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Worked solution

Find a perpendicular foot using the plane normal

Find the foot of the perpendicular N from A(1,3,−1)A(1,3,-1) to the plane p: r⋅(0,−1,2)=5p:\ \mathbf r\cdot(0,-1,2)=5.

CJC · Lecture · Example 36

Answer

N=(1,1,3)N=(1,1,3).

Compare your reasoning

A perpendicular line through A has direction equal to the plane’s normal:

lAN:r=(1,3,−1)+λ(0,−1,2),λ∈R.l_{AN}:\quad\mathbf r=(1,3,-1)+\lambda(0,-1,2),\quad\lambda\in\mathbb R.

Since N is on this line, its position is (1,3−λ,−1+2λ)(1,3-\lambda,-1+2\lambda). Since N is also on the plane,

−(3−λ)+2(−1+2λ)=5,−3+λ−2+4λ=5,λ=2.\begin{aligned}-(3-\lambda)+2(-1+2\lambda)&=5,\\-3+\lambda-2+4\lambda&=5,\\\lambda&=2.\end{aligned}

Substituting into the line gives N=(1,3−2,−1+4)=(1,1,3)N=(1,3-2,-1+4)=(1,1,3), as in the Teacher solution. Check −1+2(3)=5-1+2(3)=5 and AN→=(0,−2,4)=2(0,−1,2)\overrightarrow{AN}=(0,-2,4)=2(0,-1,2): N lies on the plane and AN is normal to it.

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