Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

Chapter 6
Vectors, Straight lines and planes in 3-space
6.1 Review on vectors:

Vector: A vector is a quantity having both magnitude and direction.

A vector is represented by a directed line segment. When denoted by a single letter we use bold

face letter a or in manuscript by a. The magnitude of a is denoted by |a| or a.

Equal vectors: a = b ⇔|a|=|b| and direction of a is same as direction of b.

Negative vector:  a is a vector of same magnitude of a and direction opposite to that of a.

Unit vector: A unit vector is vector having unit magnitude. A unit vector in the direction a is

a
a=
|a| .

Zero vector: A vector of magnitude 0 is called a zero or null vector represented by the symbol 0.
A zero vector has no specific direction.

Addition of two vectors

The sum of two vectors is a vector obtained a

by using the triangle law or parallelogram law. b baab b
Note that a + b = b + a (commutative law).
a
Rectangular coordinate system
Fig. 6.1
The position of a point in space can be located by its perpendicular distances from three mutually
perpendicular planes. Three such planes intersecting in three mutually perpendicular lines known
as the rectangular coordinate axes. These axes are placed in such a way that they form a right-
handed system.

The coordinate planes divide the space into eight regions known as octants.

Convention: x is positive when measured in the direction of Ox, negative if measured in the
'
direction of O x . Similar sign conventions hold for y and z.

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

x
z
y O
y
x
y
x
z
Fig. 6.2
The Rectangular unit
x , ^y , ^z.
vectors ^

The three-unit vectors in the directions of the positive x, y and z axes of a three dimensional

coordinate system are known as the rectangular unit vectors and are denoted respectively by x
 
, y and z .

Any vector a in 3 dimensions can be expressed in terms of its components a1, a2 and a3 in the x, y
and z directions as

a  a1 x  a2 y  a3 z

⃗a =|a|= a 2 + a 2 + a
√
The magnitude of a is 1 2 32 .

Position vector
z

r P( x, y, z)
→
The vector OP joining the origin (0,0,0) to the
y
point P ( x, y ,z ) is called the position vector of P. O
x
The position vector r of P is Fig. 6.3
r  xx  y y  z z

Distance between two points

z
Let P1 ( x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and P2 ( x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) be P2 ( x2 , y2 , z2 ) two
r2
points so that
r1 P1 ( x1, y1, z1)
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O y
x Fig. 6.4
Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19


r1  OP1  x1 x  y1 y  z1 z


r2  OP2  x2 x  y2 y  z2 z

Then by triangle law,


P1P2  r2  r1  ( x2  x1 ) x  ( x2  x1 ) y  ( x2  x1 ) z

The distance P1 P2 is given by

P1P2 =
|r 1 −r 2| =
[( x2  x1 ) 2  ( y2  y1 ) 2  ( z2  z1 ) 2 ]

Products of two vectors

There are two ways in which vectors are multiplied.

The dot or scalar product

The dot or scalar product of two vectors a and b, denoted by a¿b , is defined by

a¿b=|a||b|cosθ
where θ is the angle between a and b.
b
a ¿ b=b ¿ a .

Fig.a6.5
From the definition,

Note that x  x  y  y  z  z  1

and x  y  y  z  z  x  0 .

     
If a = a1 x + a2 y + a3 z and b = b1 x + b2 y + b3 z

then
a ¿ b=a1 b 1 +a2 b2 +a3 b3

The cross or vector product

The cross or vector product of two vectors a and b, denoted by a×b , is a vector such that

(i) |a×b|=|a||b|sinθ where θ is the angle between a and b.

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

(ii) a×b is perpendicular to both a and b

(iii) a, b and a×b (in that sense) form a right handed system.

a×b=|a||b|sin θ n^
Thus
n̂
From the definition, b×a=− a×b .

b
Note that x  x  y  y  z  z  0 and
a
x  y  z , y  z  x , z  x  y .
Fig. 6.6
  
If a = a1 x + a2 y + a3 z and

  
b = b 1 x + b2 y + b3 z

then a×b = (a1 x + a2 y + a3 z )( b1 x + b2 y + b3 z )

  
= (a2b3  a3b2 ) x  (a1b3  a3b1 ) y  (a1b2  a2b1 ) z

The above result can conveniently be written in determinant form as

x y z
a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
a×b =

Direction Cosines (D.C.s) and Direction Ratios (D.R.s)

If a line makes angles α , β , γ with the positive directions of the coordinate axes, then
cos α , cos β and cos γ are called the direction cosines of the line.

Any three numbers proportional to the direction cosines are called direction ratios of the line.
^ ^ ^

The direction ratios of a vector a   x   y  z are [ λ, μ, ν] and is given by

^ ^ ^
a  x = , a  y = , a z =

or a cos  = , a cos  = , a cos  = , where a is the magnitude of a.

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

      
If a  l x  m y  nz is a unit vector in the direction of a   x   y   z , then

cos 2 α+cos 2 β+cos2 γ=l 2 +m2 +n 2=1

Angle between two lines

If λ1 : μ 1 : ν 1 and λ2 : μ 2 : ν 2 are the direction ratios of the two lines, then the vectors
a1  1 x  1 y  1 z , a 2  2 x  2 y   2 z are in the directions of the lines and so the angle 
between the lines is given by

a .a λ 1 λ 2 + μ 1 μ 2 + ν1 ν 2
cos θ= 1 2 =
|a1||a2| λ 2 + μ 2 + ν 2 λ 2 + μ 2 +ν
√ √
1 1 1 2 2 22

The condition for which two lines are perpendicular is

λ1 λ 2 + μ1 μ2 + ν 1 ν 2=0

The lines along a1 and a2 are parallel if a1 =ta 2 i.e.

1 x  1 y  1 z  t (2 x   2 y  2 z )

Comparing λ1 =tλ 2 , μ 1=tμ 2 , ν 1 =tν2

The condition for which two lines are parallel is

λ1 μ1 ν1
= =
λ2 μ2 ν2

Thus parallel vectors have equal direction ratios.

        
Example 6.1 Given the vectors a  2 x  2 y  z , b  x  y  z and c  2 x  6 y  3 z . Find

(a) the length of the vector a−3 b , (b) the angle between a and b,

(c) b×c (d) a⋅b×c (e) a unit vector perpendicular to b and c,

(f) the direction cosines of c, (g) the projection of a on c.

Solution:

a  3b  2 x  2 y  z  3( x  y  z )   x  5 y  4 z
(a)

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

√(−1)2+5 2+4 2=√1+25+16= √ 42

(b) The angle  between the vectors is given by

a b (2 x  2 y  z )  ( x  y  z )
cos   
a b 22  22  12 12  (1) 2  (1) 2

2−2−1 1
= =−
3 √3 3 √3
Hence

x y z
b  c  1 1 1
2 6 3      
(c) = ( 3  6) x  ((3  2) y  (6  2) z = 3 x  y  4 z
     
(d) a⋅b×c = (2 x  2 y  z )  (3x  y  4 z )  6  2  4  8

(e) A vector perpendicular to b and c is b×c .

A unit vector perpendicular to b and c is

b  c 3 x  y  4 z 1
   (3x  y  4 z )
bc 9  1  16 26

(f) A unit vector along c is

c 2 x  6 y  3 z 2 x  6 y  3 z 2 6 3
    x  y  z
c (2)  6  3
2 2 2 7 7 7 7

The direction cosines are 2/7, 6/7, 3/7.

a  c (2 x  2 y  z )  (2 x  6 y  3z )

 a  cˆ  
(g) The projection of a on c
c 4  36  9

4 +12+3 19
= =
7 7 b
P
6.2 Straight line A

6.2.1 Equation of a straight line

a r
A particular line is uniquely located in space if
O
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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

(a) it has a known direction and passes through a point

(b) it passes through two known points
Fig . 6.7

Vector form

Consider the vector equation of a straight line passing

through a point A with position vector a and
→
parallel to the vector b. Since AP is parallel to b,
→
we get AP = tb, t is a scalar.
If P is any point on the line with position vector r,
then
r=a+tb , t is a scalar parameter

A line is a one-dimensional object, so it is described in terms of one parameter.

Scalar form

     
If r  xx  y y  z z , a  a1 x  a2 y  a3 z and b  b1 x  b2 y  b3 z , then r=a+tb
  
can be
expressed as
 
xx  y y  z z  a1 x  a2 y  a3 z  t b1 x  b2 y  b3 z

Equating coefficients, we have the scalar form as follows:

(i) Parametric form

x=a1 +b1 t

y=a2 +b 2 t

z=a3 +b3 t

(ii) Symmetric form

x−a1 y−a 2 z−a 3

= = =t
b1 b2 b3
which is the Cartesian equation of the line.

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

Note that
b1 :b 2 :b3 are the direction ratios of the line.

Example 6.2 Find, in vector and in Cartesian form, of the line which passes through (1,−2, 3)
x−2 y +1 z
= =
and parallel to the line 3 2 1 .

Solution:
  
A direction vector of the line is b  3 x  2 y  z and the position vector of the given point is
a  x  2 y  3 z .
A parametric vector equation of the line is

r  x  2 y  3 z  t 3x  2 y  z 
Cartesian equations may be obtained by equating coefficients
x=1+3 t , y=−2+2 t , z=3+t

or equivalently
x−1 y +2 z−3
= = =t
3 2 1
6.2.2 Straight line passing through two points

Suppose r1 and r2 are the position vectors of the points P1 ( x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and P2 ( x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) .

→
The line contains the vector P1 P2 =r 2−r 1 . Thus the parametric vector equation of the line is
r=r 1 +t (r 2−r 1 )

and the Cartesian equation is

x−x 1 y − y 1 z−z 1
= = =t
x 2 −x 1 y 2− y1 z 2 −z 1

Example 6.3 Find the equations of the lines through the following pairs of points in both vector
and Cartesian form:
(a) (1, 2, 3) , (4 , −1, 2) (b) (3, 4, 6) , (2, 5, 6)
Solution:
(a) The position vector of two points are
r1  x  2 y  3z , r2  4 x  y  2 z

The direction vector is

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

r12  r2  r1  3x  3 y  z

Vector equation of the line is

r=r 1 +t r 12

 x  2 y  3z  t (3x  3 y  z )

Equating coefficients, we get the parametric form as

x=1+3 t , y=2−3 t , z=3−z

x−1 y−2 z−3

= = =t
or 3 −3 −1
The Cartesian form of the equation is
x−1 y−2 z−3
= =
3 −3 −1

(b) The line passes through (3,4,6) and has direction ratios
(2−3 ):(5−4 ):(6−6 )=−1:1 :0

The vector equation of the line is

r  3 x  4 y  6 z  t ( x  y )

In Cartesian form we must be careful. Here we have

x−3 y −4
=
−1 1 and z=6 .

6.2.3 Pairs of lines

The location of two lines in space may be such that:

(a) the lines are parallel,
(b) the lines are not parallel and intersect,
(c) the lines are not parallel and do not intersect. Such lines are called skew.

Parallel lines

If two lines are parallel, they have equal direction cosines or direction ratios are parallel, which
can be seen from their equations.

Example 7.4 Show that the lines with equations

x−1 y−2 z−5 2−x y z−4
= = = =
2 −2 1 and 4 4 −2 are parallel.
Find the distance of between them.

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

Solution:

The D.R.’s of the first line is 2:−2: 1 .

The second equation can be written as

x−2 y z−4
= =
−4 4 −2 .
B(2, 0, 4)
So the D.R.’s of the is −4 : 4 :−2 or 2:−2 :1 (dividing by 2).
As the D.R.’s of the two lines are proportional, they are parallel.
Consider two points A (1,2,5) and B (2,0,4 ) , A(1,2,5) N
one in each line as shown in the figure.
Then Fig . 6.8

AB  x  2 y  z

→
and
AB=|AB|= √12+(−2)2+(−1)2= √6
→
The projection of AB on the first line

AN 
 x  2 y  z    2 x  2 y  z  
2  4 1 5

2  (2)  1
2 2 2 3 3

Therefore the distance between the lines is

1
d= √ AB 2 − AN 2 = √ 6−( 5/3 )2 = √ 29
3 .

Non-parallel lines
Consider two lines whose vector equations are
r 1 =a1 + λb1 and r 2 =a2 + μb 2 .
These lines will intersect if there exist unique values of  and  such that
a1 + λb1 =a2 + μb 2 .

If no such values can be found, the lines are skew.

Example 6.5
Find whether the following pairs of lines are intersecting or skew.
If they intersect, find the position vector of the point of intersection and the equation of the line
which is perpendicular to these lines and passes through the point of intersection.

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3 x−2 y +2 z−4 x 2 y−8 z−1

= = = =
(a) 3 4 −2 and −5 3 −3

(b)

r  2 y  z   x  y  z  and r  2 x  2 y  z    3x  3y  z 

Solution:

(a) Writing the equations as

x− 2 x y −4 z−1
3 y +2 z−4 = = =μ
= = =λ −5 3 −3
1 4 −2 and 2

we have

1: 4 :−2 −5 : 3 :−3
The D.R.s of this pair of lines are and 2

and they are not proportional so the lines are not parallel.

Coordinates of any point on the lines are

2
}
x=λ+ ¿ y=4λ−2¿}¿¿¿
3 and
{x=−5μ¿ y=3 μ+4 ¿ ¿¿¿¿
{2
Equating x and z gives

λ+ 2 =−5 μ −2 λ+4=−3μ+1
3 and

λ=1 and μ=− 1

Solving we have 3 .

With these values of  and , the value of y are

from first line 4 λ−2=4 (1)−2=2

3
μ+ 4= 3 (− 1 )+4= 7
from second line 2 2 3 2

These values are different and hence the pair of lines will not intersect i.e. they are skew.

(b) The D.R.s of this pair of lines are

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Math 1 Chapter 6 Fall 18-19

1:1:−1 and −3:3:13

and they are not proportional so the lines are not parallel.

At the point of intersection (if any) the position vector is same

 
2 y  z   x  y  z  2 x  2 y  z   ( 3 x  3 y  z )

Equating coefficients we have

λ=2−3 μ (1)

2+λ=−2+3 μ (2)

1−λ=1+μ (3)

From eqs. (1) and (2), λ=−1 and μ=1 these values in eq. (3) give

1−λ=1+1=2

and 1+μ=1+1=2
The values are equal and the lines will intersect. The position vector of the point of intersection
is

r  2 y  z  1( x  y  z )   x  y  2 z

A normal vector to the pair of lines is

x y z
n  1 1  1  4 x  2 y  6 z  2(2 x  y  3 z )
3 3 1

     
The equation of the line passing through  x  y  2 z in the direction of the vector 2 x  y  3z
is

r   x  y  2 z  s(2 x  y  3z )

6.2.4 Distance of a point from a line

The distance of a point P from a line ℓ not through P is equal to the line segment that is
perpendicular from P to the foot of the perpendicular in the line.

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Let A be any point on the line ℓ .

→
The vector AP can be obtained from their
P
coordinates or position vectors . Let v be the

A
direction vector of the line.

N 
→
The length of the projection of AP on ℓ is
given by
Fig . 6.9
→
AP⋅v
cosθ=| |
AN = AP |v|
Note that APN is a right angle triangle. The hypotenuse has magnitude
→
AP=|AP| . P(3,1,2)
Therefore, the distance d of P from the line ℓ is
2 2
d= AN= √ AP − AN
(2,3,5) A
.
N
Fig . 6.10

Example 6.6 Find the distance of the point P(3, 1, 2) from the line

r  2 x  3 y  5 z  t (2 x  3 y  6 z )

Solution:
Let A be a point on the line where t = 0: A(2,−3, 5)
Then

AP  (3  2) x  (1  3) y  (2  5) z  x  4 y  3 z

A direction vector of the line is

v  2 x  3 y  6 z

→
The length of the projection vector of AP on v is

AN 
 
x  4 y  3 z  2 x  3 y  6 z

2  12  18
4
2  (3)  6
2 2 2 7

→
AP=|AP|=√ 12+(−4)2+32=√ 26
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Therefore the perpendicular distance of the point from the line is

d= √ AP2 − AN 2 = √ 26−16=√10 .
6.3 Plane

6.3.1 Equation of a plane

A particular plane is uniquely located in space if
(a) it passes through a known point and perpendicular to a given line (i.e. normal to the plane)
(b) it passes through three known points.

Scalar product form n A

P
The vector equation of a plane passing through the point
with position vector a and perpendicular to the vector n
(i.e. n is a normal to the plane) is a r
(r a)  n = 0 or rn=an=d O
Fig. 6.12

where d/|n| is the distance of the plane from the origin.

Cartesian form

     
If r  xx  y y  z z and n  a x  b y  c z , then

ax +by +cz=d
is the Cartesian equation of the plane.
Here [a: b: c ] is the D.R.s of the normal to the plane.

Example 6.8 Find the equation of the plane that passes through the point with position vector
2x  y  z and is perpendicular to 2 x  3 y  4 z

(a) in scalar product form, (b) in Cartesian form.

Solution:

(a) If R is any point in the plane and has position vector r then

r  (2 x  3 y  4 z )  (2 x  y  z )  (2 x  3 y  4 z )  4  3  4  3

So r  (2 x  3 y  4 z )  3

is an equation of the plane in scalar product from.

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  
(b) If r  xx  y y  z z , then

( xx  y y  z z )  (2 x  3 y  4 z )  3

or 2x −3 y+4 z=3
which is a Cartesian equation of the plane.

Parametric form

The equation of the plane passing through the

point A with position vector a and is parallel
Pc
to two non-parallel vectors b and c is given
A B b
by
r=a+⃗
AP a r
or r=a+sb +tc , s, t scalars
O
Fig . 6.13
A plane is a TWO-DIMENSIONAL object, so it is described in terms of TWO parameters.

Example 6.9 Find a vector equation of the plane through the point with position vector a and
parallel to two given vectors b and c where
a  2 x  3 y  z , b  2 x  y  3z , c  x  2 y  4 z .

Solution:

Since a is the position vector of a point in the plane and the vectors b and c are parallel to the
plane, a vector equation of the plane is

r=a+λb+μc

or r  2 x  3 y  z   (2 x  y  3z )   ( x  2 y  4 z )

  
If r  xx  y y  z z , then from the above equation

x=2−2 λ+μ (1)

y=−3+ λ+2 μ (2)

z=1−3 λ−4μ (3)

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From (1) and (2) x+2 y=−4 +5 μ

From (2) and (3) 3 y+ z=−8+2 μ

Eliminating  from last two equations

2( x+2 y )−5(3 y +z)=−8+40=32

or 2x−11 y−5 z=32 .

6.3.2 Plane passing through three points

Suppose r1, r2 and r3 are the position vectors of the points P1 ( x 1 , y 1 ,z 1 ) , P2 ( x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and

→ →
P3 ( x 3 , y 3 , z 3 ) . The plane contains the vector P1 P2 =r 2−r 1 and P1 P3 =r 3−r 1 . Thus the
equation of the plane can be expressed as
(i) Scalar product form:

Normal to the plane is n=(r 2 −r 1 )×(r 3−r 1 )

Equation of the plane is r . n=r 1 . n

(ii) Parametric form: r=r 1 +s (r 2 −r 1 )+t( r 3−r 1 )

Example 6.10 Find the equation of the plane that passes through the points (1, 2, 0) , (3, 4, 2)
and (5,−3, 1) .

Solution
The position vectors of the points are
r1  x  2 y , r2  3 x  4 y  2 z , r3  5 x  3 y  z

The plane contains the vectors

 
b 1  r2  r1  3x  4 y  2 z  x  2 y  2 x  2 y  2 z

 
b 2  r3  r1  5 x  3 y  z  x  2 y  4 x  5 y  z

Common perpendicular n is given by

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x y z
n  b1  b 2  2 2 2
4 5 1  (2  10) x  (2  8) y  (10  8) z

 12 x  6 y  18 z

Since r1 is a point on the plane, so the equation of the plane is

[r  ( x  2 y )]  (12 x  6 y  18 z )  0

That is r  (12 x  6 y  18 z )  ( x  2 y )  (12 x  6 y  18 z )  24

and its Cartesian form is

12x+6 y−18 z=24
or 2 x + y−3 z=4

6.3.3 Angle between two planes

The angle between two planes is equal to the angle between their normals,
Let n1 and n2 be the normal’s of the two planes, the angle  between the planes is

n .n
cos θ= 1 2
|n1||n2|

Two planes are perpendicular if n1 . n2 = 0.

Two planes are parallel if
n1 = n 2 .

Example 6.11 Find the angle between the planes with equations
x+2 y −2 z=3 and 2x−3 y−6 z=5 .
Solution:
  
A vector normal to the first plane is x  2 y  2 z . A vector normal to the second plane is
2 x  3 y  6 z . So if  is the angle between the planes then

 x  2 y  2z    2x  3y  6 z   3  7  cos

2−6+12 8
cos θ= =
21 21

 8 
  arc cos  
 21 

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6.3.4 The intersection of two planes

If two planes are not parallel they intersect in a line i.e. they have a line in common.

Example 6.12 Find the vector equation of the line of intersection of the planes

 
r  x  2 y  z  12
and
 
r  2 x  y  2 z  3
.

Solution:

  
Taking r  xx  y x  z x , we can write the equations of the plane as

r  ( x  2 y  z )  12 as x−2 y+ z=12 (1)

and r  (2 x  y  2 z )  3 as 2x + y −2 z=3 (2)

By eliminating y and z, we have

3 z+18
x=
5 x−3 z=18 or 5

3 y +27
x=
4 x−3 y=27 or 4

The equation of the line of intersection is

3 y +27 3 z +18 x y +9 z+ 6
x= = = = =λ
4 5 or 3 4 5 (say)

The parametric equation of the line is

x=3 λ , y=−9+4 λ , z=−6+5 λ

Vector equation of the plane is

r  xx  y y  z z

 3 x  (9  4 ) y  ( 6  5 ) z

Hence the vector equation of the line of intersection is

r  9 y  6 z   (3x  4 y  5 z )

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6.3.5 Angle between a line and a plane:

The angle between line and plane is the angle between C the line
and its projection onto this plane.
A B
Consider the line r=a+tb and the plane r . n=d
The angle φ between the line and the normal to the
b.n
cosφ=
plane is given by |b||n| Fig . 6.14
π
If  is the angle between the line and the plane then
θ= 2 −φ and
b.n
sin θ=cosφ=
|b||n|
Example 6.13 Find cosine of the angle between the given line and the plane

r  x  2 y   (2 x  6 y  3 z ) and 2 x− y−2 z=10 .

Solution:
The equation of the plane can be expressed as

r  (2 x  y  2 z )  10

C
If AC is a part of the line and AB is its

projection on the plane then AC is parallel A B
     
to 2 x  6 y  3 z and BC is parallel to 2 x  y  2 z .
Fig . 7.15

So, (2 x  6 y  3 z )  (2 x  y  2 z )  49 9 cos 
     

=21 cos ( π −θ )
2

4−6+6 4
sin θ= =
Thus 21 21

5 √5
cosθ=
and hence 21 .

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Exercise-6
Vectors:
        
1. If u  4 x  2 y  6 z , v  4 x  2 y  4 z and w  x  2 y  2 z , find
u - 2v + w u.  v × w  u× v× w
(i) , (ii) , (iii) (iv) (u.w) v - (u.v) w ,
(v) a unit vector perpendicular to both u and v,
(vi) the sine of the angle between u and v,
(vii) the cosine of the angle between u and v,
and (viii) the projection of u on v and also the projection of v on u.
     
2. Find the terminal point of v  6 x  7 y  z if the initial point is 2 x  y  2 z .
     
3. Find the initial point of v  2 x  7 y  2 z if the terminal point is 3x  2 y  z .
4. Find the value of k for which the following vectors will be parallel to each other
u  2 x  3 y  z and v  4 x  k y  2 z .
5. Find the value of k for which the following vectors will be perpendicular to each other
u  x  3 y  k z and v  2 x  3 y  z .

6. Find the value of k for which the angle between the following vectors will be 4
u  3 x  y  2 z and v  x  2 y  k z .
7. A plane is flying on a bearing of 1700 at a speed of 840 km/h. The wind is blowing in the
direction N 1200 E with a strength of 60 km/h.
(a) Find the vector components of the plane’s still-air velocity and the wind’s velocity.
(b) Determine the true velocity (ground) of the plane in component form.
(c) Write down the true speed and direction of the plane.

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8. A plane is flying on a compass heading of 3400 at 520 km/h. The wind is blowing with the
bearing 3200 at 64km/h.
(a) Find the component form of the velocities of the plane and the wind.
(b) Find the actual ground speed and direction of the plane.
Answers of some selective problems:

7. (a)
 840 cos80 , 840sin 80  ,  60 cos 30 , 60sin 30  ,
0 0 0 0

(a)
 840 cos80  60 cos 30 , 840 sin 80  60sin 30  =  197.83, 857.24 
0 0 0 0

(b) Speed=879.77km/h, bearing 1670.

   
(8) (a) 177.85 x  488.64 y , 6014 x  21.89 y ,
 
(b) speed = 563.28 km/h, bearing 335.01 , 237.99 x  510.53 y .
0

9. Maria rides her bicycle from her house in the direction N80W for 5 miles and reaches the
library. After picking a few books from the library she rides her bicycle to school which
is N10E. The school is another 7 miles from the library. Find the distance and direction of the
school from her home.

Ans: Distance: 8.6 miles and direction: N25.53W

Straight Lines:

10. Find the parametric and symmetric equations of the line through the point P (0, 2,  3)
  
in the direction a  2 x  4 y  6 z .
11. Find the vector equation of the line which passes through the origin and is parallel to the
vector

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2 x  y  4 z . Also find the parametric and symmetric forms of this line.

  
12. Find the vector equation of the line through the points with position vectors 2 x  4 y  6 z
and
4 x  8 y  2 z . Also write this equation in parametric and symmetric forms.
13. Find parametric equations of the lines passing through the following points:
(i) (1, 2,3) and (2, 4, 1) (ii) (2,3, 4) and (1,3,3)
14. Find an equation of the straight line through the point with position vector a and

perpendicular to the two given vectors b and c where a  3 x  y  2 z ,

b  x  2 y  3 z , c  2 x  y  4 z .
15. Verify whether the following lines are parallel, intersect or skew. If they intersect, find the
point at which they intersect.
(i) r  (4 x  3 y  3 z )   ( x  2 y  2 z ) and r  x  5 y  2 z   ( 2 x  4 y  4 z ) .
           

x y z x 1 y  2 z  6
    .
(ii) 3 2 2 and 9 6 6

(iii) r  (3 x  3 y  4 z )   ( x  2 y  3 z ) and r  4 x  5 y   (2 x  y  3 z )

          

x 1 y  3 z 1 x  3 y 1 z  2
   
(iv) 2 1 2 and 1 4 2 .

x  4 y 1 z  3 x 1 y 1 z  2
    .
(v) 2 3 1 and 1 3 2

(vi) x  1  2 , y  2  3 , z  1  2 and x  1   , y  4  2  , z  1   .
16. Let L1 be the line through (1, -6, 2) with direction vector (1, 2, 1) and L2 be the line through
(0, 4, 1) with direction vector (2, 1, 2). Determine whether the lines are parallel, intersect
or

skew. If intersect, find the point of intersection.

Answers of some selective problems:
x y z+3
9. x=2 t , y=2−4 t , z=−3+6 t and = = =t , 10.x=−2 t , y=t , z=4 t and
2 −4 6
x z x−2 y + 4 z−6
= y= =t , 11.x=2−2t , y =−4−12 t , z=6+ 4 t and = = =t ,
−2 4 −2 −12 4
12.(i)x=1+t , y =−2+6 t , z=3−4 t ,(ii)x=2−3t , y=3 , z=−4 +7 t

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x−3 y+ 1 z−2
13. = = , 14. (i) parallel lines, (ii) parallel lines, (iii) skew,(iv) skew,(v)
−5 2 3
(2, 4, 4),
(vi) Skew, 15. (8, 8, 9) .
Planes:

17. (i) Find the equation of the plane through the points (1, 2,  3) and orthogonal to the line
given by x  1  6t , y  3  2t , z  1  2t .
(ii) Find an equation of the plane through the points (3, 4,  2) and perpendicular to the
vector
2 x  3 y  z .

18. (i) Find the equation of the plane through the points (1,  2,  3) and is parallel to the plane
3 x  2 y  z  10 .

(ii) Find the equation of the plane through the points (2, 5,  4) and is parallel to the plane
3x  3 y  2 z  12 .
19. Find the vector equation of the plane which passes through the origin and is parallel to the
     
vectors 2 x  4 y  2 z and 4 x  8 y  6 z .
20. Find the equation of the plane which passes through the point ( 2, 1, 3) and is parallel to the
     
vectors x  y  3z and  x  3 y  2 z .
21. Find the equations, in vector and Cartesian form, of the plane passing through the following
points.
(i) (1,- 2,1), (2, -3, 4) and (1, -2,0) (ii) (1, -1,4), (-2, 5, 3) and (1, 0, 2).
22. Find the distance of the point (2,  4, 7) from the point of intersection of the line
x 1 y  2 z 1
 
2 1 3 and the plane 2 x  3 y  z  29 .
x  2 y 1 z  3
 
23. Find the acute angle between the line 1 2 3 and the plane 3x  2 y  2 z  10 .
24. Find the acute angle between the planes x  2 y  3 z  5 and 2 x  y  3 z  10 .
Applications:
25. A model plane is to fly directly from a platform at a reference point (2,1,1) toward a point (5,5,6) at a
speed of 60 m/min. What is the position of the plane (to nearest meter) after 10 minutes?
26. An object is moving in the plane of an appropriately fitted coordinate system such that its
position is given by
r   3,1  t  2,3

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Where t is time in hours after start and the distance is measured in km.
(a) Find the initial position of the object,
(b) Find the velocity and speed of the object.
27. At 12:00 midday a plane A is passing in the vicinity of an airport at a height of 12 km and a

speed of 800 km/h. The direction of the plane is

 4, 3, 0  .
(a) Using the airport as the origin, find the position vector r of the plane, t hours after
midday,

(b) Another plane B is heading towards the airport with the velocity vector
 300, 400, 0 

from a location
 600, 480,12 . Is there a danger of collision?
28. The position vector of a ship (MB) from its starting position at a port (RJ) is given by
 x, y    5, 20   t  12,16  . Distances are in kilometers and speeds are in km/h. t is time after
00 hour.
(a) Find the position of (MB) after 2 hours.
(b) What is the speed of the (MB)?

(c) Another ship (LW) is at sea in a location

 41, 68 relative to the same port. LW has
stopped for some reason. Show that if LW does not start to move, the two ships will
collide. Find the time of the potential collision.
(d) To avoid collision, LW is ordered to leave its position and start moving at a velocity of
 15,36  one hour after MB started Find the position vector of LW.
(e) How far apart are the two ships after two hours since the start of MB?

29. After leaving an intersection of roads located at 3 km east and 2 km north of a city, a car is
moving towards a traffic light 7 km east and 5 km North of the city at a speed of 30 km/h
(consider the city as the origin for an appropriate coordinate system).
(a) What is the velocity of the car?
(b) Write down the equation of the position of the car after t hours.
(c) When will the car reach the traffic light?
Answers of some selective problems:

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16. (i) 3 x  y  z  2  0 ,(ii) 2 x−3 y+ z+ 8=0 , 17.(i) 3x  2 y  z  4  0 ,(ii)3 x−3 y−2 z+ 1=0,

18. 10 x+ y+ 8 z =0,19. 11x  5 y  2 z  23  0 ,20. (i) x + y +1=0 ,(ii) 11x  6 y  3 z  5  0 , 21. 3

22. 18.91 degree, 23.  50 degree , 24. (257, 340, 425).

r   0, 0,12   t  640, 480, 0  r   600, 480,12   t  300, 400, 0 

26. (a) , (b) ,

27. (a)
 29,52  , (b) 20 km/h, (c) After three hours, at 3:00,
(d)
 41, 68   t  1  15,36  , t  1 ,
(e) 33.6 km.

28. (a)
 24,18  , (b) r =  3, 2   t  24,18  , (c) 10 minutes.

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