THREE DIMENSIONAL

GEOMETRY

Chapter - 11

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Session Objectives
 Introduction
In this chapter, we shall study the direction cosines
and direction ratios of a line joining two points and
also discuss about the equations of lines and planes in
space under different conditions, angle between two
lines, two planes, a line and a plane, shortest distance
between two skew lines and distance of a point from a
plane.
Direction Cosines and Direction Ratios of a Line
If a directed line L passing through the origin makes
angles a, b and g with x, y and z-axes, respectively,
called direction angles, then cosine of these angles,
namely, cos a, cos b and cos g are called direction
cosines of the directed line L.
If we reverse the direction of L, then the direction
angles are replaced by their supplements,
i.e., p - a , p - b and p - g. Thus, the signs of the
direction cosines are reversed.
Z
Note that a given line in space can be extended in two
opposite directions and so it has two sets of direction
cosines. In order to have a unique set of direction
cosines for a given line in space, we must take the
given line as a directed line. These unique direction
cosines are denoted by l, m and n.
Remark If the given line in space does not pass
through the origin, then, in order to find its direction
cosines, we draw a line through the origin and parallel
to the given line. Now take one of the directed lines
from the origin and find its direction cosines as two
parallel line have same set of direction cosines.
Any three numbers which are proportional to the
direction cosines of a line are called the direction
ratios of the line. If l, m, n are direction cosines and a,
b, c are direction ratios of a line, then a = l l, b = l m
and c = l n, for any nonzero l  R.
Note Some authors also call direction ratios as direction
numbers.
The d.c.’s of the line are

where, depending on the desired sign of k, either a

positive or a negative sign is to be taken for l, m and n.
For any line, if a, b, c are direction ratios of a line,
then ka, kb, kc; k  0 is also a set of direction ratios.
So, any two sets of direction ratios of a line are also
proportional. Also, for any line there are infinitely
many sets of direction ratios.
Relation between the direction cosines of a line
Consider a line RS with direction cosines l, m, n.
Through the origin draw a line parallel to the given
line and take a point P(x, y, z) on this line. From P
draw a perpendicular PA on the x-axis
 OA x
Let OP = r. Then a = = . This gives x = lr.
OP r
Direction cosines of a line passing through two points

(a)
(b)
The direction cosines of the line segment joining the
points P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) are

where PQ = (x2 – x1)2 + (y2 – y1)2 + (z2 – z1)2

Note The direction ratios of the line segment joining
P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) may be taken as
x2 – x1, y2 – y1, z2 – z1 or x1 – x2, y1 – y2, z1 – z2
Example 1 If a line makes angle 90°, 60° and 30° with
the positive direction of x, y and z-axis respectively,
find its direction cosines.
Example 2 If a line has direction ratios 2,– 1, – 2,
determine its direction cosines. Solution Direction
cosines are
Example 3 Find the direction cosines of the line
passing through the two points (– 2, 4, –5) and (1, 2, 3).
Example 4 Find the direction cosines of x, y and
z-axis.
Example 5 Show that the points A (2, 3, – 4),
B (1, – 2, 3) and C (3, 8, – 11) are collinear.
THREE DIMENSIONAL
GEOMETRY

Exercise 11.1

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01. If a line makes angles 90°, 135°, 45° with the x, y and
z-axes respectively, find its direction cosines.
02. Find the direction cosines of a line which makes equal
angles with the coordinate axes.
03. If a line has the direction ratios –18, 12,– 4, then what
are its direction cosines ?
04. Show that the points (2, 3, 4), (– 1,– 2, 1), (5, 8, 7) are
collinear.
05. Find the direction cosines of the sides of the triangle
whose vertices are (3, 5, –4), (–1, 1, 2) and
(–5, –5, –2).
 Equation of a Line in Space
We have studied equation of lines in two dimensions
in Class XI, we shall now study the vector and
cartesian equations of a line in space.
A line is uniquely determined if
(i) It passes through a given point and has given direction,
or
(ii) it passes through two given points.
Equation of a line through a given point and parallel
to a given vector b
Let a be the position vector of the given point
A with respect to the origin O of the rectangular
coordinate system. Let l be the line which passes
through the point A and is parallel to a given vector
b. Let r be the position vector of an arbitrary point
P on the line
Conversely, for each value of the parameter l, this
equation gives the position vector of a point P on the
line. Hence, the vector equation of the line is given by
Remark If , then a, b, c are direction
ratios of the line and conversely, if a, b, c are direction
ratios of a line, then will be the parallel
to the line. Here, b should not be confused with
Derivation of cartesian form from vector form
Let the coordinates of the given point A be (x1, y1, z1)
and the direction ratios of the line be a, b, c. Consider
the coordinates of any point P be (x, y, z). Then
Substituting these values in (1) and equating the
coefficients of

These are parametric equations of the line.

Eliminating the parameter l from (2),
we get

This is the Cartesian equation of the line.

Note If l, m, n are the direction cosines of the line, the
equation of the line is
Example 6 Find the vector and the Cartesian equations
of the line through the point (5, 2, – 4) and which is
parallel to the vector
Equation of a line passing through two given points
Derivation of cartesian form from vector form
We have

and b = x2 iˆ + y2 jˆ + z2 kˆ
Substituting these values in (1), we get
Example 7 Find the vector equation for the line
passing through the points (–1, 0, 2) and (3, 4, 6).
Example 8 The Cartesian equation of a line is
x+3 y–5 z+6
2 4 2
Find the vector equation for the line.
Angle between Two Lines
Angle between the lines in terms of sin q is given by
Note In case the lines L1 and L2 do not pass through
the origin, we may take lines L1 and L2 which are
parallel to L1 and L2 respectively and pass through
the origin.
If instead of direction ratios for the lines L1 and L2,
direction cosines, namely, l1, m1, n1 for L1 and l2, m2,
n2 for L2 are given, then (1) and (2) takes the following
form:
Now, we find the angle between two lines when their
equations are given. If q is acute the angle between the
lines
+ lb1 + mb2
In Cartesian form, if q is the angle between the lines

where, a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 are the direction ratios of
the lines (1) and (2), respectively, then
Example 9 Find the angle between the pair of lines
given by
Example 10 Find the angle between the pair of lines
Shortest Distance between Two Lines
If two lines in space intersect at a point, then the
shortest distance between them is zero. Also, if two
lines in space are parallel, then the shortest distance
between them will be the perpendicular distance, i.e.
the length of the perpendicular drawn from a point on
one line onto the other line.
Further, in a space, there are lines which are neither
intersecting nor parallel. In fact, such pair of lines are
non coplanar and are called skew lines.
The line GE that goes diagonally across the ceiling and
the line DB passes through one corner of the ceiling
directly above A and goes diagonally down the wall.
These lines are skew because they are not parallel and
also never meet.
By the shortest distance between two lines we mean
the join of a point in one line with one point on the
other line so that the length of the segment so obtained
is the smallest.
For skew lines, the line of the shortest distance will be
perpendicular to both the lines.
Distance between two skew lines
We now determine the shortest distance between two
skew lines in the following way :
Let l1 and l2 be two skew lines with equations

Take any point S on l1 with position vector a1 and T

on l2, with position vector a2. Then the magnitude of
the shortest distance vector will be equal to that of the
projection of ST along the direction of the line of
shortest distance
Where, d is the magnitude of the shortest distance
vector. Let q be the angle between
Hence, the required shortest distance is
Cartesian form
The shortest distance between the lines
Distance between parallel lines
If two lines l1 and l2 are parallel, then they are coplanar.
Let the lines be given by
But ST = a2 – a1
Therefore, from (3), we get

Hence, the distance between the given parallel lines is

Example 11 Find the shortest distance between the
lines l1 and l2 whose vector equations are
Example 12 Find the distance between the lines l1 and
l2 given by
THREE DIMENSIONAL
GEOMETRY

Exercise 11.2

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01. Show that the three lines with direction cosines

are mutually perpendicular.

02. Show that the line through the points (1,– 1, 2),
(3, 4, – 2) is perpendicular to the line through the
points (0, 3, 2) and (3, 5, 6).
03. Show that the line through the points (4, 7, 8), (2, 3, 4)
is parallel to the line through the points (– 1,– 2, 1),
(1, 2, 5).
04. Find the equation of the line which passes through the
point (1, 2, 3) and is parallel to the vector
05. Find the equation of the line in vector and in cartesian
form that passes through the point with position vector
and is in the direction
06. Find the cartesian equation of the line which passes
through the point (– 2, 4, – 5) and parallel to the line
given by
07. The cartesian equation of a line is

Write its vector form.

08. Find the vector and the cartesian equations of the lines
that passes through the origin and (5, – 2, 3).
09. Find the vector and the cartesian equations of the line
that passes through the points (3, – 2, – 5), (3, – 2, 6).
10. Find the angle between the following pairs of lines:
11. Find the angle between the following pair of lines :

x–2 y–1 z+3 x+2 y–4 z–5

(i) and
2 5 –3 –1 8 4
12. Find the values of p so that the lines

are at right angles.

13. Show that the lines

are perpendicular to each other.

14. Find the shortest distance between the lines
15. Find the shortest distance between the lines
16. Find the shortest distance between the lines whose
vector equations are
17. Find the shortest distance between the lines whose
vector equations are
 Plane
A plane is determined uniquely if any one of the
following is known :
(i) The normal to the plane and its distance from the origin
is given, i.e., equation of a plane in normal form.
(ii) It passes through a point and is perpendicular to a
given direction.
(iii) It passes through three given non collinear points.
Now we shall find vector and Cartesian equations of
the planes.
Equation of a plane in normal form
Consider a plane whose perpendicular distance from
the origin is d (d  0).
 ON + NP = OP

This is the vector form of the equation of the plane.

Cartesian form
Equation (2) gives the vector equation of a plane, where
is the unit vector normal to the plane. Let P(x, y, z)
be any point on the plane. Then
OP = r = x iˆ + y jˆ + z kˆ
ˆ Then
Let l, m, n be the direction cosines of n.
nˆ = l iˆ + m jˆ + n kˆ
Note Equation (3) shows that if
is the vector equation of a plane, then ax +by + cz = d
is the Cartesian equation of the plane, where a, b and
c are the direction ratios of the normal to the plane.
Example 13 Find the vector equation of the plane
which is at a distance of from the origin and its

normal vector from the origin is.

Example 14 Find the direction cosines of the unit
vector perpendicular to the plane
passing through the origin.
Example 15 Find the distance of the plane 2x – 3y + 4z
– 6 = 0 from the origin.
Example 16 Find the coordinates of the foot of the
perpendicular drawn from the origin to the plane
2x – 3y+ 4z – 6 = 0.
Note If d is the distance from the origin and l, m, n are
the direction cosines of the normal to the plane
through the origin, then the foot of the perpendicular is
(ld, md, nd).
Equation of a plane perpendicular to a given vector
and passing through a given point
In the space, there can be many planes that are
perpendicular to the given vector, but through a given
point P(x1, y1 , z1), only one such plane exists.
Let a plane pass through a point A with position
vector a and perpendicular to the vector
Let r be the position vector of any point P(x, y, z) in
the plane. Then the point P lies in the plane if and only if

This is the vector equation of the plane.

Cartesian form
Let the given point A be (x1, y1, z1), P be (x, y, z)
and direction ratios of are A, B and C. Then,

= A iˆ + B jˆ + C kˆ
Example 17 Find the vector and cartesian equations
of the plane which passes through the point (5, 2, – 4)
and perpendicular to the line with direction ratios 2, 3,
– 1.
Equation of a plane passing through three non
collinear points
Let R, S and T be three non collinear points on the
plane with position vectors
The vectors RS and RT are in the given plane.
Therefore, the vector RS × RT is perpendicular to the
plane containing points R, S and T. Let r be the
position vector of any point P in the plane. Therefore,
the equation of the plane passing through R and
perpendicular to the vector RS × RT is

This is the equation of the plane in vector form passing

through three non-collinear points.
Note Why was it necessary to say that the three points
had to be non collinear ? If the three points were on
the same line, then there will be many planes that will
contain them (Fig 11.15).
Cartesian form
Let (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3) be the
coordinates of the points R, S and T respectively. Let
(x, y, z) be the coordinates of any point P on the plane
with position vector r. Then
Substituting these values in equation (1) of the vector
form and expressing it in the form of a determinant, we
have

which is the equation of the plane in Cartesian form

passing through three non collinear points (x1, y1, z1),
(x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3).
Example 18 Find the vector equations of the plane
passing through the points R(2, 5, – 3), S(– 2, – 3, 5)
and T(5, 3,– 3).
Intercept form of the equation of a plane
In this section, we shall deduce the equation of a plane
in terms of the intercepts made by the plane on the
coordinate axes. Let the equation of the plane be
Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 (D  0) ... (1)
Let the plane make intercepts a, b, c on x, y and z axes,
respectively.
Hence, the plane meets x, y and z-axes at (a, 0, 0),
(0, b, 0), (0, 0, c), respectively.
–D
a
–D
b
–D
c
Substituting these values in the equation (1) of the
plane and simplifying, we get

... (1)
which is the required equation of the plane in the
intercept form.
Example 19 Find the equation of the plane with
intercepts 2, 3 and 4 on the x, y and z-axis respectively.
Plane passing thro ugh the intersection of two given
planes
Let p1 and p2 be two planes with equations
and respectively. The position vector of any
point on the line of intersection must satisfy both the
equations
 that if any vector
satisfies both the equations p1and p2, it also satisfies
the equation p3 i.e., any plane passing through the
intersection of the planes
Then (1) becomes

which is the required Cartesian form of the equation

of the plane passing through the intersection of the
given planes for each value of l.
Example 20 Find the vector equation of the plane
passing through the intersection of the planes
and the point
(1, 1, 1).
Coplanarity of Two Lines
Let the given lines be

The line (1) passes through the point, say A, with

position vector and is parallel to
The line (2) passes through the point, say B with
position vector a2 and is parallel to b2
Thus, AB = a2 – a1
The given lines are coplanar if and only if
Cartesian form
Let (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) be the coordinates of the
points A and B respectively.
Let a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 be the direction ratios of b1
and b2 , respectively. Then

AB = (x2 – x1) iˆ + (y2 – y1) jˆ + (z2 – z1) kˆ

b1 = a1 iˆ + b1 jˆ + c1 kˆ and b2 = a2 iˆ + b2 ˆj + c2 kˆ
The given lines are coplanar if and only if
In the cartesian form, it can be
expressed as

0
Example 21 Show that the lines

are coplanar.
Angle between Two Planes
Definition 2 The angle between two planes is defined
as the angle between their normals (Fig 11.18 (a)).
Observe that if q is an angle between the two planes,
then so is 180 – q (Fig 11.18 (b)). We shall take the
acute angle as the angles between two planes.
If n1 and n2 are normals to the planes and q be the
angle between the planes

Then q is the angle between the normals to the planes

drawn from some common point.
Note The planes are perpendicular to each other if
and parallel if is parallel to
Cartesian form Let q be the angle between the planes,
A1 x + B1 y + C1z + D1 = 0 and
A2x + B2 y + C2 z + D2 = 0
The direction ratios of the normal to the planes are A1,
B1, C1 and A2, B2, C2 respectively.
Note
1. If the plan es are at right angles, t hen q = 90o and so
cos q = 0 .
Hence, cos q = A1A2 + B1B2 + C1C2 = 0.

2. If the planes are parallel, then

Example 22 Find the angle between the two planes
2x + y – 2z = 5 and 3x – 6y – 2z = 7 using vector
method.
Example 23 Find the angle between the two planes
3x – 6y + 2z = 7 and 2x + 2y – 2z =5.
Distance of a Point from a Plane
Vector form
Consider a point P with position vector a and a plane
p1 whose equation is
Thus, the distance ON of this plane from the origin is
Therefore, the distance PQ from the plane p1 is

Which is the length of the perpendicular from a point

to the given plane.
Note
1. If the equation of the plane p2 is in the form r . N = d
where N is normal to the plane, then the

perpendicular distance is

2. The length of the perpendicular from origin O to

the plane r . N = d is
Cartesian form
Let P(x1, y1, z1) be the given point with position
vector a and
Ax + By + Cz = D
be the Cartesian equation of the given plane. Then
Hence, from Note 1, the perpendicular from P to the
plane is

A x1 + B y1 + C z1 – D
A2 + B2 + C2
Example 24 Find the distance of a point (2, 5,– 3)
from the plane
Angle between a Line and a Plane
Definition 3 The angle between a line and a plane is
the complement of the angle between the line and
normal to the plane
and so the angle f between the line and the plane is
given by 90 – q, i.e.,
sin (90 – q) = cos q
Example 25 Find the angle between the line

and the plane 10 x + 2y – 11 z = 3.

THREE DIMENSIONAL
GEOMETRY

Exercise 11.3

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01. In each of the following cases, determine the direction
cosines of the normal to the plane and the distance
from the origin.
(a) z = 2 (b) x + y + z = 1
(c) 2x + 3y – z = 5 (d) 5y + 8 = 0
02. Find the vector equation of a plane which is at a
distance of 7 units from the origin and normal to the
vector
03. Find the Cartesian equation of the following planes:
04. In the following cases, find the coordinates of the foot
of the perpendicular drawn from the origin.
(a) 2x + 3y + 4z – 12 = 0 (b) 3y + 4z – 6 = 0
(c) x + y + z = 1 (d) 5y + 8 = 0
05. Find the vector and cartesian equations of the planes
(a) That passes through the point (1, 0, – 2) and the normal
to the plane is iˆ + jˆ – kˆ
(b) That passes through the point (1,4, 6) and the normal
vector to the plane is iˆ – 2jˆ + kˆ
06. Find the equations of the planes that passes through
three points.
(a) (1, 1, – 1), (6, 4, – 5), (– 4, – 2, 3)
(b) (1, 1, 0), (1, 2, 1), (– 2, 2, – 1)
07. Find the intercepts cut off by the plane 2x + y – z = 5.
08. Find the equation of the plane with intercept 3 on the
y-axis and parallel to ZOX plane.
09. Find the equation of the plane through the intersection
of the planes 3x – y + 2z – 4 = 0 and x + y + z – 2 = 0
and the point (2, 2, 1).
10. Find the vector equation of the plane passing through
the intersection of the planes
and through the point (2, 1, 3).
11. Find the equation of the plane thro ugh the line of
intersection of the planes x + y + z = 1 and 2x + 3y + 4z
= 5 which is perpendicular to the plane x – y + z = 0.
12. Find the angle between the planes whose vector
equations are
13. In the following cases, determine whether the given
planes are parallel or perpendicular, and in case they
are neither, find the angles between them.
(a) 7x + 5y + 6z + 30 = 0 and 3x – y – 10z + 4 = 0
(b) 2x + y + 3z – 2 = 0 and x – 2y + 5 = 0
(c) 2x – 2y + 4z + 5 = 0 and 3x – 3y + 6z– 1 = 0
(d) 2x – y + 3z – 1 = 0 and 2x – y + 3z + 3 = 0
(e) 4x + 8y + z – 8 = 0 and y+z–4=0
14. In the following cases, find the distance of each of the
given points from the corresponding given plane.
Point Plane
(a) (0, 0, 0) 3x – 4y + 12 z = 3
(b) (3,– 2, 1) 2x – y + 2z + 3 = 0
(c) (2, 3, – 5) x + 2y – 2z = 9
(d) (– 6, 0, 0) 2x – 3y + 6z– 2 = 0
Miscellaneous Examples
Example 26 A line makes angles a, b, g and d with the
diagonals of a cube, prove that
Example 27 Find the equation of the plane that
contains the point (1, – 1, 2) and is perpendicular to
each of the planes 2x + 3y – 2z = 5 and x + 2y – 3z = 8.
Example 28 Find the distance between the point
P(6, 5, 9) and the plane determined by the points
A (3, – 1, 2), B (5, 2, 4) and C(– 1, – 1, 6).
Example 29 Show that the lines
Example 30 Find the coordinates of the point where
the line through the points A (3, 4, 1) and B(5, 1, 6)
crosses the XY-plane.
Miscellaneous Exercise on Chapter 11
01. Show that the line joining the origin to the point (2, 1, 1)
is perpendicular to the line determined by the points
(3, 5, – 1), (4, 3, – 1).
02. If l1, m1, n1 and l2, m2, n2 are the direction cosines of
two mutually perpendicular lines, show that the
direction cosines of the line perpendicular to both of
these
are m1 n2 – m2 n1 , n1 l2 – n2 l1, l1 m2 – l2 m1
03. Find the angle between the lines whose direction ratios
are a, b, c and b – c, c – a, a – b.
04. Find the equation of a line parallel to x-axis and
passing through the origin.
05. If the coordinates of the points A, B, C, D be (1, 2, 3),
(4, 5, 7), (– 4, 3, – 6) and (2, 9, 2) respectively, then
find the angle between the lines AB and CD.
06.

are perpendicular,

find the value of k.

07. Find the vector equation of the line passing through
(1, 2, 3) and perpendicular to the plane
08. Find the equation of the plane passing through (a, b, c)
and parallel to the plane
ˆ = 2.
r . (iˆ + jˆ + k)
09. Find the shortest distance between lines
10. Find the coordinates of the point where the line
through (5, 1, 6) and (3, 4,1) crosses the YZ-plane.
11. Find the coordinates of the point where the line
through (5, 1, 6) and (3, 4, 1) crosses the ZX-plane.
12. Find the coordinates of the point where the line
through (3, – 4, – 5) and (2, – 3, 1) crosses the plane
2x + y + z = 7.
13. Find the equation of the plane passing through the
point (– 1, 3, 2) and perpendicular to each of the
planes x + 2y + 3z = 5 and 3x + 3y + z = 0.
14. If the points (1, 1 , p) and (– 3 , 0, 1) be equidistant
ˆ + 13 = 0 then find the
from the plane r .(3iˆ + 4jˆ – 12k)
value of p.
15. Find the equation of the plane passing through the line
of intersection of the planes
and parallel to x-axis.
16. If O be the origin and the coordinates of P be (1, 2,– 3),
then find the equation of the plane passing through
P and perpendicular to OP.
17. Find the equation of the plane which contains the line
of intersection of the planes
and which is perpendicular to
the plane
18. Find the distance of the point (– 1,– 5, – 10) from the
point of intersection of the line
and the plane
19. Find the vector equation of the line passing through
(1, 2, 3) and parallel to the planes
20. Find the vector equation of the line passing through the
point (1, 2, – 4) and perpendicular to the two lines:
21. Prove that if a plane has the intercepts a, b, c and is at
a distance of p units from the origin, then
Choose the correct answer in Exercises 22 and 23.
22. Distance between the two planes: 2x + 3y + 4z = 4 and
4x + 6y + 8z = 12 is
(A) 2 units (B) 4 units

(C) 8 units (D)

23. The planes: 2x – y + 4z = 5 and 5x – 2.5y + 10z = 6 are
(A) Perpendicular (B) Parallel

(C) intersect y-axis (D) passes through

Summary
s Direction cosines of a line are the cosines of the angles
made by the line with the positive directions of the
coordinate axes.
s If l, m, n are the direction cosines of a line,
then l2 + m 2 + n2 = 1.
s Direction cosines of a line joining two points P(x1, y1, z1)
and Q(x2, y2, z2) are
s Direction ratios of a line are the numbers which are
proportional to the direction cosines of a line.
s If l, m, n are the direction cosines and a, b, care the
direction ratios of a line then
s Skew lines are lines in space which are neither parallel
nor intersecting. They lie in different planes.
s Angle between skew lines is the angle between two
intersecting lines drawn from any point (preferably
through the origin) parallel to each of the skew lines.
s If l1, m1, n1 and l2, m2, n2 are the direction cosines of
two lines; and q is the acute angle between the two
lines; then
s If a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 are the direction ratios of two
lines and q is the acute angle between the two lines ;
then
s Vector equation of a line that passes through the given
point whose position vector is and parallel to a given
vector
s Equation of a line through a point (x1, y1, z1) and having
direction cosines l, m, n is
s The vector equation of a line which passes through
two points whose position vectors are
s Cartesian equation of a line that passes through two
points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) is
s If q is the acute angle between
s

are the equations of two lines, then the acute angle

between the two lines is given by
s Shortest distance between two skew lines is the line
segment perpendicular to both the lines.
s Shortest distance between r = a1 + lb1 and r = a2 + mb2
is
s Shortest distance between the lines :
s Distance between parallel lines r = a1 + lb and
r = a2 + mb
s In the vector form, equation of a plane which is at a
distance d from the origin, and is the unit vector
normal to the plane through the origin is
s Equation of a plane which is at a distance of d from
the origin and the direction cosines of the normal to
the plane as l, m, n is lx + my + nz = d.
s The equation of a plane through a point whose position
vector is and perpendicular to the vector
s Equation of a plane perpendicular to a given line with
direction ratios A, B, C and passing through a given
point (x1, y1, z1) is
A (x – x1) + B (y – y1) + C (z – z1) = 0
s Equation of a plane passing through three non
collinear points (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3) is
s Vector equation of a plane that contains three non
collinear points having position vectors
s Equation of a plane that cuts the coordinates axes at
(a, 0, 0), (0, b, 0) and (0, 0, c) is
s Vector equation of a plane that passes through the
intersection of planes
where l is any nonzero
constant.
s Cartesian equation of a plane that passes through the
intersection of two given planes A1 x + B1 y + C1 z +
D1 = 0 and A2 x + B2 y + C2 z + D2 = 0 is (A1 x + B1
y + C1 z + D1) + l(A2 x + B2 y + C2 z + D2) = 0.
s
s In the cartesian form above lines passing through the
points A (x1, y1, z1) and B (x2, y2, z2)
s In the vector form, if q is the angle between the two
planes,
s
s The angle q between the planes A1x + B1y + C1z + D1
= 0 and A2 x + B2 y + C2 z + D2 = 0 is given by
s The distance of a point whose position vector is
s The distance from a point (x1, y1, z1) to the plane
Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 is