Lines & Planes

• Equations of Planes
• Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
• Parallel & Orthogonal: lines &
planes
 Equations of Plane:
❖ A plane in 3-D can be thought of as "an
infinite flat surface".

❖ The plane in the space

P
is determined by:

a point/position vector
on the plane
a vector which is
orthogonal to the plane
Equations of Plane:
❖ Suppose that, P0 is a
point on the plane
that has coordinates,
(x0, y0, z0) and has a
vector that is
orthogonal to the
plane,
normal
𝒏 = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 vector.

❖ Let P(x , y, z) is any

point (arbitrary
point) in the plane.
❖ Notice that we have
vector, 𝑃0 𝑃 = 𝒓 − 𝒓𝟎
which lie completely in
the plane.
❖ Since 𝒏 is orthogonal to
the plane, it’s also
orthogonal to any vector
that lies in the plane.
E.g.: 𝑷𝟎 𝑷 is orthogonal to 𝒏
𝑷𝟎 𝑷 is orthogonal to 𝒏
❖ Thus, from the Dot
Product rule,
𝒏 ∙ 𝑷𝟎 𝑷 = 𝟎
𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 − 𝒓𝟎 = 𝟎
𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 − 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓𝟎
⇒= 𝟎 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 𝟎

vector equation of the plane

Therefore, as 𝒓 = 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛
and 𝒓𝟎 = 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒚𝟎 , 𝒛𝟎 with
normal vector 𝒏 = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 ,
the Cartesian equation for
the plane is,

𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 − 𝒓𝟎 = 𝟎
𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 ∙ 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 − 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒚𝟎 , 𝒛𝟎 =𝟎
𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 ∙ 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 , 𝒛 − 𝒛𝟎 = 𝟎
𝒂 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒃 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒄 𝒛 − 𝒛𝟎 = 𝟎
Known as the scalar equation of plane
The equation of the plane in the form of
a ( x − x0 ) + b( y − y 0 ) + c ( z − z 0 ) = 0
may be rewritten in the form of
ax + by + cz − (ax0 + by0 + cz0 ) = 0
d
Known as linear
ax + by + cz = d equation in 3
variables x, y, and z
where, d = ax0 + by0 + cz0

Note: The second form of equation is easier to get a

normal vector for the plane. A normal vector is,
n = a, b, c
 EXAMPLE 1

• Find the vector equation of the

plane through the point
𝑃 5, −2, 4 with normal vector
a = 1, 2, 3 .
a = 1, 2, 3
Solution:
The vector equation of the plane:
⇒ 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓𝟎 𝑷 𝟓, −𝟐, 𝟒

normal vector position vector on a plane

𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 ∙ 𝟓, −𝟐, 𝟒
𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝟓 − 𝟒 + 𝟏𝟐 ∴ 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝟏𝟑
 EXAMPLE 2
• Find an equation of the plane through
𝑃 5, −2, 4 that is parallel to the plane
3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 6𝑧 + 8 = 0.

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

 EXAMPLE 3

• Determine the equation of the plane

that contains the points 𝑃 4, −3, 1 ,
𝑄 6, −4, 7 and 𝑅 1, 2, 2 .

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

 EXAMPLE 4

• Find the Cartesian equation for the

plane 𝜋1 through 𝐴 2, 1, 0 and
parallel to the plane 2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

Two Parallel Planes
EQUATION OF PLANE
n
Vector equation
Position vector
P
𝒓 ∙ 𝒏 = 𝒓𝟎 ∙ 𝒏
normal vector
n

OR 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓 = 𝒏 ∙ 𝒓𝟎 Q
P
Cartesian equation R
ax + by + cz = d
n 𝐧 = 𝑃𝑄 × 𝑄𝑅
Or any pair of vectors
v1
v2
l1
l2 𝐧 = 𝐯1 × 𝐯2
 EXAMPLE 5

• Find the Cartesian equation for the

plane 𝜋2 through B 1, 5, 0 and
perpendicular to both the planes 𝑥 +
𝑦 + 𝑧 = 1 and 3𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 5

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

 EXAMPLE 6

• Find the Cartesian equation the plane

𝜋3 through C −3, 5, 5 and
perpendicular to the line,
𝑥−1 𝑦+5 𝑧+1
= = .
2 −3 5

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
o Two planes with normal vectors a and b are:
(i) parallel if a and b are parallel
(ii) orthogonal if a and b are orthogonal
a b

∴ a = 𝜆b for some scalar 𝜆.

b

∴ a∙b= 0
Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
▪EXAMPLE 1:
Prove that the planes 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑𝒚 − 𝒛 − 𝟓 = 𝟎 and
− 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟗𝒚 + 𝟑𝒛 + 𝟐 = 𝟎 are parallel.
▪Solution:
The planes have normal vectors,
𝐚 = 𝟐, −𝟑, −𝟏 and 𝐛 = −𝟔, 𝟗, 𝟑 .
Thus,
b = −𝟑 𝟐, −𝟑, −𝟏
= −𝟑a ∴ 𝐛 = −𝟑a

Therefore, the vectors a and b are parallel

and hence the planes are also parallel.
 PARALLEL & PERPENDICULAR: LINES & PLANES

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
𝝅: ax + by + cz = d
l r = a +tv
v

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
Line and plane are parallel if, 𝐧 ∙ 𝐯 = 𝟎
v

l Line and plane

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
v are
v n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 perpendicular
if, ∴ n = 𝜆v

𝝅: ax + by + cz = d OR 𝐧×𝐯=𝟎
 EXAMPLE 2
• Determine if the plane given by −𝑥 +
2𝑧 = 10 and the line given by 𝐫 =
5, 2 − 𝑡, 10 + 4𝑡 are orthogonal,
parallel or neither.

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

An intersection line
between two planes

If two distinct planes intersect,

the solution is the set of points
that lie on the line of
intersection.
INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

The planes are parallel

and coincident

If the planes are coincident,

every point on the plane is a
solution.
INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

the planes are parallel

and distinct.

Parallel planes do not intersect,

so there is no solution.
 EXAMPLE 3
• Let l be the line of intersection of the
two planes
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 4 and 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 1.
Find parametric equations for l.

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

 EXAMPLE 4
• Describe how the planes in each pair
intersect.
a) 𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 7 = 0
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 − 9𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 2 = 0

b) 𝜋3 : 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 2 = 0
𝜋4 : 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 4 = 0

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

ANGLES: PLANE & PLANE
The angle between two planes is equal to the
angle determined by the normal vectors of the
planes.

The angle 𝜃 between two

planes with normals of n1
and n2, respectively, can be
calculated using the
n2 formula:
n1
𝐧 𝟏 ∙ 𝐧𝟐
cos 𝜃 =
𝐧𝟏 𝐧𝟐
ANGLES: LINE & PLANE

EXAMPLE 1

• Determine the acute angle between the

two planes:
𝜋1 : 𝑥 − 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 3 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑧 + 2 = 0

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

ANGLES: LINE & PLANE
The angle between a line
and plane is 𝜃.
We find the angle
between line and a
normal to the plane, 𝛼.
𝐧∙𝐯
cos 𝛼 =
𝐧 𝐯

Therefore, the angle between line and plane:

𝜃 = 90° − 𝛼
ANGLES: LINE & PLANE

EXAMPLE 2
𝑥−1 𝑦 𝑧+4
• Given is a line, = =
3 −1 −2
and a plane, 𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 8 = 0.
Find the angles between line and plane.

Solution: (Will be discussed during lecture)

Thank you ☺