Three Dimensional Geometry - Part I

Direction Cosine Of Line Z L

1 Cosine of angles made by the line with positive direction
of coordinate axes. P

2 These are denoted as l = cos α, m = cos β, and n = cos γ. Z

α β y
Y
O
3 For l, m and n, x
2 2 2
l +m +n =1 X
4 Direction cosines of a line joining points P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) are
x2 - x1 y2 - y1 z2 - z1
, ,
PQ PQ PQ
Where PQ = ( x2 - x1 )2 + ( y2 - y1 )2 + ( z2 - z1 )2

Direction Ratios Of Line

1 These are numbers which are proprtional to direction cosines.
2 If l, m, n are direction cosines and a, b, c are direction ratios then,
a , m= b c
l= and n =
a2 + b2 + c2 a2 + b2 + c2 a2 + b2 + c2
3 Direction ratios of line joinig P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) are taken as
x2 - x1 , y2 - y1 , z2 - z1
OR
x1 - x2 y1 - y2 z1 - z2

Skew Lines
1 Lines which are neither parallel nor intersecting .
2 They lie in different planes.

Angle Between Skew Lines

It is the angle between intersecting lines drawn parallel to each of the skew lines.

Angle Between Two Lines

cos θ = | l1l2 + m1 m2 + n1 n2 | Where θ is tghe acute angle between lines ,
OR l1 , m1 , n1 are direction cosines of line 1
l2 , m2 , n2 are direction cosines of line 2
a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2
cos θ = a1 , b1 , c1 are direction ratios of line 1
a12 + b12 + c12 a22 + b22 + c22 a2 , b2 , c2 are direction ratios of line 2

Equation of line
1 Vector equation of line passing through point with position vector a and parallel to
vector b is
r = a + λb
Cartesian equation of line passing through point (x1, y1, z1) and direction cosines
2 l, m, n is
x - x1 y - y1 z - z1
= =
l m n
3 Vector equation of line passing through two points with position vector a and b is
r = a + λ( b - a )
4 Cartesian equation of line passing through points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) is
x - x1 y - y1 z - z1
= =
x2 - x1 y2 - y1 z2 - z1
 Three Dimensional Geometry - Part II
Angle Between Two lines
Acute angle between lines r = a1 + λb1 and r = a2 + λb2 is

b1.b2
cos θ =
|b1| . |b2|

Shortest Distance Between Two Skew lines

1 It is the line segment which is perpendicular to both the lines
2 For lines r = a1 + λb1 and r = a2 + λb2 ,

( b1 x b2 ) ( a2 - a1 )
d=
|b1 x b2|
3 For lines
x - x1 = y - y1 = z - z1 and x - x2 = y - y2 = z - z2
a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2

x2 - x1 y2 - y1 z2 - z1
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2
d=
( b1c2 - c1b2 )2+ ( c1a2 - a1c2 )2+ ( a1b2 - b1a2 )2

Shortest Distance Between Two Parallel lines

1 It is the line segment which is perpendicular to both the lines
2 For lines r = a1 + λb and r = a2 + μb,
b ( a1 - a2 )
d=
|b|

Equation Of Plane
1 Vector equation of a plane at a distance d from the origin and unit vector n̂ normal
to plane through the origin is
r . n̂ = d
2 Cartesian equation of plane at a distance d from origin and direction cosines of
normal to plane as l, m, n is
lx + my + nz = d
3 Vector equation of plane through point with position vector a and perpendicular to
vector N is
(r-a).N=0
4 Cartesian equation of plane passing through pont (x, y, z ) and perpendicular to line
with direction ratios A, B, C is
A( x - x1) + B( y - y1 ) + C(z - z1 ) = 0
5 Equation of a plane passing through 3 points (x1, y1, z1) , (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3) is
x - x1 y - y1 z - z1

x2 - x1 y2 - y1 z2 - z1

x3 - x1 y3 - y1 z3 - z1
6 Intercept Form of Plane: Equation of plane that cuts coordinate axes at ( a, 0, 0) ,
( 0, b, 0 ) and ( 0, 0, c) is
x +— y z =1
—a +—c
b
 Three Dimensional Geometry - Part III
Plane Through Intersection Of Planes
1 Vector equation of plane passing through the intersection of planes r . n1 = d1 and
r . n2 = d2 is
r . ( n1 + λn2 ) = d1 + λd2
Where λ is any non-zero constant.
2 Cartesian equation of a plane that passes through the intersection of two given
planes A1x + B1y + C1z + D1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 = 0 is
( A1x + B1y + C1z + D1 ) + ( A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 )= 0
Where λ is any non-zero constant.

Coplanar Lines
1 Lines r = a1 + λb1 and r = a2 + μb2 are copalnar if (a1 - a2) ( b1 x b2 ) = 0
- x1 = y - y1 = z - z1 and x - x2 = y - y2 = z - z2 are coplanar
2 Lines x a1
b1 c1 a2 b2 c2

x2 - x1 y2 - y1 z2 - z1

a1 b1 c1 =0
a2 b2 c2

Angle Between Two Planes

1 For planes r . n1 = d1 and r . n2 = d2 acute angle θ is,

n1.n2
cos θ =
|n1| . |n2|
2 For planes A1x + B1y + C1z + D1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 = 0 acute angle θ is,

A1A2 + B1B2 + C1C2

cos θ =
A12 + B12 + C12 A22 + B22 + C22

Distance between Point And Plane

1 Distance of point with position vector a from palne r . n̂ = d is
| d - a . n̂ |
2 Distance of point ( x1, y1 ,z1 ) from palne Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 is
Ax1 + By1 + z1 + D
A2 + B2 + C2

Angle Between Line And Plane

1 For line r = a + λb and plane r . n = d, acute angle θ is,

b.n
sin θ =
|b| . |n|

2 For line x - x1 = y - y1 = z - z1 and plane A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 = 0 acute angle θ is,
A1 B1 C1
A1A2 + B1B2 + C1C2
sin θ =
A12 + B12 + C12 - A22 + B22 + C22