Porisma

Worked solution

Use normals for parallel planes and lines inside a plane

(a) Plane Π passes through A=(2,0,0) parallel to −2i+j+k-2\mathbf i+\mathbf j+\mathbf k and i−3j+2k\mathbf i-3\mathbf j+2\mathbf k.

(i) Find Π in scalar-product form and verify B=(6,−5,1) lies on it. marks

(ii) Find the position vector of the perpendicular foot from C=(−2,1,−3) to Π. marks Hence find the equation of a parallel plane Π1 such that C is equidistant from Π and Π1. marks

(b) Line l and plane P are l:r=λ(u+v)l:\mathbf r=\lambda(\mathbf u+\mathbf v), λ real, and P:r⋅(u×v)=0P:\mathbf r\cdot(\mathbf u\times\mathbf v)=0, with u,v nonzero and nonparallel.

(i) Show l is contained in P. marks

(ii) For u=(−1,2,1), v=(3,−3,2), find a line in P perpendicular to l through the origin. marks

[2008/MJC/Promo/11]

CJC · Review problems · Question 6

Answer

Π:r⋅(1,1,1)=2r\cdot(1,1,1)=2; ON=(0,3,−1)ON=(0,3,-1); distinct Π1:r⋅(1,1,1)=−10r\cdot(1,1,1)=-10; required(b)line r=μ(−12,27,17)r=\mu(-12,27,17).

(a)(i) Cross the two plane directions

(−2,1,1)×(1,−3,2)=(5,5,5)=5(1,1,1)(-2,1,1)\times(1,-3,2)=(5,5,5)=5(1,1,1). Thus Π:r⋅(1,1,1)=(2,0,0)⋅(1,1,1)=2\mathbf r\cdot(1,1,1)=(2,0,0)\cdot(1,1,1)=2. For B,(6,−5,1)⋅(1,1,1)=6−5+1=2(6,-5,1)\cdot(1,1,1)=6-5+1=2, verifying membership.

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(a)(ii) Find the perpendicular foot

The normal through C is r=(−2,1,−3)+λ(1,1,1)\mathbf r=(-2,1,-3)+\lambda(1,1,1). Intersection with Π gives (−2+λ)+(1+λ)+(−3+λ)=2(-2+\lambda)+(1+\lambda)+(-3+\lambda)=2, so 3λ−4=23\lambda-4=2, λ=2 and ON=(0,3,−1)ON=(0,3,-1).

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(a)(ii) Reflect the foot through C for the distinct parallel plane

Choose N′ with C the midpoint of NN′. Then ON′=2OC−ON=2(−2,1,−3)−(0,3,−1)=(−4,−1,−5)ON′=2OC-ON=2(-2,1,-3)-(0,3,-1)=(-4,-1,-5). A plane parallel to Π through N′ is Π1:r⋅(1,1,1)=−10\mathbf r\cdot(1,1,1)=-10. C has equal distance 6/36/\sqrt3 to the two distinct planes.

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(b)(i) Prove direction and point containment

(u+v)⋅(u×v)=u⋅(u×v)+v⋅(u×v)=0(\mathbf u+\mathbf v)\cdot(\mathbf u\times\mathbf v)=\mathbf u\cdot(\mathbf u\times\mathbf v)+\mathbf v\cdot(\mathbf u\times\mathbf v)=0. Each term vanishes because the cross product is perpendicular to both factors. Therefore l’s direction lies parallel to P; both contain the origin, so l lies in P. Nonparallel u,v ensure a nonzero plane normal and a nonzero line direction.

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(b)(ii) Cross the line direction with the plane normal

u+v=(2,−1,3)\mathbf u+\mathbf v=(2,-1,3) and u×v=(7,5,−3)\mathbf u\times\mathbf v=(7,5,-3). Their cross product is (2,−1,3)×(7,5,−3)=(−12,27,17)(2,-1,3)\times(7,5,-3)=(-12,27,17), perpendicular to l and lying in P. Thus the required line is r=μ(−12,27,17)\mathbf r=\mu(-12,27,17), μ real.

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Common mistakes

Choose the distinct parallel plane in(a); using Π itself would satisfy equal distances only trivially.

Solution notes

All (a)/(b) asks, marks, foot/reflection steps and line-containment proof retained. No source diagrams.

Read the hint