Hanford High School Calculus III 13.05b Equations of Planes G.

Kelly Page 1 of 5
13.05b Equations of Planes

A line in space was determined by a point and a direction.

A plane in space is determined by a point ( )
0 0 0 0
, , P x y z and a vector n that is orthogonal to the
plane. The orthogonal vector is called the normal vector.

Consider a plane with point ( )
0 0 0 0
, , P x y z and ( ) , , P x y z in the plane:










( ) ( ) ( )
0 0 0
0 a x x b y y c z z + + =

This is the scalar equation of the plane through ( )
0 0 0 0
, , P x y z with normal vector , , a b c = n .


If we clear the parentheses and collect like terms:

0 0 0
0 ax ax by by cz cz + + =

0 0 0
0 ax by cz ax by cz + + =
Combining the constants we get:

0 ax by cz d + + + =

This is the linear equation of the plane.
0
P
P n
Then
0 0 0 0
, PP x x y y z z =

Let , , a b c = n

n is orthogonal to every line in the plane, so

0 0 0
, , , 0 a b c x x y y z z =
Hanford High School Calculus III 13.05b Equations of Planes G. Kelly Page 2 of 5
Ex. 5: Find an equation of the plane that passes through:
( ) 1, 3, 2 P , ( ) 3, 1, 6 Q , and ( ) 5, 2, 0 R

We need a point and a normal vector n. If we have two vectors we can use the cross
product to fine the normal:

2, 4, 4 PQ = = a 4, 1, 2 PR = = b

2 4 4 12 20 14
4 1 2
= = = + +

i j k
n a b i j k

Using ( ) 1, 3, 2 P and 12, 20,14 = n
with the scalar equation ( ) ( ) ( )
0 0 0
0 a x x b y y c z z + + =

( ) ( ) ( ) 12 1 20 3 14 2 0 x y z + + =
12 12 20 60 14 28 0 x y z + + =
12 20 14 100 0 x y z + + =
6 10 7 50 x y z + + =



Ex. 6: Find the point where the line 2 3 x t = + , 4 y t = , 5 z t = + intersects the plane
4 5 2 18 x y z + = .

Substitute: ( ) ( ) ( ) 4 2 3 5 4 2 5 18 t t t + + + =
8 12 20 10 2 18 t t t + =
10 20 t =
2 t =

Substitute back into the equation of the line:

( ) 2 3 2 x = + ( ) 4 2 y = ( ) 5 2 z = +
4 x = 8 y = 3 z =
( ) 4,8, 3
Note that d was moved to the
right side. This is common.
Hanford High School Calculus III 13.05b Equations of Planes G. Kelly Page 3 of 5
Ex. 7: Find the angle between the planes 1 x y z + + = and 2 3 1 x y z + = .
a) The angle between the planes is the same as the angle between the normal vectors:


1
1,1,1 = n
2
1, 2, 3 = n


1 2
1 2
1 2 3 2 2
cos
1 1 1 1 4 9 3 14 42
u
+
= = = =
+ + + +
n n
n n



1 o
2
cos 72
42
u

= ~ Note the use of degrees.

b) Find the symmetric equations for the line of intersection L of these two planes.

We can find the point where L crosses the xy plane by setting 0 z = .

1 x y + = 2 1 x y =
( ) 2 1 x y = 2 0 1 x =
3 0 y = 1 x = ( ) 1, 0, 0 lies on L
0 y =

Since L lies on both planes, it is perpendicular to both normal vectors:


1 2
1 1 1 5 2 3
1 2 3
= = =

i j k
v n n i j k

Using:
0 0 0
x x y y z z
a b c

= =

We get:
1
5 2 3
x y z
= =


This is a line parallel to L .
Hanford High School Calculus III 13.05b Equations of Planes G. Kelly Page 4 of 5
Distance from a Point to a Plane:

Given a point: ( )
1 1 1 1
, , P x y z and a plane: 0 ax by cz d + + + =

The formula for the distance from the point to the plane is:


1 1 1
2 2 2
ax by cz d
D
a b c
+ + +
=
+ +
This formula is derived on p.836 .


Ex. 9: Find the distance between parallel planes: 10 2 2 5 x y z + = and 5 1 x y z + =

5 1 0 x y z + =

If the planes are parallel then the normal vectors 10, 2, 2 and 5,1, 1 are parallel.

Find any point on the first plane: Let 0 y z = =

10 5 x =

1
2
x = so
1
, 0, 0
2
| |
|
\ .
is on the first plane.


( )
2
2 2
1
3 3
5 1 0 1 0 1
1 3 3 2
2 2

6 27 3 3 2 3 3
5 1 1
D
+
= = = = =
+ +

Hanford High School Calculus III 13.05b Equations of Planes G. Kelly Page 5 of 5
Ex. 10: Find the distance between the following skew lines.


1
L
: 1 x t = + 2 3 y t = + 4 z t =


2
L
: 2 x s = 3 y s = + 3 4 z s = +


Since the lines are skew, they must be in parallel planes. The common normal vector n
must be orthogonal to both direction vectors
1
1, 3, 1 = v and
2
2,1, 4 = v .


1 2
1 3 1 13 6 5
2 1 4
= = =
i j k
n v v i j k

If we put 0 s = Into the equations of
2
L we get ( ) 0, 3, 3 as a point on
2
L , and also a point
on
2
P .
An equation for
2
P is: ( ) ( ) ( ) 13 0 6 3 5 3 0 x y z + =
13 6 18 5 15 0 x y z + =
13 6 5 3 0 x y z + =

Set 0 t = into the equations of
1
L to get ( ) 1, 2, 4 as a point on
1
L and
1
P .

The distance from ( ) 1, 2, 4 to 13 6 5 3 0 x y z + = is:


( )
2 2 2
13 1 6 2 5 4 3
8
0.53
230
13 6 5
+
= ~
+ +


which is the same as the distance between the lines.