Worked solution
Transform a plane after finding intersections and parallel offsets
A has position vector . Line l is , and plane p is .
(i) If l and p meet in exactly one point, what can be said about b? marks
Use b=1 for the rest.
(ii) Find N, their intersection. marks
(iii) Show the shortest distance from A to p is . marks
(iv) Plane p1 is parallel to p at shortest distance . Find a possible equation in scalar-product form. marks
(v) Plane p undergoes, in order: translation 3 units in negative x; scaling parallel to the y-axis by factor 1/2; reflection in the xy-plane. Find a Cartesian equation of the resulting p2. marks
[2016/CJC/Promo/12]
CJC · Review problems · Question 8
Answer
b≠19; N=(2,−4,1); distance ; p1: or −71; p2:.
(i) Exclude a zero normal-direction dot product
The line direction is and plane normal . A unique intersection requires , hence .
(ii) Substitute the line into the fixed plane
and . Substitution gives , λ=−1, hence N=(2,−4,1).
(iii) Project from A to any plane point N
. Thus distance=.
(iv) Method 1: solve the parallel-plane constant
Let . Then , so and k=69 or −71. Either equation is a possible answer.
(iv) Method 2: reflect a plane point through A
Choose B with A the midpoint of NB:. The parallel plane through B has constant . This uses a point reflection of the whole plane through A; N is not asserted to be A’s perpendicular foot.
(v) Substitute inverse coordinate transformations
The combined image coordinates are , , . Thus the original coordinates are , , . Substituting in gives . Dropping capital labels, p2:.
Common mistakes
N is the intersection of l with p, not necessarily the perpendicular foot from A. Do not add that assumption in the second offset method.
Solution notes
All 5 asks, both offset methods and exact transformation order retained. Source method 2 expanded as point-reflection of the plane without a false foot assumption. No figures.