Worked solution
Use normals for parallel planes and lines inside a plane
(a) Plane Π passes through A=(2,0,0) parallel to and .
(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 , λ real, and , 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:; ; distinct Π1:; required(b)line .
(a)(i) Cross the two plane directions
. Thus Π:. For B,, verifying membership.
(a)(ii) Find the perpendicular foot
The normal through C is . Intersection with Π gives , so , λ=2 and .
(a)(ii) Reflect the foot through C for the distinct parallel plane
Choose N′ with C the midpoint of NN′. Then . A plane parallel to Π through N′ is Π1:. C has equal distance to the two distinct planes.
(b)(i) Prove direction and point containment
. 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.
(b)(ii) Cross the line direction with the plane normal
and . Their cross product is , perpendicular to l and lying in P. Thus the required line is , μ real.
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.