinates of the point which divides
the join of A and B in the ratio : 1.
(ii) Vector form : The vector equation of a line passing through two points with position vectors a and b
is
r a (b a) Z
O Y
a1 a 2 b1 b 2 c1 c 2
cos
a12 b12 c12 a 22 b 22 c 22
a1 b1 c1
Condition of parallelism : If the lines are parallel, then .
a2 b2 c2
Reduction of Cartesian form of the Equation of a line to Vector form and Vice versa.
x x1 y y1 z z1
Cartesian to vector : Let the Cartesian equation of a line be ……(i)
a b c
This is the equation of a line passing through the point A(x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and having direction ratios a, b, c. In
vector form this means that the line passes through point having position vector a x1i y1 j z 1 k and is
parallel to the vector m ai bj ck . Thus, the vector form of (i) is r a m or
To reduce (ii) to Cartesian form we put r xi yj zk and equate the coefficients of i, j and k as discussed
below.
Putting r xi yj zk, a x1i y1 j z 1 k and m ai bj ck in (ii), we obtain
xi yj zk ( x 1 i y1 j z 1 k) (ai bj ck)
x x2 y y2 z z2
And ……(ii)
a2 b2 c2
Step I : Write the co-ordinates of general points on (i) and (ii). The co-ordinates of general points on (i)
x x1 y y1 z z1 x x2 y y2 z z2
and (ii) are given by and respectively.
a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2
i.e., (a1 x 1 , b1 y1 c1 z 1 ) an
d (a2 x 2 , b2 y 2 , c2 z2)
Step II : If the lines (i) and (ii) intersect, then they have a common point.
a1 x1 a2 x 2 , b1 y1 b2 y 2 and c1 z1 c2 z2.
Step III : Solve any two of the equations in and obtained in step II. If the values of and satisfy the
third equation, then the lines (i) and (ii) intersect, otherwise they do not intersect.
Step IV : To obtain the co-ordinates of the point of intersection, substitute the value of (or ) in the co-
ordinates of general point (s) obtained in step I.
x x1 y y1 z z1
Foot of perpendicular from a point A( , , ) to the line .
l m n
(1) Cartesian form
x x1 y y1 z z1
Foot of perpendicular from a point A( , , ) to the line : If P be the foot of
l m n
perpendicular, then P is (lr x 1 , mr y1 , nr z 1 ) . Find the direction A( , , )
reflection of P in the given line. Also, L is the foot of the perpendicular or the
projection of P on the line. A B
L
Q(image)
(2) Vector form
Perpendicular distance of a point from a line : Let L is the foot of perpendicular drawn from P( ) on
the line r a b . Since r denotes the position vector of any point on the line r a b . So, let the position
vector of L be a b. P( )
(a α)b
Then PL a α b (a α) b
| b|2
A B
r = a+ b L = (a+ b)
A B
r=(a+ b) L(a+ b)
Q( )(image)
l2 Line of shortest
distance
l1 P
(2) Line of shortest distance : If l1 and l2 are two skew lines, then the straight line which is
perpendicular to each of these two non-intersecting lines is called the “line of shortest distance.”
Note : There is one and only one line perpendicular to each of lines l1 and l2 .
(ii) Vector form : Let l1 and l 2 be two lines whose equations are l1 : r a1 b1 and l2 : r a2 b2
(b 1 b 2 ).(a 2 a 1 ) | [b 1 b 2 (a 2 a 1 )]
respectively. Then, Shortest distance PQ
| b1 b 2 | | b1 b 2 |
(4) Shortest distance between two parallel lines : The shortest distance between the parallel lines
| (a 2 a1) b |
r a1 b and r a2 b is given by d .
| b|
(5) Condition for two lines to be intersecting i.e. coplanar
x x 1 y y1 z z1 x x2 y y2 z z2
(i) Cartesian form : If the lines and intersect, then
l1 m1 n1 l2 m2 n2
x2 x1 y 2 y1 z2 z1
l1 m1 n1 0.
l2 m2 n2
(ii) Vector form : If the lines r a1 b 1 and r a2 b 2 intersect, then the shortest distance between
them is zero. Therefore, [b 1 b 2 (a 2 a 1 )] 0 [(a 2 a 1 ) b1b 2 ] 0 (a 2 a 1 ).(b 1 b 2 ) 0
Important Tips
If two lines intersect, the shortest distance (SD) between them is zero.
Shortest distance between two skew lines is perpendicular to both the lines.
(6) To determine the equation of line of shortest distance : To find the equation of line of shortest
distance, we use the following procedure :
Find the co-ordinates of general points on straight lines (i) and (ii) as
(iv) Put these values of and in the co-ordinates of P and Q to determine points P and Q.
(v) Find out the equation of the line passing through P and Q, which will be the line of shortest distance.
Note : The same algorithm may be observed to find out the position vector of P and Q, the two
extremities of the shortest distance, in case of vector equations of straight lines. Hence, the line
of shortest distance, which passes through P and Q, can be obtained.
The Plane
Definition of plane and its equations.
If point P(x, y, z) moves according to certain rule, then it may lie in a 3-D region on a surface or on a line
or it may simply be a point. Whatever we get, as the region of P after applying the rule, is called locus of P. Let
us discuss about the plane or curved surface. If Q be any other point on it’s locus and all points of the straight
line PQ lie on it, it is a plane. In other words if the straight line PQ, however small and in whatever direction it
may be, lies completely on the locus, it is a plane, otherwise any curved surface.
(1) General equation of plane : Every equation of first degree of the form Ax By Cz D 0
represents the equation of a plane. The coefficients of x, y and z i.e. A, B, C are the direction ratios of the
normal to the plane.
(2) Equation of co-ordinate planes Y
XOY-plane : z = 0
XOY-plane
YOZ-plane
YOZ -plane : x = 0
X
ZOX-plane
ZOX-plane : y = 0 Z
r.n a.n
P(r) a
O
n d
r.n d to normal form we divide both sides by |n| to obtain r or
| n| | n|
d
ˆ
r.n .
| n|
(5) Equation of a plane passing through a given point and parallel to two given vectors : The
P(a) L B
b
(6) Equation of plane in various forms
(i) Intercept form : If the plane cuts the intercepts of length a, b, c on co-ordinate axes, then its equation is
x y z
1.
a b c
(ii) Normal form : Normal form of the equation of plane is lx my nz p,
where l, m, n are the d.c.’s of the normal to the plane and p is the length of perpendicular from the origin.
(7) Equation of plane in particular cases
(i) Equation of plane through the origin is given by Ax By Cz 0.
i.e. if D = 0, then the plane passes through the origin.
(8) Equation of plane parallel to co-ordinate planes or perpendicular to co-ordinate axes
(i) Equation of plane parallel to YOZ-plane (or perpendicular to x-axis) and at a distance ‘a’ from it is x =
a.
(ii) Equation of plane parallel to ZOX-plane (or perpendicular to y-axis) and at a distance ‘b’ from it is y =
b.
(iii) Equation of plane parallel to XOY-plane (or perpendicular to z-axis) and at a distance ‘c’ from it is z =
c.
Important Tips
Any plane perpendicular to co-ordinate axis is evidently parallel to co-ordinate plane and vice versa.
AB AC
A unit vector perpendicular to the plane containing three points A, B, C is .
| AB AC |
(9) Equation of plane perpendicular to co-ordinate planes or parallel to co-ordinate axes
(i) Equation of plane perpendicular to YOZ-plane or parallel to x-axis is By Cz D 0.
(ii) Equation of plane perpendicular to ZOX-plane or parallel to y axis is Ax Cz D 0.
(iii) Equation of plane perpendicular to XOY-plane or parallel to z-axis is Ax By D 0.
(10) Equation of plane passing through the intersection of two planes
(i) Cartesian form : Equation of plane through the intersection of two planes
P a1 x b1 y c1 z d1 0 and Q a2 x b2 y c2 z d2 0 is P Q 0 , where is the parameter.
(ii) Vector form : The equation of any plane through the intersection of planes r.n 1 d1 and r.n 2 d 2 is
r.(n 1 n 2 ) d1 d 2 , where is an arbitrary constant.
(11) Equation of plane parallel to a given plane
(i) Cartesian form : Plane parallel to a given plane ax by cz d 0 is ax by cz d 0 , i.e. only
constant term is changed.
(ii) Vector form : Since parallel planes have the common normal, therefore equation of plane parallel to
plane r.n d1 is r.n d 2 , where d 2 is a constant determined by the given condition.
(2) Position of two points w.r.t. a plane : Two points P(x 1 , y1 , z1 ) and Q(x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) lie on the same or
opposite sides of a plane ax by cz d 0 according to ax1 by 1 cz1 d and ax 2 by 2 cz 2 d are of
same or opposite signs. The plane divides the line joining the points P and Q externally or internally according
to P and Q are lying on same or opposite sides of the plane.
1 a1 a 2 b1 b 2 c1 c 2
cos
(a12 b12 c12 )(a 22 b 22 c 22 )
Note : If angle between bisector plane and one of the plane is less than 45 o, then it is acute
provided d1 and d2 are of same sign and if a1 a2 b1 b 2 c1 c 2 is positive, then origin lies in the
(2) Vector form : The equation of the planes bisecting the angles between the planes r1 .n 1 d 1 and
| r.n 1 d 1 | | r.n 2 d 2 | r.n 1 d 1 r.n 2 d 2 d1 d2
r2 .n 2 d 2 are or or r.(n
ˆ1 ˆ 2)
n .
| n1 | | n2 | | n1 | | n2 | | n1 | | n2 |
Then either of the point is the image of the other in the plane .
(i) Write the equations of the line passing through P and normal to the given plane as
x x1 y y1 z z1
.
a b c P(x1,y1,z1)
Coplanar lines.
Lines are said to be coplanar if they lie in the same plane or a plane can be made to pass through them.
(1) Condition for the lines to be coplanar
x x1 y y1 z z1 x x2 y y2 z z2
(i) Cartesian form : If the lines and are coplanar
l1 m1 n1 l2 m2 n2
x2 x1 y 2 y1 z2 z1
Then l1 m1 n1 0.
l2 m2 n2
x x1 y y1 z z1 x x2 y y2 z z2
The equation of the plane containing them is l1 m1 n1 0 or l1 m1 n1 0.
l2 m2 n2 l2 m2 n2
(ii) Vector form : If the lines r a1 b 1 and r a2 b 2 are coplanar, then [a 1 b 1 b 2 ] [a 2 b 1 b 2 ] and
Important Tips
Division by plane : The ratio in which the line segment PQ, joining P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2), is divided by plane
ax 1 by 1 cz 1 d
ax by cz d 0 is .
ax 2 by 2 cz 2 d
Division by co-ordinate planes : The ratio in which the line segment PQ, joining P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) is divided by co-
ordinate planes are as follows :
(i) By yz-plane : –x1/x2 (ii) By zx-plane : –y1/y2 (ii) By xy-plane : –z1/z2
x x1 y y1 z z1 ax+by+cz+d=0
r (say) or (x 1 lr, y1 mr, z 1 nr) .....(i)
l m n
If it lies on the plane ax by cz d 0 , then
a(x 1 lr) b(y1 mr ) c(z1 n r) d 0 (ax 1 by 1 cz1 d) r(al bm cn) 0
(ax 1 by 1 cz 1 d )
r .
al bm cn
Substituting the value of r in (i), we obtain the co-ordinates of the required point of intersection.
Algorithm for finding the point of intersection of a line and a plane
Step I : Write the co-ordinates of any point on the line in terms of some parameters r (say).
Step II : Substitute these co-ordinates in the equation of the plane to obtain the value of r.
Step III : Put the value of r in the co-ordinates of the point in step I.
r.n.=d
(ii) Condition of parallelism : If the line is parallel to the plane, then it is perpendicular to the normal to the
plane. Therefore b and n are perpendicular. So, b.n = 0.
(iii) If the line r a b lies in the plane r.n = d, then (i) b.n = 0 and (ii) a.n = d.