Distance from a Point to a Plane

[ ]
⃗
PS . ⃗n
Proj⃗n ⃗
PS= 2
. n⃗
|⃗n|

| |[ ]| ⃗
PS . ⃗n
d=|Proj⃗n ⃗
PS = 2
. n⃗
|n⃗|

|⃗
PS . n⃗|
d ¿ 2
|⃗n|
. |n⃗|

d=¿
|⃗
PS . ⃗n|
|⃗n|

Question: Find the distance from the point S(1,1,3) to the plane 3 x+ 2 y +6 z=6.

Solution: n⃗ =3 ⃗i +2 ⃗j +6 ⃗k
S= (1,1,3 )
P=?

We find a point P in the plane and

calculate the length of the vector projection
of ⃗
PS onto a vector n⃗ normal to the plane. The point on
plane easiest to find from the plane’s equation are the
intercepts.
If we take P to be the y-intercept (0,3,0) then
PS=( 1−0 ) i⃗ + ( 1−3 ) ⃗j + ( 3−0 ) ⃗k
⃗

= i⃗ −2 ⃗j+3 k⃗

|n⃗|=√ (3)2 +(2)2 +(6)2=√ 49=7

The distance from S to the plane is

d=¿
|⃗
PS . ⃗n|
|⃗n|

¿¿ = |37 − 47 + 187|= 177

Exercise 12.5, Q 39-46

Angle between two planes

The angle between two intersecting planes is defined
to be the angle determined by their normal vectors.

( )
−1 ⃗
n1 . ⃗
n2
θ=cos
|⃗
n1||⃗n2|
Q: Find the angle between the planes 3 x−6 y−2 z=15 and 2 x+ y −2 z =5.
n1 =3i⃗ -6j-2k⃗
Solution: ⃗
n2 =2i⃗ + ⃗j -2k⃗
⃗

n1 . ⃗
⃗ n2 =6-6+4 =4

|⃗
n 1|=√(3)2 +¿ ¿=√ 9+36+ 4=7

|⃗
n 2|=√ ¿ ¿ = √ 4 +1+4=√ 9=3

( )
−1 ⃗
n1 . ⃗
n2
So θ=cos
|⃗
n1||⃗n2|

θ=cos−1 ( 7∗34 )= 79 degrees

Practice Problems
 Intersection of lines
Intersection of two lines:
Intersection of two lines is
1. Line (obvious)
2. Point

Example:
Given two lines in space, either they are parallel or they intersect each other or they are
skew? If they intersect, find point of intersection.
L1: x = 3 + 2t L2: x = 1 + 4s L3: x = 3 + 2r
y = -1 + 4t y = 1 + 2s y=2+r
z=2–t z = -3 + 4s z = -2 + 2r

-∞< t <∞ -∞< s <∞ -∞< r <∞

Solution:
First we check L1 & L2
From L1: V1 = 2i + 4j – k
From L2: V2 = 4i + 2j +4k
V1 & V2 are not parallel. Hence they are not scalar multiple of each other.
Now, check if they intersect each other.
x = 3 + 2t = 1 + 4s => 2t – 4s = -2 … (1)
y = -1 + 4t = 1 + 2s => 4t – 2s = 2 …. (2)
z = 2 – t = -3 + 4s => -t – 4s = -5 …. (3)

From (1) & (2)

2t – 4s = -2
±8t –+4s = ±4 “multiply (2) by 2”
-6t = -6 “changing signs”
t=1 Put “t = 1” in (1)
2 (1) – 4s = -2
-4s = -2 -2
 -4s = -4
s=1
Put “t=1”, “s=1” in (3)
-t – 4s = -5
-1 – 4 = -5
-5 = -5
L1 & L2 are intersecting.
Point of intersections:
x = 3 + 2(1) = 5
y = -1 + 4 (1) = 3
z=2–1=1
So, (5, 3, 1) is point of intersection.
Now, we have to check L1 & L3.
From L1: V1 = 2i + 4j – k
From L3: V3 = 2i + j + 2k
As V1 & V3 are not parallel, so L1 & L3 are not parallel.
Now check if they intersect or not?
x = 3 +2t = 3 + 2r => 2t – 2r = 0 ….. (1)
y = -1 + 4t = 2 + r => 4t – r = 3 …… (2)
z = 2 – t = -2 + 2r => -t – 2r = -4 ….. (3)

From (1) & (3)

2t – 2r = 0
-+t – +2r = -+4
3t = 4 “changing signs”
t = 4/3
Put it in (1)
2 (4/3) – 2r = 0
 8/3 = 2r
r = 8/6
r = 4/3
Put “t” & “r” in (2)
4 (4/3) – (4/3) = 3
16/3 – 4/3 = 3
12/3 = 3
4≠3
L1 & L3 are not intersections.
Now check L2 & L3.

V2 = 4i + 2j + 4k
V3 = 2i + j + 2k
V3 = 2 (2i + j + 2k)
V3 = 2 V2
V3 & V2 are parallel; therefore, L3 & L2 are parallel.

Practice Problems
(Ex 12.5; 61 – 62)