Lesson 10.2

For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 31
Lesson 10.2: Space Coordinates and 3-

Dimensional Space Vectors
Lesson Summary
This lesson will discuss how to plot points in a three-dimensional coordinate
system and analyze vectors in space.
Learning Outcome
1. Locate points in space using coordinates.
2. Write the distance formula in three dimensions.
3. Write the equation of spheres.
4. Analyze vectors in space.
Motivation Question
Is the three-dimensional coordinate system motivation enough?
Discussion
Coordinates in Space
Figure 12. The three-dimensional coordinate system. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7 th Ed.,” by R.
Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007
by Houghton Mifflin Company
You can construct this system by passing a 𝑧 −axis perpendicular to both the
𝑥 − and 𝑦 −axes at the origin.
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Figure 12 shows the positive portion of each coordinate axis. Taken as pairs,
the axes determine three coordinate planes:
 The 𝑥𝑦 −plane
 The 𝑥𝑧 −plane
 The 𝑦𝑧 −plane
These three coordinate planes separate three-space into eight octants.
The first octant is the one for which all three coordinates are positive.
In this three−dimensional system, a point 𝑃 in space is determined by an

ordered triple (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) where 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 are as follows:
𝑥 = directed distance from 𝑦𝑧 −plane to 𝑃
𝑦 = directed distance from 𝑥𝑧 −plane to 𝑃
𝑧 = directed distance from 𝑥𝑦 −plane to 𝑃
Several points are shown in Figure 13.
Figure 13. Points in the three-dimensional coordinate system are represented by ordered
triples. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York,
NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
A three-dimensional coordinate system can have either a left-handed or a

righthanded orientation. To determine the orientation of a system, imagine
that you are standing at the origin, with your arms pointing in the direction of
the positive 𝑥 − and 𝑦 −axes, and with the 𝑧 −axis pointing up, as shown in
Figure 14. The system is right-handed or left-handed depending on which
hand points along the 𝑥 −axis. In this text, you will work exclusively with the
right-handed system.
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Figure 14. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York,
Distance Between Two Points in Space

Many of the formulas established for the two-dimensional coordinate system
can be extended to three dimensions. For example, to find the distance
between two points in space, you can use the Pythagorean Theorem twice,
as shown in Figure 15. By doing this, you will obtain the formula for the
distance between the point (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ).
Figure 15. The distance between two points in space. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by
R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright ©
2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
Example 10.9
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Sphere
A sphere with center at (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ) and radius 𝑟 is defined to be the set of all
points (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) such that the distance between (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ) is 𝑟.
You can use the Distance Formula to find the standard equation of a
sphere of radius 𝑟, centered at (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ).
If (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is an arbitrary point on the sphere, the equation of the sphere is
as shown in Figure 16.
Figure 16. Sphere. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007,
New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
Midpoint Formula
Moreover, the midpoint of the line segment joining the points (𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ) and
(𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 ) has coordinates
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Example 10.10
Vectors in Space
In space, vectors are denoted by ordered triples

𝐯 = 〈𝑣 , 𝑣 , 𝑣 〉
𝐯 = 〈𝑣 , 𝑣 , 𝑣 〉
Denoted by
Zero Vector
𝟎 = 〈0,0,0〉
Figure 17. The standard unit vectors in space. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R.
Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007
by Houghton Mifflin Company
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𝐢 = 〈1,0,0〉
Unit Vectors 𝐣 = 〈0,1,0〉
𝐤 = 〈0,0,1〉
Using the unit vectors 𝐢, 𝐣, and 𝐤 in the direction of the

standard unit
positive 𝑧 −axis, standard unit vector notation for 𝐯 is
vector
𝐯 = 𝑣 𝐢+𝑣 𝐣+𝑣 𝐤
notation for 𝐯
as shown in Figure 17.
Figure 18. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York,
If 𝐯 is represented by the directed line segment from

𝑃(𝑝 , 𝑝 , 𝑝 ) as shown in Figure 18, the component form
of 𝐯 is given by subtracting the coordinates of the
Component initial point from the coordinates of the terminal
form of 𝐯 point, as follows.
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Vectors in Space
Example 10.11
Definition of Parallel Vectors
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For example, in Figure 19, the vectors 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐰 are parallel because
𝐮 = 2𝐯 and 𝐰 = −𝐯.
Figure 19. Parallel vectors. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson,
2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin
Company
Example 10.12
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Example 10.13
in Figure 20.
Figure 20. The points 𝑃, 𝑄, and 𝑅 lie on the same line. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,”
by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright
© 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
Example 10.14
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Assessment
1. Plot the points on the same three-dimensional coordinate system.
a. (3, −2,5)
b. (4,0,5)
2. Find the distance between the points (−2,3,2) and (−2, −5,2).
3. Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment joining the points
(4,0, −6) and (8,8,20).
4. Find the standard equation of the sphere whose center is (4, −1,1) and
radius is 5.
5. Complete the square to write the equation of the sphere,
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 + 9𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 10𝑧 + 19 = 0, in standard form. Find the center
and radius.
Instructions on how to submit student output

Please see class policies for details.
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For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 31

Lesson 10.2: Space Coordinates and 3-

In this three−dimensional system, a point 𝑃 in space is determined by an

Several points are shown in Figure 13.

A three-dimensional coordinate system can have either a left-handed or a

Distance Between Two Points in Space

If (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is an arbitrary point on the sphere, the equation of the sphere is

as shown in Figure 16.

In space, vectors are denoted by ordered triples

Using the unit vectors 𝐢, 𝐣, and 𝐤 in the direction of the

If 𝐯 is represented by the directed line segment from

Definition of Parallel Vectors

Instructions on how to submit student output

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