Porisma

A hint to get started

Interpret a plane equation and derive the line-intersection parameter

(a) Points P,Q,R have position vectors p,q,r\mathbf p,\mathbf q,\mathbf r. P and Q are fixed; R varies. Given r=(x,y,z)\mathbf r=(x,y,z), p=(−1,2,4)\mathbf p=(-1,2,4), q=(3,−5,2)\mathbf q=(3,-5,2) and (r−p)⋅q=0(\mathbf r-\mathbf p)\cdot\mathbf q=0, find the relation between x,y,z and describe the locus of R.

(b) Interpret r⋅n=d\mathbf r\cdot\mathbf n=d geometrically, where n\mathbf n is a constant unit vector and d is a constant scalar. State what d represents.

(c) Given b⋅n≠0\mathbf b\cdot\mathbf n\ne0, solve r=a+tb\mathbf r=\mathbf a+t\mathbf b and r⋅n=d\mathbf r\cdot\mathbf n=d for t in terms of a,b,n,d\mathbf a,\mathbf b,\mathbf n,d. Interpret the solution geometrically.

[2017&2020/I/(modified)]

CJC · Discussion · Question 9

Substitute the line into the scalar plane equation and solve the resulting linear equation.

Read the worked solution