Porisma

Worked solution

Find a common line and use normals for the acute plane angle

For each pair of planes, find their line of intersection and acute angle. All parameters are real.

(a) r⋅(1,−1,3)=3\mathbf r\cdot(1,-1,3)=3 and r⋅(2,−1,2)=5\mathbf r\cdot(2,-1,2)=5.

(b) r=(1,2,7)+λ(1,1,0)+μ(1,0,1)\mathbf r=(1,2,7)+\lambda(1,1,0)+\mu(1,0,1) and r=(1,2,7)+s(1,2,4)+t(0,1,1)\mathbf r=(1,2,7)+s(1,2,4)+t(0,1,1).

CJC · Discussion · Question 6

Answer

(a) r=(2,−1,0)+λ(1,4,1)\mathbf r=(2,-1,0)+\lambda(1,4,1), 25.2∘25.2^\circ; (b) r=(1,2,7)+α(−2,1,−3)\mathbf r=(1,2,7)+\alpha(-2,1,-3), 61.9∘61.9^\circ.

(a) Solve the two Cartesian equations

x−y+3z=3x-y+3z=3 and 2x−y+2z=52x-y+2z=5 give x=2+zx=2+z, y=−1+4zy=-1+4z. Hence r=(2,−1,0)+λ(1,4,1)\mathbf r=(2,-1,0)+\lambda(1,4,1), λ∈R\lambda\in\mathbb R.

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(a) Use the normal angle

The normals have lengths 11\sqrt{11} and 33, and dot product 99. The acute angle is cos⁡−1(9/(311))≈0.441\cos^{-1}(9/(3\sqrt{11}))\approx0.441 rad (3 s.f.), or 25.2∘25.2^\circ (1 d.p.).

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(b) Source analytical method: cross the normals

The normals are (1,1,0)×(1,0,1)=(1,−1,−1)(1,1,0)\times(1,0,1)=(1,-1,-1) and (1,2,4)×(0,1,1)=(−2,−1,1)(1,2,4)\times(0,1,1)=(-2,-1,1). Their cross product is (−2,1,−3)(-2,1,-3). Both planes contain (1,2,7)(1,2,7), so the intersection is r=(1,2,7)+α(−2,1,−3)\mathbf r=(1,2,7)+\alpha(-2,1,-3).

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(b) Source calculator/elimination alternative

The scalar equations are x−y−z=−8x-y-z=-8 and −2x−y+z=3-2x-y+z=3. Solving for x,y in terms of z gives x=−11/3+2z/3x=-11/3+2z/3, y=13/3−z/3y=13/3-z/3. Thus an equivalent line is r=(−11/3,13/3,0)+α(2/3,−1/3,1)\mathbf r=(-11/3,13/3,0)+\alpha(2/3,-1/3,1). At parameter z=7 it passes through (1,2,7)(1,2,7); its direction is −1/3-1/3 times the analytical direction.

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(b) Take the absolute normal dot product

The acute angle is cos⁡−1(∣−2∣/(36))≈1.08\cos^{-1}(|-2|/(\sqrt3\sqrt6))\approx1.08 rad, or 61.9∘61.9^\circ. These displayed values are 3 s.f.; the printed source labels both as 5 s.f., which is a rounding-label error. The exact expression removes that ambiguity.

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Common mistakes

Use the absolute dot product to select the acute angle between planes.

Read the hint