3D Autograph Practice Plotting Points, Planes and Lines in 3D

Key Terms:
Point: A point in 3D is written as (x, y, z). It is seen as a 3D cube rather than what we
consider a 2D point or dot.
Plane: A plane in 3D is like a flat face of a cube. It is almost like a sheet of paper but it
does not have to lie horizontally or even vertically. It can be sloped.
Line: A line in 3D extends infinitely in both directions. It looks like a line in 2D but can
also appear to have depth (ie, it may look like a line that is also heading into or out of the
page)
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To complete this practice, follow these instructions:
1) Open Autograph using the icon on your desktop or the Start Menu. Choose the
advanced version.
2) Choose the 3D icon on the toolbar at the top. It is the 3rd icon from the left on the
top.
3) Choose either the white background or the light blue background (2nd line, 4th or
5th from left in toolbar).
4) To change the axes go to the Axes button in your toolbar. Choose edit axes. You
can change the minimum and maximum value for x, y, and z. To start choose
-10 to 10 for each variable.
5) You can also remove the bounding box if you wish by choosing the Options tab
within the edit axes settings section you are currently in. This may help you
envision the points and planes. You may also want to remove axes, remove the
always outside setting, etc. Play around with these!
6) You can spin the box or set of axes by dragging the graph.
7) To colour your lines, planes or points right click on your point, plane, etc and use
the Edit Draw Options tab.
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Question 1: Drawing Points

To draw a point:
Go to Data in the toolbar. Choose Enter Coordinate.
1. Plot each point on one set of axes. You should colour each point a different
colour. Also try rotating or spinning the bounding box or your 3D space
throughout the exercise.

Question 2: Drawing Planes

To draw a plane: Go to Equation in the toolbar. Choose Enter Equation.
2. Plot each plane on its own set of axes. You can colour these as well. Also try
rotating or spinning the box throughout the exercise.
a) x + y + z = 1
c) 2x + 3y 4z = 5

b) x y + z = 10
d) -x + 5y + 6z = 4

Question 3: Intersection of Planes

3. Draw each set of planes on a different set of axes. Determine if they have an
intersection point, line, etc. To do this, find the intersection point/line/etc by clicking on
one plane, using the shift key click on the other. Then right click and hit intersection
line/point.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)

x+y+z=1
x y + z = 10
2x + 3y 4z = 5
-x + 5y + 6z = 4
x+y+z=1
-x + 5y + 6z = 4
x+y=0

and
and
and
and
and
and
and

4x + 3y 6z = 0
x+y+z=5
x + y 3z = -3
5x 3y 2z = -1
4x + 3y 6z = 0
5x 3y 2z = -1
4x + 2y = 5

and
and
and

x+y+z=5
2x +3y 4z=5
2z + 2y = 2

Question 4: Comparisons
4. Draw the following equations in Autograph, each on their own set of axes. Do these
look any different in terms of equation as the equations in Q2? Do they look different
than the drawings? If so, how?
a) x + y = 0
d) 2z + 2y = 2

b) 4x + 2y = 5
e) x = 5

c) 3x + 3y + 3z = 0
f) y = 10

g) z = -2

Question 5: Putting it all together

*** Please hand this in to Miss Butler!!!
1. 3 planes in 3D intersect in a ____________________________.
2. A point in 2D is always in the form of (x, y). A point in 3D is in the form
_______________.
3. A plane in 3D looks like ___________________________.
4. 2 planes in 3D intersect in a ________________________.
5. 2 lines in 2D intersect in a _________________________.
6. In 2D, a horizontal line is in the form y = a (ie, no x). In 3D, what is the form of a
horizontal plane? ____________________________________