MORE PROPERTIES OF

PLANES

NAZIRAH RAMLI
LEARNING OUTCOMES

To determine the whether the two planes are parallel or

not.

To determine the angle between two intersecting planes.

PARALLEL PLANES

n1

Given two planes P1 and P2 with vector

normal to the planes as n1 and n2
respectively.
P1
P1 and P2 are parallel if their normal vectors
n2
of parallel, n1= k n2.

P2
EXAMPLE 1:
Determine whether planes P1 and P2 are parallel or not.
(i) P1: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 8 = 0, P2: 2𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 8𝑧 = 5
(ii) P1: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 5𝑧 − 3 = 0, P2: 𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 3

(i) P1: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 8 = 0, (i) P1: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 5𝑧 − 3 = 0,

P2: 2𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 8𝑧 = 5 P2: 𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 3

P1 is perpendicular to 𝑛1 = 1,3, −4 . P1 is perpendicular to 𝑛1 = 2,3, −5 .

P2 is perpendicular to 𝑛2 = 2,6, −8 . P2 is perpendicular to 𝑛2 = 1,6,4 .
1 𝑛1 ≠ 𝑘𝑛2
𝑛1 = 1,3, −4 = 2,6, −8
2 n1 and n2 are not parallel.
𝑛1 = 𝑘𝑛2 Thus, P1 and P2 are not parallel.
n1 and n2 are parallel.
Thus, P1 and P2 are parallel.
INTERSECTING PLANES

If the two planes are not parallel, they

intersect in a straight line.

𝜃
The acute angle between the two planes
are defined as:
𝑛1 ∙ 𝑛2
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑛1 𝑛2

whereby n1 and n2 are the normal vector to

each plane.
EXAMPLE 2:
Find the angle between the plane P1: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 8 = 0 and plane
P2: 2𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 3𝑧 =5

P1: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 8 = 0,
P2: 2𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 3𝑧 =5 𝑛1 ∙ 𝑛2 1,3, −4 ∙ 2,5, −3
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = =
𝑛1 𝑛2 26 38
P1 is perpendicular to 𝑛1 = 1,3, −4 . 29
P2 is perpendicular to 𝑛2 = 2,5, −3 . =
26 38

𝜃 = 22.690

22.690
EXERCISE :
Determine whether the planes are parallel, perpendicular or
intersect. If they are intersect, find the angle between the planes.

1. 𝑥 + y + z = 3 , 𝑥 + 2y + 2z = 4
2. 2𝑥 + y − 3z = 3 , 3𝑥 − 2y + z = 1
3. 2𝑧 = 4𝑦 − 𝑥, 3𝑥 − 12y = 1 − 6𝑧
4. 𝑥 = 4y − 2z , 8𝑦 − 1 = 2x + 4z
5. 𝑥 + y − 3z = 1 , 9z − 3𝑥 − 3y = 3