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Vectors and The Geometry of Space 12.5. Lines and Planes in Space

The document discusses lines and planes in 3D space. It defines a line as being determined by a point and a direction vector, and can be represented by a vector equation or parametric equations. A plane is defined as the set of points whose position vectors are orthogonal to a normal vector to the plane. The distance from a point to a line or plane can be calculated using projections and dot products. Examples are provided to illustrate these concepts.

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98 views4 pages

Vectors and The Geometry of Space 12.5. Lines and Planes in Space

The document discusses lines and planes in 3D space. It defines a line as being determined by a point and a direction vector, and can be represented by a vector equation or parametric equations. A plane is defined as the set of points whose position vectors are orthogonal to a normal vector to the plane. The distance from a point to a line or plane can be calculated using projections and dot products. Examples are provided to illustrate these concepts.

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King Creative
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as pdf or txt
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12.

5 Lines and Planes in Space 1

Chapter 12. Vectors and the Geometry of Space


12.5. Lines and Planes in Space
Note. In the plane, a line is determined by a point and a number giving
the slope of the line. In space, a line is determined by a point and a vector
giving the direction of the line.

Figure 12.35, page 706

Definition. The vector equation for the line L through P0 (x0 , y0, z0)
parallel to v is
r(t) = r0 + tv, t ∈ (−∞, ∞),

where r is the position vector of a point P (x, y, z) on L and r0 is the


position vector of P0 (x0 , y0, z0) (and so r0 = hx0 , y0, z0i).
12.5 Lines and Planes in Space 2

Definition. The standard parametrization of the line through P0 (x0, y0 , z0)


parallel to v = v1i + v2j + v3 k is

x = x0 + tv1, y = y0 + tv2 , z = z0 + tv3 , t ∈ (−∞, ∞).

Example. Page 712, number 16.

Note. To find the distance from a point S to a line that passes through
a point P parallel to a vector v, we find the absolute value of the scalar
component of P~S in the direction of a vector normal to the line. As given
~ |P~S × v|
in Figure 12.38 below, this value is |P S| sin θ = .
|v|

Figure 12.38, page 708

Example. Page 713, number 36.


12.5 Lines and Planes in Space 3

Note. Suppose that plane M passes through a point P0(x0 , y0, z0) and
is normal to the nonzero vector n = Ai + Bj + Ck. Then M is the set
of all points P (x, y, z) for which P~0P is orthogonal to n. Thus, the dot
product n · P~0 P = 0. This yields

(Ai + Bj + Ck) · ((x − x0)i + (y − y0 )j + (z − z0)k) = 0

or
A(x − x0) + B(y − y0) + C(z − z0) = 0.

So the equation of a plane is determined by a point P0 and a normal vector


n.

Figure 12.39, page 709

Example. Page 713, number 22.

Example. Page 713, number 58.


12.5 Lines and Planes in Space 4

Note. If P is a point on a plane with normal vector n, then the distance


from any point S to the plane is the length

of the
vector projection of P~S

n
onto n. This distance is |projn P~S| = P~S ·

.

|n|

Example. Page 713, number 40.

Example. Page 714, number 70.

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