3-D

THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

1. Coordinates of a Point in Space :
Let O be a fixed point, known as origin and let OX, OY and OZ be three mutually perpendicular lines, taken as
x-axis, y-axis and z-axis respectively, in such a way that they form a right handed system.
The planes XOY, YOZ and ZOX are known as xy-plane, yz-plane and zx-plane respectively.

Let P be a point in space and distances of P from y-z, z-x and x-y planes be x, y, z respectively (with proper
signs) then we say that coordinates of P are (x, y, z).
Also OA = x, OB = y, OC = z
2. Distance Formula :
The distance between two points A (x1, y1, z1) and B (x2, y2, z2) is given by

AB = [( x2 − x1 ) 2 + ( y2 − y1 ) 2 + ( z2 − z1 ) 2 ]
(a) Distance from Origin :
Let O be the origin and P (x, y, z) be any point, then

OP = ( x 2 + y 2 + z 2 )
(b) Distance of a point from coordinate axes :
Let P(x, y, z) be any point in the space. Let PA, PB and PC be the perpendiculars drawn from P to the axes OX,
OY and OZ respectively. Then

PA = ( y 2 + z 2 ) ; PB = ( z 2 + x 2 ) ; PC = ( x 2 + y 2 )
3. Section Formulae :
Let P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) be two points and let R (x, y, z) divide PQ in the ratio m1 : m2. Then R is

F
m x +m x m y +m y m z +m z I
G
( x, y, z) =
Hm + m , m + m , m + m J
1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1

1 2 K
1 2 1 2

If (m1/m2) is positive, R divides PQ internally and if (m1/m2) is negative, then externally.

F
Gx +x1 2 y1 + y2 z1 + z2 IJ
Mid-Point : Mid point of PQ is given by
H2 ,
2
,
2 K
Centroid of a triangle :
Let A(x1, y1, z1), B(x2, y2, z2), C(x3, y3, z3) be the vertices of a triangle ABC. Then its centroid G is given by

G=
F
Gx +x +x y +y +y
1 2 3 1 2 3 z1 + z2 + z3 IJ
H 3 , 3 ,
3 K
To find the ratio in which a given point divide a given line-segment :
Let P (α, β, γ) and A(a1, b1, c1) and B(a2, b2, c2) be three points and we have to find the ratio in which P divides
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AB. Let k : 1 be the ratio. Then

ka2 + a1 kb + b kc + c
= α , 2 1 = β, 2 1 = γ
k +1 k +1 k +1
Solving these, find k. Also if the system is inconsistent, P does not divide AB in any ratio and so P does not lie
on AB i.e. P, A, B are non-collinear.
 For collinearity of three points it is the best method.
4. Direction Cosines & Direction Ratios :
Direction Cosines :
Let α, β, γ be the angles which a directed line makes with the positive directions of the axes of x, y and z
respectively then cos α, cos β, cos γ are called the direction cosines of the line.
The direction cosines are usually denoted by < l, m, n >. Then l = cos α, m = cos β, n = cos γ.
Direction ratios :
Let a, b, c be proportional to the d.c.’s l, m, n then a, b, c are called the direction ratios.
Relation between D.R.’s and D.C.’s :
Let a, b, c be d.r.’s and l, m, n the d.c.’s of a line then

a b c
= = = r (say)
l m n
∴ a2 + b2 + c2 = r2 (l2 + m2 + n2) = r2 ∴ r = [a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ]
Direction cosines l, m, n are given by

a b c
l= ,m= ,n = where r = [(a 2 + b 2 + c 2 )]
r r r
D.C.’s of Axes :

Since the positive x-axes makes angle 0º, 90º, 90º with axes of x, y and z respectively,

∴ d.c.’s of x axes are 1, 0, 0. Similarly for y and z-axes.

∴ D.C.’s of x-axis are 1, 0, 0

D.C.’s of y-axis are 0, 1, 0

D.C.’s of z-axis are 0, 0, 1

Direction ratios of the line joining two points :

Let A(x1, y1, z1) and B(x2, y2, z2) be two points, then d.r.’s of AB are x2 – x1, y2 – y1, z2 – z1 and the d.c.’s of AB are

1 1 1
(z – z ) where r = [ Σ ( x2 − x1 ) ]
2
(x – x ), (y – y ),
r 2 1 r 2 1 r 2 1
5. Projection of a line on another line :
Let PQ be a line segment with P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2 ) and let L be a straight line whose d.c.’s are l, m,
n. Note that l, m, n are d.c.’s of line L, not d.r.’s. Then the length of projection of PQ on the line L is Projection
= | l (x2 – x1) + m (y2 – y1) + n (z2 – z1) |
6. Angle between two lines :
Let θ be the angle between the lines with d.c.’s l1, m1, n1 and l2, m2, n2 then cos θ = l1 l2 + m1m2 + n1n2 Also sin2 θ
= Σ(l1m2 – l2m1)2
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7. Perpendicularity and parallelism :

Let the two lines have their d.c.’s given by l1, m1, n1 and l2, m2, n2 respectively then they are perpendicular if θ = 90º

i.e. cos θ = 0, i.e. l1 l2 + m1m2 + n1n2 = 0.

Also the two lines are parallel if θ = 0 i.e. sin θ = 0, i.e.

l1 m1 n1
= =
l2 m2 n2

 If instead of d.c.’s, d.r.’s a 1 , b 1 , c 1 and a 2 , b 2 , c 2 are given, then the lines are perpendicular if

a1 a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 = 0 and parallel if a1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2 .

(a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 )

 If θ is the angle between the lines then cos θ = HE STRAIGH LINE
(a12 + b12 + c12 ) (a22 + b22 + c22 )

8. Straight Line
Definition :
A straight line in space is characterised by the intersection of two planes which are not parallel and, therefore,
the equation of a straight line is present as a solution of the system constituted by the equations of the two
planes :
a1 x + b1 y + c1 z + d1 = 0; a2 x + b2 y + c2 z + d2 = 0
This form is also known as unsymmetrical form.
Some particular straight lines :
Straight lines Equation
(i) Through the origin y = mx, z = nx
(ii) x-axis y = 0, z = 0
(iii) y-axis x = 0, z = 0
(iv) z-axis x = 0, y = 0
(v) | | to x-axis y = p, z = q
(vi) | | to y-axis x = h, z = q
(vii) | | to z-axis x = h, y = p
Equation of a straight line in symmetrical form :
(i) One point form : Let A(x1, y1, z1) be a given point on the straight line and l, m, n the d.c’s of the line,
then its equation is
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
= = =r (say)
l m n
It should be noted that P(x1 + lr, y1 + mr, z1 + nr) is a general point on this line at a distance r from the
point A(x1, y1, z1) i.e. AP = r. One should note that for AP = r, l, m, n must be d.c.’s not d.r.’s. If a, b,
c are direction ratios of the line, then equation of the line is

x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
= = =r but here AP ≠ r
a b c
(ii) Equation of the line through two points A(x1, y1, z1) and B(x2, y2, z2) is

x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
= =
x2 − x1 y2 − y1 z2 − z1
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Reduction of non-symmetrical form to symmetrical form :

Let equation of the line in non-symmetrical form be
a1 x + b1 y + c1 z + d1 = 0; a2 x + b2 y + c2 z + d2 = 0
To find the equation of the line is symmetrical form, we must know (i) its direction ratios (ii) coordinates of any
point on it.
(i) Direction Ratios : Let l, m, n be the direction ratios of the line. Since the line lies in both the planes,
it must be perpendicular to normals of both planes. So
a1 l + b1 m + c1 n = 0; a2 l + b2 m + c2 n = 0
From these equations, proportional values of l, m, n can be found by cross-multiplication as

l m n
= =
b1c2 − b2 c1 c1a2 − c2 a1 a1b2 − a2b1
(ii) Point on the line : Note that as l, m, n can not be zero simultaneously, so at least one must be non-
zero. Let a1b2 – a2b1 ≠ 0. Then the line cannot be parallel to x-y plane so it intersect it. Let it intersect
x-y plane in (x1, y1, 0). Then
a1 x1 + b1 y1 + d1 = 0 and a2 x1 + b2 y1 + d2 = 0
Solving these, we get a point on the line.

x − x1 y − y1 z−0
Then its equations becomes = =
b1c2 − b2 c1 c1a2 − c2 a1 a1b2 − a2b1
 If l ≠ 0, take a point on y-z plane as (0, y1, z1) and if m ≠ 0, take a point on x-z plane as (x1, 0, z1).
Angle between a line and a plane :
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
Let equations of the line and plane be = = and ax + by + cz + d = 0 respectively and θ be
l m n
the angle which line makes with the plane.Then (π/2 − θ) is the angle between the line and the normal to the

al + bm + cn
plane. So sin θ =
( a + b + c 2 ) ( l 2 + m2 + n 2 )
2 2

Line is parallel to plane if θ = 0 i.e. if al + bm + cn = 0.

a b c
Line is ⊥ to the plane if line is parallel to the normal of the plane i.e. if = = .
l m n
Condition in order that the line may lie on the given plane :
x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
The line = = will lie on the plane Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 if
l m n
(i) Al + Bm + Cn = 0 and (ii) Ax1 + By1 + Cz1 + D = 0
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Foot, length and equation of perpendicular from a point to a line :

Let equation of the line be

x −a y −b z −c
= = =r (say) .......... (1)
l m n
and A (α, β, γ) be the point. Let l, m, n denote the actual d.c.’s of the line. Any point on the line (1) is
P(lr + a, mr + b, nr + c) .......... (2)
If it is the foot of the perpendicular, from A on the line, then AP is ⊥ to the line, so
l (lr + a – α) + m (mr + b – β) + n (nr + c – γ) = 0
i.e. r = (α – a) l + (β – b) m + (γ – c) n
since l2 + m2 + n2 = 1
Putting this value of r in (2), we get the foot of perpendicular from point A to the line.
Length : Since foot of perpendicular P is known, length of perpendicular,

AP = [(lr + a − α ) 2 + (mr + b − β) 2 + (nr + c − γ ) 2 ]

Equation of perpendicular is given by
x−α y −β z−γ
= =
lr + a − α mr + b − β nr + c − γ
Equation of any plane through a given line :

x − x1 y − y1 z − z1
Equation of any plane through the line = = is A(x – x1) + B(y – y1) + C(z – z1) = 0, where
l m n
Al + Bm + Cn = 0.
There can be infinitely many planes through a given line. Particular plane can be found if extra condition
is given.
Condition that two given lines should intersect i.e. be coplanar i.e. testing of skewness or
coplanarity of two given lines. Equation of plane containing two intersecting lines :
Let the two lines be

x − α1 y − β1 z − γ 1
= = .......... (1)
l1 m1 n1

x − α 2 y − β2 z − γ 2
and = = .......... (2)
l2 m2 n2
These lines will coplanar if
α 2 − α 1 β 2 − β1 γ2 − γ1
l1 m1 n1 =0
l2 m2 n2
the plane containing the two lines is
x − α1 y − β1 z − γ1
l1 m1 n1 = 0
l2 m2 n2
Condition of coplanarity if both lines are in general from :
Let the lines be ax + by + cz + d = 0 = a' x + b' y + c' z + d'
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and αx + βy + γz + δ = 0 = α' x + β' y + γ' z + δ'

These are coplanar if
a b c d
a ′ b′ c′ d ′
α β γ δ =0
α′ β′ γ ′ δ′
Skew lines :
The straight lines which are not parallel and non-coplanar i.e. non-intersecting are called skew lines.
Shortest distance between two skew straight lines :
Shortest distance between two skew lines is perpendicular to both.
 If the equations are in cartesian form :
Suppose the equation of the lines are

x−α y−β z−γ

= = .......... (1)
l m n
x − α ′ y − β′ z − γ ′
and = = .......... (2)
l′ m′ n′
Then shortest distance between them is given by

α − α ′ β − β′ γ − γ ′
S.D.= l m n ÷ {Σ (mn ′ − m′ n) 2 }
l′ m′ n′

 If the lines intersect, the S.D.between them is zero. Therefore

α − α ′ β − β′ γ − γ ′
l m n =0
l′ m′ n′

 If the equations are in vector form :

Suppose the equation of the lines are
r r r r r r
r = a1 + λb1 and r = a2 + λb2
Then shortest distance between them is given by
r r r r
(a2 − a1 ) ⋅ (b1 × b2 )
S.D.= r r
| b1 × b2 |
THE PLANE
9. Plane
Definition :
A geometrical locus is a plane if it is such that if P and Q are any two points on the locus, then every point on
the line PQ is also a point on the locus.
Equations of a Plane :
The equation of every plane is of the first degree i.e. of the form ax + by + cz + d = 0, in which a, b, c are
constants, where a2 + b2 + c2 ≠ 0 (i.e. a, b, c ≠ 0 simultaneously).
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Plane Parallel to the Coordinate Planes :
(i) Equation of y-z plane is x = 0.
(ii) Equation of z-x plane is y = 0.
(iii) Equation of x-y plane is z = 0.
(iv) Equation of the plane parallel to x-y plane at a distance c (if c > 0, towards positive z-axis) is z = c.
Similarly, planes parallel to y-z plane and z-x plane are respectively x = c and y = c.
Equations of Planes Parallel to the Axes :
If a = 0, the plane is parallel to x-axis i.e. equation of the plane parallel to x-axis is by + cz + d = 0
Similarly, equations of planes || to y-axis and || to z-axis are ax + cz + d = 0 and ax + by + d = 0, respectively.
Equation of a Plane through Origin :
Equation of plane passing through origin is ax + by + cz = 0
Equation of a Plane through a given Point :
Let the plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 passes through the point (x1, y1, z1) then ax1 + by1 + cz1 + d = 0.
∴ Subtracting, we get a (x – x1) + b (y – y1) + c (z – z1) = 0 which is the required equation.
Equation of a Plane in Intercept Form :

x y z
Equation of the plane which cuts off intercepts a, b, c from the axes is + + = 1.
a b c
Equation of a Plane in Normal Form :
If the length of the perpendicular distance of the plane from the origin is p and direction cosines of this perpendicular
are (l, m, n), then the equation of the plane is lx + my + nz = p.
 In solving problems of plane, first consider its normal. In the equation ax + by + cz + d = 0, a, b, c are the
direction ratios of the normal of the plane.
Equation of a Plane through three points :
The equation of the plane through three non-collinear points (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) (x3, y3, z3) is

x y z 1
x1 y1 z1 1
=0
x2 y2 z2 1
x3 y3 z3 1

Angle between two planes :

Consider two planes ax + by + cz + d = 0 and a' x + b' y + c' z + d' = 0. Angle between these planes is the angle
between their normals.

aa ′ + bb ′ + cc ′
cosθ =
a + b + c2
2 2
a ′ 2 + b′ 2 + c′ 2
∴ Planes are perpendicular if aa' + bb' + cc' = 0 and they are parallel if a/a' = b/b' = c/c'.
Planes parallel to a given Plane :
Equation of a plane parallel to the plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 is ax + by + cz + d' = 0. d' is to be found by other
given function.
A plane through the line of intersection of two given planes :
Consider two planes u = ax + by + cz + d = 0 and v = a' x + b' y + c' z + d' = 0.
The equation u + λv = 0, λ a real parameter, represents the plane passing through the line of intersection of
given planes and if planes are parallel, this represents a plane parallel to them.
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Perpendicular distance of a point from the plane :

Perpendicular distance p, of the point A(x1, y1, z1) from the plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 is given by

| ax1 + by1 + cz1 + d |

p=
(a 2 + b 2 + c 2 )
Bisectors of angles between two planes :
Let the equations of the two planes be ax + by + cz + d = 0 and a1 x + b1 y + c1 z + d1 = 0.
Then equations of bisectors of angles between them are given by

ax + by + cz + d a1 x + b1 y + c1 z + d1
=± (*)
(a + b + c )
2 2 2
(a12 + b12 + c12 )

(i) Equation of bisector of the angle containing origin : First make both constant terms positive.
Then +ve sign in (*) give the bisector of the angle which contains the origin.
(ii) Bisector of acute/obtuse angle : First making both constant terms positive,
aa1 + bb1 + cc1 > 0 ⇒ origin lies in obtuse angle
<0⇒ origin lies in acute angle
Area of a triangle :

→ 
→
Let A(x1, y1, z1), B(x2, y2, z2), C(x3, y3, z3) be the vertices of a triangle ABC. Form two vectors AB and AC .
Then area is given by

1 → → 1 i j k
| AB × AC | = x2 − x1 y2 − y1 z2 − z1
2 2 x −x y3 − y1 z3 − z1
3 1

Volume of a Tetrahedron :
Volume of the tetrahedron with vertices A(x1, y1, z1), B(x2, y2, z2), C(x3, y3, z3) and D(x4, y4, z4) is given by

x1 y1 z1 1
1 x2 y2 z2 1
V=
6 x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1

Note : If ax2 + by2 + cz2 + 2fyz + 2gzx + 2hxy = 0 represents a pair of planes, then the angle between the
planes is given by

2 f 2 + g 2 + h 2 − ab − bc − ca
tan θ =
a +b+c

10. Sphere
Definition :
A sphere is the locus of a point which remains at a constant distance from a fixed point. The constant distance
is called the radius and the fixed point, the centre of the sphere.
Equation of a sphere :
Let (a, b, c) be the centre and r the radius of a given sphere. Then the equation of the sphere is
(x – a)2 + (y – b)2 + (z – c)2 = r2
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 x2 + y2 + z2 = r2 is the equation of a sphere whose centre is (0, 0, 0) and radius r.

General equation of a sphere :
The equation x2 + y2 + z2 + 2ux + 2vy + 2wz + d = 0 represents a sphere with centre at (– u, – v, – w) and

radius (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 − d ) if u2 + v2 + w2 – d > 0.
Sphere with a given diameter :
The equation of the sphere described on the segment joining points A(x1, y1, z1) and B(x2, y2, z2) as a
diameter is
(x – x1) (x – x2) + (y – y1) (y – y2) + (z – z1) (z – z2) = 0
Equation of sphere through four points :
Equation of the sphere passing through four non-coplanar points (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3) and
(x4, y4, z4) is

x2 + y2 + z2 x y z 1
x12 + y12 + z12 x1 y1 z1 1
x 2 2 + y 2 2 + z2 2 x2 y2 z2 1 =0
x 3 2 + y 3 2 + z3 2 x3 y3 z3 1
x 4 2 + y 4 2 + z4 2 x4 y4 z4 1

Plane and Sphere :

Let P = ax + by + cz + d = 0 be a plane and S = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2ux + 2vy + 2wz + k = 0 be a sphere.
Let p be the length of perpendicular from the centre (– u, – v, – w) of sphere to the plane P = 0.

r = (u 2 + v 2 + w 2 − k ) is the radius of the sphere. Then

p<r ⇒ Plane intersect the sphere
p=r ⇒ Plane touches the sphere
p>r ⇒ Plane neither intersect nor touches the sphere.
Plane section of a sphere : If plane intersect sphere, its intersection is a circle. The centre of the
circle is the foot N of the perpendicular from the centre O of the sphere to the plane and its radius is

(r 2 − ON 2 ) , r being the radius of the sphere.

Intersection of two Spheres :
Consider two spheres
S = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2ux + 2vy + 2wz + d = 0
and S' = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2u' x + 2v' y + 2w' z + d' = 0
Here C(–u, –v, –w) and C'(–u', –v', –w' ) are their centres and if r, r' be their respective radii, then
CC' > r + r' ⇒ Sphere are exterior to each other i.e. neither intersecting nor including.
| r – r' | < CC' < r + r' ⇒ Sphere are intersecting.
CC' = | r + r' | ⇒ They touch each other externally.
CC' = | r – r' | ⇒ They touch internally.
CC' < | r – r' | ⇒ One is contained in the other.
Common Plane on intersection : If S = 0 and S' = 0 intersect, then S – S' = 0 represents the equation of
common plane of intersection and this intersection yields a circle.
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SOLVED EXAMPLES
SOLVED
Ex.1 The locus of a point, which moves in such a waty that its distance from the origin is thrice the distance from xy-
plane is
(1) x2 – 8y2– 8z2 = 0 (2) x2 – 8y2 + z2 = 0 (3) – 8x2 + y2 + z2 = 0 (4) x2 + y2 – 8z2 = 0
Sol. Let the point be P (x, y, z) then its distance from origin is
OP = x2 + y2 + z2
The distance of p from xy- plane is z. According to question.

x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 3z
Thus the required locus is
x2 + y2 – 8z2 = 0 Ans . [4]

Ex.2 If two points are P (7, – 5, 11) and Q (–2, 8, 13) then projection of PQ on a straight line with direction cosines
1 2 2
, , is
3 3 3
(1) 7 (2) 8 (3) 9 (4) None of these

Sol. The projection of line joining the points P (7, – 5, 11) and Q (–2, 8, 13) on a line with direction consines
1 2 2
, ,
3 3 3
1 2 2
= (–2,–7) + (8 +5) + (13 – 11)
3 3 3
26 4
= –3 + + =7 Ans. [1]
3 3
Ex.3 Find the projection of the line segment joining the points (–1, 0, 3) and (2, 5, 1) on the line whose direction ratios
are 6, 2, 3.
11 22 33
(1) (2) (3) (4) None of these
7 7 7

Sol. The direction consines l, m, n of the line are given by

l m n l 2 + m 2 + n2 1 1
= = = = =
6 2 3 6 +2 +3
2 2 2 49 7
6 2 3
∴l = ,m= ,n=
7 7 7

The required projection is given by

= l (x2 – x1) + m (y2 – y1) + n (z2 – z1)

6 2 3
= [2 – (–1)] + (5 – 0) + (1 – 3)
7 7 7
6 2 3
= ×3+ ×5+ × –2
7 7 7
18 10 6 18 + 10 − 6 22
= + − = = Ans.[2]
7 7 7 7 7
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Ex.4 Equation of the plane which bisect the line segment joining points (2,3,4) and (6,7,8) perpendicularly is
(1) x + y + z + 15 = 0 (2) x + y + z – 15 = 0
(3) x – y – z – 15 = 0 (4) x – y + z – 15 = 0
Sol. Mid point of the line segment = (4,5,6) and its dr's are 6–2, 7–3, 8–4 i.e.1,1,1 Required plane passes through
(4,5,6) and dr's of its normal are 1,1,1 ; hence its equation will be
1(x –4) + 1 (y – 5) + 1 (z – 6) = 0
⇒ x + y + z – 15 = 0 Ans.[2]

x − 6 y +1 z + 3
Ex.5 The point of intersection of the line = = and the plane x + y – z = 3 is
−1 0 4
(1) (2,1, 0) (2) (7, –1, –7) (3) (1, 2, –6) (4) (5, –1, 1)
Sol. Any point on the line is
(–r + 6, –1, 4r – 3)
If given line meets given plane at this point, then
(–r + 6) – 1 – (4r – 3)=3
⇒ r =1
required point of intersection = (5, –1, 1) Ans.[4]

Ex.6 A plane meets coordinate axes at point A,B,C. If a, b, c be centroid of ∆ABC, then equation of plane is

x y z x y z x y z 1
(1) + + =1 (2) + + =3 (3) + + = (4) None of these
a b c a b c a b c 3
Sol. Let A ≡ (p,0,0), B≡ (0,q,0), C≡ (0,0,r) Then equation of the plane is
x y z
+ + =1 .... (1)
p q r
As given centroid ∆ABC = (a,b,c) Hence
p+0+0 0+q+0 0+0+r
=a, =b, =r
3 3 3
⇒ p=3a, q=3b, r=3c
Putting value of p, q, r in (1) required equation is
x y z
+ + =3 Ans. [2]
a b c
Ex.7 Equation of the plane through point (4,2,4) and perpendicular to planes 2x + 5y + 4z + 1 = 0 and
4x + 7y + 6z + 2 = 0 is
(1) x + 2y – 3z + 4 = 0 (2) x + 2 y – 3z – 4 = 0
(3) x – 2y + 3z + 4 = 0 (4) None of these
Sol. Let equation of the plane be
a (x – 4) + b (y – 2) + c (z – 4) = 0 ....... (1)
It is perpendicular to given two planes, So we have
2a + 5b + 4c = 0 .......(2)
and 4a + 7b + 6c = 0 .......(3)

a b c a b c
from (2) & (3) = = ⇒ = =
2 4 −6 1 2 −3
Putting these proportional values of a, b, c, in (1) required equation is
x + 2y – 3z + 4 = 0 Ans. [1]
 3-D

Ex. 8 A variable plane remains at constant distance p from the origin. If it meet coordinate axes at points A,B,C then
locus of the centroid of ∆ABC is
(1) x2 + y2 + z2 = 9p2 (2) x–2 + y–2 + z–2 = 9p2 (3) x–2 + y–2 + z—2 = 9p–2 (4) x2 + y2 + z2 = 9p–2
Sol. Let A ≡ (a, 0, 0), B ≡ (0, b, 0), C ≡ (0, 0, c) Then equation of the plane is
x y z
+ + =1
a b c
1 1 1 1
As given 2
+ 2 + 2 = 2 ...... (1)
a b c p
If (x,y,z) be centroid of ∆ABC, then
a b c
x= , y= , z= ...... (2)
3 3 3
Eliminating a,b,c from (1) and (2) required locus is
x–2 + y–2 + z–2 = 9p–2 Ans [3]
x−5 y−7 z+3 x−8 y−4 z−5
Ex.9 Equation of the plane containing lines = = and = = is
4 4 −5 7 1 3
(1) 17x–47y–24z+172=0 (2) 17x+47y–24z+172=0
(3) 17x+47y+24z+172=0 (4) 17x–47y+24z+172=0
x −5 y −7 z+3
Sol. Equation of the required plane is 4 4 − 5 =0
7 1 3
⇒ (x – 5) (12 + 5) + (y – 7) (–35 – 12) + (z + 3) (4 – 28) = 0
⇒ 17x – 47y – 24 z + 172 = 0 Ans. [1]

x y z
Ex.10 If plane + + =1 meets coorfinates axes at point A,B,C then area of ∆ABC is
2 3 4
(1) 29 (2) 41 (3) 61 (4) None of these
Sol. A ≡ (2, 0, 0) ; B ≡ (0, 3, 0), C ≡ (0, 0, 4)
Dr's of AB = 2,–3, 0
Dr's of BC = 0, 3,–4

1
∴ Area of ∆ABC = (6 − 0)2 + (12 − 0)2 + (0 + 8)2
2

1
= 36 + 144 + 64 = 61 Ans. [3]
2