汉林学院 – Mr.

Zhao
Chapter 7 Lines and Planes

In two-space, a line can be defined by an equation in standard form, 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 = 0 (also called the scalar equation), or in slope
intercept form, 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏. Vectors can also be used to define a line in two-space. Consider the line defined by −𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 10 = 0.
A direction vector parallel to the line is 𝑚
⃗⃗ = [2, 1]. A position vector that has its tip on the line is 𝑣0 = [2, 6].

The vector equation can be defined as: 𝑟 = 𝑟0 + 𝑡𝑚

⃗⃗ . In a vector equation, the variable t is a parameter. By changing the value of
𝑡, the vector 𝑟 can have its tip at any specific point on the line. Substitute 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦], 𝑟0 = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0], and 𝑚
⃗⃗ = [𝑚1 , 𝑚2 ] to write
an alternate form of the vector equation.

Vector Equation of a Line in Two-Space

𝑟 = 𝑟0 + 𝑡𝑚
⃗⃗ or [𝑥, 𝑦] = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0] + 𝑡[𝑚1 , 𝑚2 ], where
• t is all real number,
• 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦] is a position vector to any unknown point on the line,
• 𝑟0 = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ] is a position vector to any known point on the line, and
• 𝑚
⃗⃗ = [𝑚1 , 𝑚2 ] is a direction vector parallel to the line.

Example
a) Write a vector equation for the line through the points 𝐴(0, 4) and 𝐵(3, 0).
b) Determine 2 more position vectors to points on the line. Graph the line.
c) Draw a closed triangle that represents the vector equation using points A and B.
d) Determine if the point (2, 3) is on the line.

The vector equation of a line can be separated into two parts, one for each variable. These are called the parametric equations of the
line, because the result is governed by the parameter 𝑡.

The parametric equations of a line in two-space are

𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑡𝑚1
{
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑡𝑚2

Example
Consider line 𝑙1
𝑥 = 3 + 2𝑡
𝑙1 {
𝑦 = −5 + 4𝑡
a) Find the coordinates of two points on the line.
b) Write a vector equation of the line.
c) Write the scalar equation of the line.
d) Determine if line 𝑙1 is parallel to line 𝑙2 .
𝑥 = 1 + 3𝑡
𝑙2 {
𝑦 = 8 + 12𝑡

A normal vector to a line 𝑙1 is a vector 𝑛⃗ that is perpendicular to the line.

If 𝑙1 : 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 = 0, then

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𝑛⃗ = [𝐴, 𝐵].

Example
Consider the line with scalar equation 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 20 = 0.
a) Graph the line.
b) Determine a position vector that is perpendicular to the line.
c) How does the position vector from part b) compare to the scalar equation?
d) Write a vector equation of the line.

A line in two-space can be represented in many ways: a vector equation, parametric equations, a scalar equation, or an equation in
slope–intercept form. The points (𝑥, 𝑦) that are the solutions of these equations form a line in two-space. A line in three-space can
also be defined by a vector equation or by parametric equations. It cannot, however, be defined by a scalar equation. In three-space,
we will see that a scalar equation defines a plane. A plane is a two-dimensional flat surface that extends infinitely far in all directions.

The Vector and Parametric Equations of a Line in Three-Space are:

The line passing through the point 𝑃0 with position vector 𝑟0 = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ] and having direction vector 𝑚
⃗⃗ = [𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 ] has
vector equation 𝑟 = 𝑟0 + 𝑡𝑚
⃗⃗ , 𝑡 is all real number or [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ] + 𝑡[𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 ].
The parametric equations of a line in three-space are
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑡𝑚1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑡𝑚2
𝑧 = 𝑧0 + 𝑡𝑚3, t is all real number

Example
A line passes through points 𝐴(2, −1, 5) and 𝐵(3, 6, −4).
a) Write a vector equation of the line.
b) Write parametric equations for the line.
c) Determine if the point 𝐶(0, −15, 9) lies on the line.

Practice
1. Write a vector equation of the line through each pair of points.
a) 𝐴(1, 7), 𝐵(4, 10)
b) 𝐴(−3, 5), 𝐵(−2, −8)
c) 𝐴(6, 2, 5), 𝐵(9, 2, 8)
d) 𝐴(1, 1, −3), 𝐵(1, −1, −5)
e) 𝐴(3, 4, 5), 𝐵(0, −2, 7),

2. Write a vector equation for each line.

a) 𝑥 = 3 + 5𝑡 𝑦 = 9 − 7𝑡
b) 𝑥 = −5 − 6𝑡 𝑦 = 11𝑡
c) 𝑥 = 1 − 4𝑡 𝑦 = −6 + 𝑡 𝑧 = 2 + 2𝑡
d) 𝑥 = 7 𝑦 = −𝑡 𝑧 = 0
𝑥−6 𝑦−9
e) =
2 7

4−𝑥 𝑦+2
f) 3
= −5

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3. Given each set of parametric equations, write the scalar equation.
a) 𝑥 = 1 + 2𝑡 𝑦 = 1 − 3𝑡
b) 𝑥 = −2 − 𝑡; 𝑦 = 4 + 5𝑡
c) 𝑥 = 5 − 7𝑡; 𝑦 = −2 − 4𝑡
d) 𝑥 = 0.5 + 0.3𝑡; 𝑦 = 1.5 + 0.2𝑡

4. Given the symmetric equations, write the corresponding vector equation.

𝑥−4 𝑦−12 𝑧−15
a) = =
8 5 2

5−𝑥 −𝑦−3 𝑧
b) = =
6 10 17

5. A line passes through the points 𝐴(3, −2) and 𝐵(−5, 4)

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ . How will this vector relate to the line through A and B?
a) Find the vector 𝐴𝐵
b) Write a vector equation and the parametric equations of the line.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ . Use this vector to write the scalar equation of the line AB.
c) Determine a vector perpendicular to 𝐴𝐵
d) Find three more points on the same line.
e) Determine if the points 𝐶(35, −26) and 𝐷(−9, 8) are on the line.

6. a) Write the parametric equations of the line that goes through the point (6, −2, 1) and is perpendicular to both
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 4, −2] + 𝑡[3, −1, 1] and [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [9, 5, −3] + 𝑠[1, −3, 7].
b) A line has the same x-intercept as [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−21, 8, 14] + 𝑡[12, 4, −7] and the same y-intercept as [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] =
[6, −8, −12] + 𝑠[2, −5, 4]. Write the parametric equations of the line.

7. Determine the vector equation of each line.

a) Parallel to the x-axis and through 𝑃0 (3, −8)
b) Perpendicular to 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 17 and through 𝑃0 (−2, 4)
c) Parallel to the z-axis and through 𝑃0 (1, 5, 10)
d) Parallel to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 3, 0] + 𝑡[3, −5, −9] with x-intercept −10
e) With the same x-intercept as [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 0, 0] + 𝑡[4, −4, 1] and the same z-intercept as [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 3, −1] + 𝑡[3, 6, −2]

8. Determine the vector equation of each line

a) Parallel to the y-axis and through 𝑃0 (−4,11)
b) Perpendicular to 5𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3 and through 𝑃0 (7,1)
c) Parallel to 𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 1 and through 𝑃0 (2, −5)
d) Parallel to the z-axis and through 𝑃0 (−4,3,7)
e) Parallel to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, −2] + 𝑡[5, 2, 1]
f) The x-intercept of the line is 3 and the y-intercept is −2

9. Which points are on the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, −7] + 𝑡[2, −1, 3]?
a) 𝑃0 (7, 0, 2)
b) 𝑃0 (2, 1, −3)
c) 𝑃0 (13, −3, 11)
d) 𝑃0 (−4, 0.5, −14.5)
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10. In each case, determine if 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 are parallel, perpendicular, or neither. Explain.
a)
𝑙1 : 4𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 9
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [6, 3] + 𝑡[3, 2]
b)
𝑙1 : 𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 2
𝑥=𝑡
𝑙2 { 𝑦 = 15 + 9𝑡

c)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, −1, 8] + 𝑡[4, −6, −15]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 1, 0] + 𝑠[−8, 12, 20]
d)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10, 2, −3] + 𝑡[5, 1, −5]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 1, 0] + 𝑠[1, 5, 2]

11. Determine a vector equation of a line perpendicular to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 1, −2] + 𝑡[−4, 3, 2]

12. Show that lines 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 are skew, that is, they do not intersect and are not parallel.
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−8, −3, 8] + 𝑡[1, −2, 3]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −1, 0] + 𝑠[2, 1, 3]

13. Consider the lines 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [3, −2] + 𝑡[4, 5] and 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [1, 1] + 𝑡[7, 𝑘]
a) For what value of 𝑘 are the lines parallel?
b) For what value of 𝑘 are the lines perpendicular?

14. Are these vector equations different representations of the same line? Explain.
a) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [11, −2, 17] + 𝑡[3, −1, 4]
b) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−13, 6, −10] + 𝑠[−3, 1, −4]
c) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−4, 3, −3] + 𝑟[−6, 2, −8]

17. Line 𝑙1 in three-space is defined by the vector equation [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, −3, 2] + 𝑡[1, 8, −3].
a) Determine if the point (7, −21, 7) lies on line 𝑙1 .
b) Determine if line 𝑙1 intersects line 𝑙2 , defined by [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, −19, 8] + 𝑠[4, −5, −9].
c) Determine if line 𝑙1 intersects line 𝑙3 , defined by [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 0, 3] + 𝑣[4, −5, −9].

18.
a) Determine if the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 1, −2] + 𝑡[3, 1, −5] has x-, y-, and/or z-intercepts.
b) Under what conditions will a line parallel to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 1, −2] + 𝑡[3, 1, −5] have only
i) An x-intercept?
ii) A y-intercept?
iii) A z-intercept?

*19. Determine the angle between the lines in each pair.

a)
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𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [4, 1] + 𝑡[1, 5]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [−1, 3] + 𝑠[−2, 7]
b)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 1, −1] + 𝑡[2, −2, 3]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −1, 2] + 𝑠[1, −3, 5]
c)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [1, 4] + 𝑡[2, 5]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [1, 4] + 𝑠[3, −1]
d)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 1, −2] + 𝑡[−1, 1, −1]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 4, −5] + 𝑠[−2, −2, 2]

*20. Determine a vector equation of a line through (1, 2) that makes an angle of 60° with the y-axis.

For the line 𝑥 = 5 in two-space, the x-coordinate of every point on the line is 5. It is a vertical line with x-intercept 5. Each point on
the line 𝑥 = 5 is defined by an ordered pair of the form (5, 𝑦), where y can have any value. However, for 𝑥 = 5 in three-space, the
x-coordinate of every point on 𝑥 = 5 is 5. It is a plane with x-intercept 5. Each point on the plane 𝑥 = 5 is defined by an ordered
pair of the form (5, 𝑦, 𝑧), where y, z can have any value.

In general, the scalar equation of a plane in three-space is 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 + 𝐷 = 0.

Example
Consider the plane defined by the scalar equation 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 − 8 = 0.
a) Determine if the points 𝐴(1, 3, −1), 𝐵(3, 5, 1), and 𝐶(1, 6, 5) are on the plane.
b) Determine the x-, y-, and z-intercepts of the plane.
c) Determine the coordinates of another point on the plane.
d) Write two vectors that are parallel to the plane.

In two-space, a line can be uniquely defined either by two points or by a direction vector and a point. In three-space, more than one
plane is possible given two points or a direction vector and a point.

Vector Equation of a Plane in Three-Space

⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑠𝑏⃗ or [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ] + 𝑡[𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ] + 𝑠[𝑏1, 𝑏2, 𝑏3 ], where
𝑟 = 𝑟0 + 𝑡𝑎
• 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] is a position vector for any point on the plane,
• 𝑟0 = [𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ] is a position vector for a known point on the plane,
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• 𝑎 = [𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ] and 𝑏⃗ = [𝑏1, 𝑏2, 𝑏3 ] are non-parallel direction vectors parallel to the plane, and
• t and s are scalars.

Parametric Equations of a Plane in Three-Space

𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑡𝑎1 + 𝑠𝑏1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑡𝑎2 + 𝑠𝑏2
𝑧 = 𝑧0 + 𝑡𝑎3 + 𝑠𝑏3, 𝑡, 𝑠, is all real numbers

Example
Consider the plane with direction vectors 𝑎 = [8, −5, 4] and 𝑏⃗ = [1, −3, −2] through 𝑃0 (3, 7, 0).
a) Write the vector and parametric equations of the plane.
b) Determine if the point 𝑄(−10, 8, −6) is on the plane.
c) Find the coordinates of two other points on the plane.
d) Find the x-intercept of the plane.

Example
Find the vector and parametric equations of each plane.
a) The plane with x-intercept -2, y-intercept -4, and z-intercept -5
b) The plane containing the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 3, −5] + 𝑡[6, −2, −1] and parallel to the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 7, −4] = 𝑠[1, −3, 3]

Practice
1. Find the x-, y-, and z-intercepts and 2 other points of each plane.
a) 𝑥 = 8
b) 𝑦 + 3𝑧 − 9 = 0
c) 3𝑥 − 7𝑦 + 𝑧 + 8 = 0
d) 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 8
e) 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 12
f) 𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 30
g) 4𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 7𝑧 − 14 = 0
h) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, −9, −8] + 𝑠[1, −4, −4] + 𝑡[3, 3, 8]
i) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 8, 6] + 𝑡[1, −12, −12] + 𝑠[2, 4, −3]
j) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, −9, −8] + 𝑡[1, −4, −4] + 𝑠[3, 3, 8]

2. Write the vector equation of a plane given its parametric equations.

a)
𝑥 = 9 + 3𝑠 + 2𝑡
𝑦 = 4 + 7𝑠 − 𝑡
𝑧 = −1 + 5𝑠 − 4𝑡
b)
𝑥 = 2 + 𝑠 − 7𝑡
𝑦 = 12𝑠 − 8𝑡
𝑧 = 11 + 6𝑠

3. Write the parametric equations of each plane given its vector equation.
a) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, −2] + 𝑡[−3, 4, 5] + 𝑠[9, 2, −1]
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b) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, −4, 1] + 𝑡[1, 10, −1] + 𝑠[0, 3, 4]
c) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 0, 5] + 𝑡[0, 3, 0] + 𝑠[1, 0, 5]

4. Write a vector equation and parametric equations for each plane.

a) Contains the point 𝑃0 (6, −1, 0); has direction vectors 𝑎 = [2, 0, −5] and 𝑏⃗ = [1, −3, 1]
b) Contains the point 𝑃0 (9, 1, −2); is parallel to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 1, 8] + 𝑠[1, −1, 1] and [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−5, 0, 10] + 𝑡[−6, 2, 5]
c) Contains the points 𝐴(1, 3, −2), 𝐵(3, −9, 7), 𝐶(0, 4, 5)
d) Has x-intercept 0, y-intercept -3, and z-intercept 2
e) Contains the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −3,2] + 𝑡[−1,2,5] and is parallel to the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6,1,9] + 𝑠[4,0,3]
f) Contains the point 𝐴(7,2, −1) and is parallel to the plane that contains 𝑃(−4,5,1), 𝑄(1,0, −1) and 𝑅(6, −2,8)
g) Contains the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3,1,0] + 𝑡[2,1,4] and is perpendicular to the plane [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1,1,1] + 𝑠[1,0,5] + 𝑡[−4,2,3]

5. Determine if each point is on the plane [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, −7, 10] + 𝑡[1, 3, −1] + 𝑠[2, −2, 1]
a) 𝑃(10, −19, 15)
b) 𝑃(−4, −13, 10)
c) 𝑃(8.5, −3.5, 9)

*6. A plane is perpendicular to both [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −10, 8] + 𝑠[1, 2, −1] and [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 5, −5] + 𝑡[2, 1, −3], and contains
the point 𝑃(−1, 4, −2). Determine if the point 𝐴(7, 10, 16) is also on this plane.

*7. Determine the value of 𝑘 such that the points 𝐴(4, −2, 6), 𝐵(0, 1, 0), 𝐶(1, 0, −5), and 𝐷(1, 𝑘, −2) lie on the same plane.

*8. Write the equation of the plane that contains points 𝐴(3, 0, 4), 𝐵(2, −3, 1), 𝐶(−5, 8, −4) and 𝐷(1, 4, 3), if it exists.

*9. Verify that a plane defined by a vector equation of the form [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐] + 𝑠[𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , 𝑠3 ] + 𝑡[𝑡1 , 𝑡2 , 𝑡3 ] passes through the
origin.

*10. Prove that the points 𝐴(2,4,3), 𝐵(4,5,1), 𝐶(5,0,11), and 𝐷(5,4,3) are coplanar.

*11. Determine the value of 𝑘 so that 𝐴(9, 6,10), 𝐵(10, −3,9), 𝐶(8, −9,11), and 𝐷(4, −3, 𝑘) lie in the same plane.

*12. In each case, explain why the given information does not define a unique plane in three-space.
a) y-intercept -3 and points 𝑅(2, −3, 4) and 𝑆(−2, −3, −4)
b) Points 𝐴(2, 0, 1), 𝐵(5, −15, 7), and 𝐶(0, 10, −3)
c) Vector equation [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −10, 3] + 𝑠[8, −12, 4] + 𝑡[−6, 9, −3]
d) Point 𝑃(3, −1, 4) and line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−5, 3, 10] + 𝑡[4, −2, −3]
e) Parametric equations: 𝑥 = 3 + 2𝑠 − 4𝑡, 𝑦 = 2 − 3𝑠 + 6𝑡, 𝑧 = 1 + 𝑠 − 2𝑡
f) Line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 1, 1] + 𝑠[−1, 5, −2] and line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, 5, −2] + 𝑡[1, −5, 2]

*13. A plane is defined by the equation 𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 16.

a) Find two vectors parallel to the plane.
b) Determine the x-, y-, and z-intercepts.
c) Write the vector and parametric equations of the plane.

14. Determine whether the planes in each pair are parallel.

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a) 𝜋1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10,3,6] + 𝑠[−1, −1,2] + 𝑡[4,2, −3] 𝜋2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [9,5, −3] + 𝑠[3,1,1] + 𝑡[5,3,5]
b) 𝜋1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1,2,2] + 𝑠[0, −1,0] + 𝑡[0,0,1] 𝜋2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1,0, −3] + 𝑠[0,0,1] + 𝑡[−1,0,0]

15. Determine the value of 𝑘 for which these planes are perpendicular:
𝜋1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1 + 4𝑠 + 𝑘𝑡, 2 + 2𝑠 + 𝑡, 7 + 2𝑡]
𝜋2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4,1, −1] + 𝑠[1,0,5] + 𝑡[0, −3,3]

*16. The vectors 𝑎, 𝑏⃗ and 𝑐 are the position vectors of three points A, B, and C. Show that the plane containing these three points is
defined by an equation of the form [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = 𝑟𝑎 + 𝑠𝑏⃗ + (1 − 𝑟 − 𝑠)𝑐

Determine the Scalar Equation of A Plane

If we are given a vector 𝑛⃗ = [𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶] that is normal to a plane and a point 𝑃0 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) on the plane, we can determine the scalar
equation of the plane. 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 + 𝐷 = 0 is the scalar equation of the plane having normal vector 𝑛⃗ = [𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶].

Example
Consider the plane that has normal vector 𝑛⃗ = [3, −2, 5] and contains the point 𝑃0 (1, −2, 3).
a) Write the scalar equation of the plane.
b) Is vector 𝑎 = [4, 1, −2] parallel to the plane?
c) Is vector 𝑏⃗ = [15, −10, 25] normal to the plane?
d) Find another vector that is normal to the plane.

Example
Find the scalar equation of the plane containing the points 𝐴(−3, −1, −2), 𝐵(4, 6, 2), and 𝐶(5, − 4, 1).

Example
Determine the scalar equation of each plane.
a) Parallel to the xz-plane; through the point (−7, 8, 9)
b) Containing the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 2, 4] + 𝑡[4, 1, 11] and perpendicular to [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 15, 8] + 𝑠[2, 3, −1]

Practice
1. Determine if each point lies on the plane 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3𝑧 − 5 = 0.
a) 𝑀(5, −3, −2)
b) 𝑁(3, 2, −1)
c) 𝑃(−7, 0, −4)
d) 𝑄(6, 1, 1)
e) 𝑅(0, 0, 5)
f) 𝑆(1, 2, −3)

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2. Find two vectors normal to each plane. Then determine a vector parallel to each plane.
a) 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 5 = 0
b) 6𝑥 + 𝑦 − 4𝑧 − 8 = 0
c) 5𝑥 − 2𝑧 = 7
d) 5𝑦 = 8
e) 3𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 7 = 0
f) −𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 𝑧 = 0

3. Write a scalar equation of each plane, given its vector equation.

a) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 7, _5] + 𝑠[1, 2, −1] + 𝑡[1, −2, 3]
b) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −2, 3] + 𝑠[3, −2, 4] + 𝑡[5, −2, 6]
c) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 8, 2] + 𝑠[2, −1, −1] + 𝑡[1, 3, 3]
d) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [9, 1, −8] + 𝑠[6, 5, 2] + 𝑡[3, −3, 1]
e) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 0, 1] + 𝑠[0, 1, 0] + 𝑡[0, 0, −1]
f) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 2, 1] + 𝑠[2, 0, 3] + 𝑡[3, 0, 2]

4. Write a scalar equation of each plane, given its parametric equations.

𝑥 = 3 − 2𝑠 + 2𝑡
a) 𝑙1 : { 𝑦 = 1 + 3𝑠 + 𝑡
𝑧 = 5 − 𝑠 − 2𝑡

𝑥 = −1 − 𝑠 + 2𝑡
b) 𝑙1 : { 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑠 + 4𝑡
𝑧 = 2 + 3𝑠 + 𝑡

𝑥 = 3𝑠 + 𝑡
c) 𝑙1 : { 𝑦 = 2 − 𝑠 − 5𝑡
𝑧 = 1 + 2𝑠 + 3𝑡

5. Write a vector equation of each plane

a) 𝑦 − 3 = 0
b) 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 8 = 0
c) 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 10
d) 4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 8𝑧 = 4
e) 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = 12
f) 2𝑥 − 5𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 30

6. For each situation, write a vector equation and a scalar equation of the plane.
a) Perpendicular to the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] + [2, 4, −9] + 𝑡[3, 5, −3] and including the point (4, −2, 7)
b) Parallel to the 𝑦𝑧-plane and including the point (−1, −2, 5)
c) Parallel to the 𝑦𝑧-plane 3𝑥 − 9𝑦 + 𝑧 − 12 = 0 and including the point (−3, 7, 1)
d) Containing the lines [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−2, 3, 12] + 𝑠[−2, 1, 5] and [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −4, 4] + 𝑡[−6, 3, 15]
e) Write the scalar equation of this plane. [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 4, 7] + 𝑠[0, 1, 0] + 𝑡[0, 0, 1]

7. Determine if the planes in each pair are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.

a)
𝜋1 : 4𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 − 9 = 0
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𝜋2 : 2𝑥 − 9𝑦 + 𝑧 − 2 = 0
b)
𝜋1 : 5𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 2𝑧 + 2 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 − 5𝑦 − 20𝑧 + 13 = 0
c)
𝜋1 : 12𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1
𝜋2 : − 6𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 9𝑧 = 8

8. Consider the planes 2𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 2𝑧 − 5 = 0 and 5𝑥 + 15𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 − 7 = 0.

a) For what value of 𝑘 are the planes parallel?
b) For what value of 𝑘 are the planes perpendicular?

9. a)Determine the scalar equation of the plane through 𝐴(2, 1, −5), perpendicular to both 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 8 and 4𝑥 + 6𝑦 −
5𝑧 = 10.
b) Determine the scalar equation of the plane that contains 𝐴(−1,3,1) and is perpendicular to both 5𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 – 6 = 0 and
4𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 9 = 0

10. Given the equation of the plane 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 + 𝐷 = 0, find the conditions on A, B, C, and D such that each statement is
true.
a) The plane is perpendicular to the x-axis.
b) The plane has x-intercept at (3, 0, 0), y-intercept at (0, 5, 0), and z-intercept at (0, 0, 6).
c) The plane is parallel to the z-axis.
d) The plane is perpendicular to the plane 𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 7𝑧 = −4.

11. Write the equation of the line perpendicular to the plane 3𝑥 − 7𝑦 + 3𝑧 − 5 = 0 and through (3, 9, −2)

12. Write the scalar equation of the plane that contains the point (−1,3,6), has z-intercept 4, and is perpendicular to the plane 4𝑥 +
3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 5

*13. Determine the scalar equation of a plane containing points (0, −4,0), (−9,16,0) and (3,0,0). Why are there infinitely many
such planes

14. Consider the plane that contains points 𝐴(2, 3, 6), 𝐵(−1, 1, 2), and 𝐶(−5, −3, −2).
a) Find two vectors parallel to the plane.
b) Find two vectors perpendicular to the plane.
c) Write a vector equation of the plane.
d) Write the scalar equation of the plane.
e) Determine if the point 𝐷(9, 5, 2) is also on the plane.
f) Write an equation of the line through the x- and y-intercepts of the plane.

15. Given the equation of the plane 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 + 𝐷 = 0, find the conditions on A, B, C, and D such that each statement is
true
a) The plane is perpendicular to the z-axis
b) The plane is parallel to the xy-plane
c) The plane has x-intercept -4, y-intercept 5, and z-intercept 2
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d) The plane is parallel to the y-axis
e) The plane is perpendicular to the plane 7𝑥 + 2𝑦 – 3𝑧 + 11 = 0

*16. Determine the angle between the planes in each pair.

a)
𝜋1 : 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 5𝑧 = 5
𝜋2 : 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 2
b)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 + 3𝑧 − 10 = 0
𝜋2 : − 𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧 − 6 = 0
c)
𝜋1 : 4𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 8
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 5𝑧 = 1

⃗⃗⃗⃗ · 𝐽𝐾
*17. Given that 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is any point on the plane containing points J,K and L, show that a scalar equation of this plane is 𝐽𝑃 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗ = 0
× 𝐽𝐿

*18. Show that the normal vectors to the planes 5𝑦 – 𝑧 + 8 = 0 and 𝑦 + 3𝑧 – 2 = 0 define a family of planes perpendicular to
the x-axis

19. Another form of the equation of a plane is given by ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝑃 · 𝑛⃗ = 𝑐, where P is any point on the plane, 𝑛⃗ is a normal for the plane,
and c is a scalar.
a) Rewrite 𝑂𝑃⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ · [2, −4, 3] = 7 in the form of a scalar equation of the plane. Then find the minimum distance from the origin to the
plane.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ · [2, −4, 3] = −3
b) Repeat part a) for 𝑂𝑃
c) Describe the relationship between the planes from part a) and b)
d) Describe the family of planes with equations of the form ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃 · 𝑛⃗ = 𝑐 for any 𝑐 ∈ 𝑅
e) Write the equation of two different planes with normal [−5, 1, 7] that are two units from the origin

Given two lines in two-space, there are three possibilities for the intersection of the lines:
1. The lines intersect at a point, so there is exactly one solution.
2. The lines are coincident, so there are infinitely many solutions.
3. The lines are parallel, so there is no solution.

Given two lines in three-space, there are four possibilities for the intersection of the lines:
1. The lines are distinct and intersect at a point, so there is exactly one solution.
2. The lines are coincident, so there are an infinite number of solutions.
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3. The lines are parallel and distinct, so there is no solution.
4. The lines are distinct but not parallel, and they do not intersect. These are skew lines. There is no solution.
5. It can be shown that the shortest distance between skew lines is the length of the common perpendicular, which can be found by the
following formula.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑷 𝟏 𝑷𝟐 · ⃗𝒏
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒏⃗⃗ 𝑷 𝟏 𝑷𝟐 | = | |
⃗
𝒏

Example
Classify each system as having zero, one, or infinitely many solutions.
a)
𝑙1 : 4𝑥 − 6𝑦 = −10
𝑙2 : 6𝑥 − 9𝑦 = −15
b)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [1, 5] + 𝑠[−6, 8]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦] = [2, 1] + 𝑡[9, −12]

Example
Determine if these lines intersect. If they do, find the coordinates of the point of intersection.
a)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 11, 2] + 𝑠[1, 5, −2]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −9, 9] + 𝑡[1, 5, −2]
b)
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [7, 2, −6] + 𝑠[2, 1, −3]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 9, 13] + 𝑡[1, 5, 5]

Example
Determine if these lines are skew.
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𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −4, −2] + 𝑠[1, 2, 3]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 0, 1] + 𝑡[2, −1, −1]

Example
Determine the distance between the skew lines.
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −4, −2] + 𝑠[1, 2, 3]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 0, 1] + 𝑡[2, −1, −1]

Practice
1. Determine the number of solutions for each system. Then solve each linear system if possible.
a)
3𝑥 + 12𝑦 = −27
4𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 34
b)
12𝑥 − 21𝑦 = 9
8𝑥 − 14𝑦 = 3
c)
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [1, 6] + 𝑠[3, −2]
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [4, 4] + 𝑡[−6, 4]
d)
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [−17, −7] + 𝑡[8, −3]
8𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 11
e)
−6𝑥 + 45𝑦 = 33
10𝑥 − 75𝑦 = −55
f)
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [11, 12] + 𝑠[2, 7]
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [2, 3] + 𝑡[1, 4]
g)
𝑥+𝑦 =8
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 13
h)
3.5𝑥 − 2.1𝑦 = 14
1.5𝑥 − 0.3𝑦 = 8
i)
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [−12, −7] + 𝑠[8, −5]
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [2, −1] + 𝑡[3, −2]
j)
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [16, 1] + 𝑠[5, 1]
[𝑥, 𝑦] = [−7, 12] + 𝑡[−7, 3]

2. The centroid of a triangle is the point of intersection of the three medians of the triangle. Find the centroid of each triangle, given
the coordinates of the vertices.
a) 𝐴(2, 5), 𝐵(−4, 7), 𝐶(4, −1)
b) 𝐷(3, −6, 1), 𝐸(−2, 7, 0), 𝐹(−1, 4, 1)
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c) 𝐴(2, 6), 𝐵(10, 9), 𝐶(9, 3)
d) 𝐷(2, −6, 8), 𝐸(9, 0, 2), 𝐹(−1, 3, −2)

3. Determine if the lines in each pair are parallel, skewed, or intersect. If skewed, determine the distance between the skew lines. If
intersect, find the coordinates of the point of intersection.
a)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 5, −14] + 𝑠[−1, 1, 3]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [11, 0, −17] + 𝑡[4, −1, −6]
b)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, −2, 2] + 𝑠[−1, −2, 0]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 0, −1] + 𝑡[0, 2, −3]
c)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [7, 0, −15] + 𝑠[2, 1, −5]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−7, −7, 20] + 𝑡[2, 1, −5]
d)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [8, −1, 8] + 𝑠[2, −3, 0]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 20, 0] + 𝑡[1, −5, 3]
e)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 7, −1] + 𝑠[−2, 1, 2]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, −1] + 𝑡[4, −1, 2]
f)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 2, 1] + 𝑠[6, 18, −6]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [7, 13, 1] + 𝑡[6, −1, −2]
g)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 4, 2] + 𝑠[2, 1, −5]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 3, 7] + 𝑡[−2, 1, −5]
h)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−6, 12, 8] + 𝑠[2, 1, −5]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [8, −9, −7] + 𝑡[−2, 1, −5]
i)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −4, 1] + 𝑠[6, 4, −2]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, −3, 4] + 𝑡[1, 2, −3]
j)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −1, 0] + 𝑠[2, −1, 3]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 2, 3] + 𝑡[3, 2, 4]
k)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 1, 0] + 𝑠[1, 8, 2]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−4, 2, 1] + 𝑡[−1, −2, 1]
l)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −5, 6] + 𝑠[3, 1, −4]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 7, 2] + 𝑡[2, −1, 5]
m)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 2, −3] + 𝑠[5, 5, 1]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, −4, −4] + 𝑡[7, −2, −2]
n)
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[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 0, 8] + 𝑠[0, 3, 2]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 1, 1] + 𝑡[4, 0, −1]
o)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 1, 3] + 𝑠[2, 1, 7]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 3, 9] + 𝑡[2, 1, 7]
p)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 1, 0] + 𝑠[3, −5, 6]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [13, −14, 18] + 𝑡[−3, 5, −6]
q)
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, −8, 0] + 𝑠[7, 21, −14]
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [25, 55, −42] + 𝑡[−8, −24, 16]

4. Write an equation of a line through the point of intersection of 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 , and perpendicular to both 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 .
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10, 3, 1] + 𝑡[−6, 1, 2]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 8, −1] + 𝑠[2, 3, −4]

5. Verify that the lines in each pair are skew. Then find the distance between the lines.
a) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−2, 1, 0] + 𝑠[1, 3, 7] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −3, 4] + 𝑡[5, −4, −2]
b) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, −1, 7] + 𝑠[2, 5, 10] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, −21, 6] + 𝑡[−1, 11, 8.5]
c) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 1, 1] + 𝑠[1, 1, 1] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 1, 0] + 𝑡[2, −1, 1]
d) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, 6, 1] + 𝑠[−2, 4, 3] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 1, 9] + 𝑡[3, −2, 4]
e) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 2, −1] + 𝑠[5, 3, −5] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, 4, 2] + 𝑡[2, −1, 1]
f) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−4, −1, −2] + 𝑠[−3, 0, 2] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, −3, 0] + 𝑡[0, −5, −3]

6. A passenger jet is taking off from the airport and flying on a path given by [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = 𝑠[8, 4, 1]. A private jet is flying by the
airport, waiting to land, and is on the path given by [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [60, −20, 22] + 𝑡[2, 6, −1], where 𝑠 and 𝑡 represent time in
minutes.
a) Assume that both jets continue on their paths. Will their paths meet?
b) If the paths do meet, find the location. If they do not meet, find the least distance between the paths.
c) If the paths meet, does it necessarily mean there is a collision? Explain.

7. For each set of equations, determine the values of 𝑘 so the lines intersect; then determine the point of intersection. Furthermore,
determine the values of 𝑘 so the lines do not intersect
a) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 7, 3] + 𝑠[1, 3, 1] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, 0] + 𝑡[2, 4, 𝑘]
b) [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 7, −1] + 𝑠[1, 2, 𝑘] [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 5, 4] + 𝑡[−1, 2, 3]

8. Prove that these lines lie in the same plane

𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐] + 𝑡[𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 ]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓] + 𝑠[𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 ]

9. Consider the points 𝐴(−1,3,2) and 𝐵(4,0,1).

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
a) Determine 𝐴𝐵
b) Under what condition is the line 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, 3, 2] + 𝑠[𝑎, 𝑏, 1] perpendicular to 𝐴𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ? Determine the vector equation of the
line with values for a and b that satisfy this condition.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ? Determine the vector equation of the
c) Under what condition is the line 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 0, 1] + 𝑡[𝑚, 𝑛, 1] perpendicular to 𝐴𝐵
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line with values for 𝑎 and 𝑏 that satisfy this condition.
d) Prove that the shortest distance between 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 is equal to the length of the line segment AB.

Given a line and a plane in three-space, there are three possibilities for the intersection of the line with the plane.
1. The line and the plane intersect at a point. There is exactly one solution.

2. The line lies on the plane, so every point on the line intersects the plane. There are an infinite number of solutions.

3. The line is parallel to the plane. The line and the plane do not intersect. There are no solutions.

4. It can be shown that the shortest distance from a point to a plane is the length of the common perpendicular, which can be found by
the following formula.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑷 ⃗
𝟏 𝑷𝟐 · 𝒏
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒏⃗⃗ 𝑷 𝟏 𝑷𝟐 | = | |
⃗
𝒏

Example
Classify each system as having zero, one, or infinitely many solutions.
a)
𝜋1 : 9𝑥 + 13𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 29
𝑥 = 5 + 2𝑡
𝑙1 : {𝑦 = −5 − 5𝑡
𝑧 = 2 + 3𝑡
b)
𝜋2 : 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 10
𝑥 = 4 + 6𝑡
𝑙2 : {𝑦 = −7 + 2𝑡
𝑧 = 1 + 3𝑡
c)
𝜋3 : 4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 11𝑧 = −1
𝑙3 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−2, 4, 1] + 𝑡[3, 1, −1]

Example
Without solving, determine if each line intersects the plane.
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a)
𝜋1 : 3𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 = −6
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 5, 3] + 𝑡[3, 2, 1]
b)
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 − 2𝑧 = 11
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 0, 1] + 𝑡[−2, 1, −4]

Example
Find the distance between the plane 4𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧 − 16 = 0 and each point.
a) 𝑃(0, 3, −8)
b) 𝐵(2, −2, 4)

Practice
1. In each case, verify that the plane and line are parallel, then determine if they are distinct or coincident. If the plane and the line
intersect. If so, state the solution.
a)
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 𝑧 − 5 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 2, −8] + 𝑡[2, −1, −1]
b)
4𝑥 – 𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 12 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 3, 10] + 𝑡[7, −14, −7]
c)
3𝑦 + 10𝑧 + 1 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [7, 1, −9] + 𝑡[2, −10, 3]
d)
𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 5𝑧 + 4 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10, 3, 4] + 𝑡[1, 2, 1]
e)
3𝑥 − 𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 8 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 0, 5] + 𝑡[7, −11, −8]
f)
−2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 4 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, −1, 4] + 𝑡[1, −2, 3]
g)
5𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 20 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 1, 5] + 𝑡[1, 2, 3]
h)
5𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 7𝑧 + 7 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10, −5, 0] + 𝑡[2, 1, −2]
i)
9𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 12𝑧 − 24 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 0, −1] + 𝑡[2, 1, −1]
j)
6𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 + 6 = 0
[𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 12, −19] + 𝑡[2, −3, 5]
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2. Does the line through 𝐴(2, 3, 2) and 𝐵(4, 0, 2) intersect the plane 2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3𝑧 + 4 = 0? Explain.

3. Determine the intersection of the line 𝑟 = [4, 3, −2] + 𝑡[5, −1, 2] and each plane
a) The 𝑥𝑦-plane
b) The 𝑦𝑧-plane
c) The 𝑥𝑧-plane

4. Find the distance between the parallel line and plane.

a)
𝜋: 2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 4
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 0, 1] + 𝑡[1, 4, 1]
b)
𝜋: 𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 4
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, −1, −1] + 𝑠[2, 2, 0]
c)
𝜋: 11𝑥 − 24𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 4
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 5, 1] + 𝑑[1, 2, −7]

d)
𝜋: 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 2
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [0, −1, 1] + 𝑑[6, 4, −7]

e)
𝜋: −14𝑦 − 14𝑧 = 1
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, −1, 0] + 𝑑[4, 2, −2]

f)
𝜋: 8𝑥 − 6𝑦 − 13𝑧 = 12
𝑙: 𝑟 = [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [3, 8, 1] + 𝑑[−1, 3, −2]

5. Find the distance between the planes.

a)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 – 1 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 – 4 = 0
b)
𝜋1 : 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 3
𝜋2 : 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 1
c)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
𝜋2 : 4𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 10
d)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 6𝑧 = 8
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 8𝑧 = 12
e)
𝜋1 : 3𝑥 − 𝑦 − 12𝑧 + 2 = 0
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𝜋2 : 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 24𝑧 = 7
f)
𝜋1 : 𝑥 − 6𝑦 − 3𝑧 + 4 = 0
𝜋2 : −2𝑥 + 12𝑦 + 6𝑧 + 3 = 0

6. Determine the distance between each point and the given plane
a)
𝑃(3, −4, 6)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 – 4 = 0
b)
𝑃(0, 3, −4)
6𝑥 − 𝑦 + 5𝑧 = 2
c)
𝑃(−1, 7, 2)
5𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 6𝑧 = −1
d)
𝑃(1, −1, 3)
6𝑥 − 2 − 4𝑧 = 16
e)
𝑃(2, 1, 6)
3𝑥 + 9𝑦 − 𝑧 − 1 = 0
f)
𝑃(−4, −5, 3)
−3𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5𝑧 − 9 = 0
g)
𝑃(5, −3, 2)
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 5𝑧 + 4 = 0

7. Consider these lines. 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, −2, 4] + 𝑠[1, 1, −3] and 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, −2, 𝑘] + 𝑡[2, 3, 1],
a) Determine an equation of the plane that contains 𝑙1 and is parallel to 𝑙2 .
b) Determine a value of 𝑘 so 𝑙2 lies in the plane.
c) Determine a different value of 𝑘 so 𝑙2 is 10 units away from the plane.

8. If possible, determine the values of 𝑘 in each case so that the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [𝑘, −4, −6] + 𝑡[3, 2, 1] and the plane 𝑥 – 4𝑦 +
5𝑧 = −5 intersect at the given number of points.
a) A single point
b) An infinite number of points
c) No points

*9. Find the distance between the parallel lines in each pair.
a) 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [1, 3, −4] + 𝑠[2, −5, 2] and 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [4, 0, 2] + 𝑡[2, −5, 2]
b) 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [6, 1, 2] + 𝑠[4, −1, 5] and 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−2, 3, 4] + 𝑡[4, −1, 5]
c) 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 5, 4] + 𝑡[2, 1, 3] 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−4, 0, 1] + 𝑡[2, 1, 3]
d) 𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [5, 3, −2] + 𝑡[4, −5, 2] 𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−7, 1, 1] + 𝑡[4, −5, 2]

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10. Consider these lines.
𝑙1 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [2, 1, −4] + 𝑡[1, 3, 1]
𝑙2 : [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [−1, 3, 𝑘] + 𝑠[−1, 1, −2]
a) Determine an equation of the plane that contains 𝑙1 and is parallel to 𝑙2 .
b) Determine a value of 𝑘 so that 𝑙2 lies in the plane
c) Determine a different value of 𝑘 so that 𝑙2 is 8 units away from the plane

Given two planes in three-space, there are three possible geometric models for the intersection of the planes.
1. If two distinct planes intersect, the solution is the set of points that lie on the line of intersection.
2. If the planes are coincident, every point on the plane is a solution.
3. Parallel planes do not intersect, so there is no solution.

Given three planes in three-space, there are eight possible geometric models for the intersection of the planes.

A system of three planes is consistent if it has one or more solutions.

1. The planes intersect at a point. There is exactly one solution – the normal are not parallel and not coplanar
2. The planes intersect in a line. There are an infinite number of solutions – the normal are coplanar, but not parallel.
3. The planes are coincident. There are an infinite number of solutions – the normal are parallel.

A system of three planes is inconsistent if it has no solution.

1. The three planes are parallel and at least two are distinct – the normal are parallel.
2. Two planes are parallel and distinct. The third plane is not parallel – two of the normal are parallel.
3. The planes intersect in pairs. Pairs of planes intersect in lines that are parallel and distinct – the normal are coplanar, but not
parallel.

20 / 27
To check if normal are coplanar, use the triple scalar product, 𝑎 · 𝑏⃗ × 𝑐. Recall that this product gives the volume of a
parallelepiped defined by the three vectors. If the product is zero, the volume is zero and the vectors must be coplanar. If the product is
not zero, the vectors are not coplanar.

Strategies for solving two planes:

Check if normal are parallel:
a) If yes, check if both planes are coincident
b) If no, solve for the line of intersection

Coincident - A plane -
Inifite solution
Yes, check coincidene

No - no solution
Parallelism

No A line - Infinite solution

Strategies for solving three planes:

1. Check if normal are parallel:
a) If all are parallel, check if all three are coincident
b) If 2 are parallel, check if 2 are coincident
c) If none, go to step 2
2. Check if normal are coplanar:
a) If yes, then solve: either intersect at a line, or intersect in pairs-no solution.
b) If no, then 1 solution.

21 / 27
 A plane - Infinite
All 3 coincident
solution

All 3 parallel, check 2 Coincident, the other

No solution
coincidence parallel

All 3 parallel No solution

2 Coincident A line - Infinite solution

Parallelism 2 parallel, check

coincidence
None coincident No solution

A line - Infinite solution

- Need to solve
All 3 coplanar

No solution
None parallel, check
coplanarity

None A point - One solution

Example
Describe how the planes in each pair intersect.
a)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 1 = 0
𝜋2 : 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 6 = 0
b)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 7 = 0
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 − 9𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 2 = 0
c)
𝜋1 : 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 2 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 4 = 0

Example
For each set of planes, describe the number of solutions and how the planes intersect.
a)
𝜋1 : 2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 7 = 0
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 3𝑧 + 8 = 0
𝜋3 : 𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 4𝑧 − 9 = 0
b)
𝜋1 : 𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 10 = 0
𝜋2 : 𝑥 + 7𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 6 = 0
𝜋3 : 8𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 𝑧 − 20 = 0

Example
22 / 27
Determine if each system can be solved; then solve the system, or describe it.
a)
𝜋1 : 3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 − 12 = 0
𝜋2 : 𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 − 8 = 0
𝜋3 : 12𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 8𝑧 + 4 = 0
b)
𝜋1 : 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 𝑧 + 10 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 8 = 0
𝜋3 : 𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 2𝑧 + 4 = 0
c)
𝜋1 : 4𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 35 = 0
𝜋2 : − 10𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 15𝑧 − 20 = 0
𝜋3 : 6𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 9𝑧 + 50 = 0

Practice
1. Determine the line through which the planes in each pair intersect
a)
𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 3𝑧 − 8 = 0
𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 4 = 0
b)
5𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 𝑧 − 3 = 0
𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 9 = 0
c)
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 22 = 0
𝑥 − 11𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 8 = 0
d)
3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 5𝑧 − 7 = 0
2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 21𝑧 + 33 = 0

2. Which pairs of planes are parallel and distinct and which are coincident?
a)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 7𝑧 − 2 = 0
4𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 14𝑧 − 8 = 0
b)
3𝑥 + 9𝑦 − 6𝑧 − 24 = 0
4𝑥 + 12𝑦 − 8𝑧 − 32 = 0
c)
4𝑥 − 12𝑦 − 16𝑧 − 52 = 0
−6𝑥 + 18𝑦 + 24𝑧 + 78 = 0
d)
𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 2.5𝑧 − 1 = 0
3𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 7.5𝑧 − 3 = 0

3. Show that the line [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] = [10, 5, 16] + 𝑡[3, 1, 5] is contained in each of these planes
a) 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 − 4 = 0
23 / 27
b) 9𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0

4. Determine the line of intersection of each system of equations.

a)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 7
4𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 13
4𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 14
b)
𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 𝑧 = 4
3𝑥 + 8𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 4
𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 2𝑧 = −4
c)
𝑥 + 9𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 23
𝑥 + 15𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 29
4𝑥 − 13𝑦 + 12𝑧 = 43
d)
𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 𝑧 = −1
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 5
2𝑥 − 12𝑦 + 2𝑧 = −2

4. For each system of equations, determine the point of intersection.

a)
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 7 = 0
2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧 − 17 = 0
2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 5 = 0
b)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 15
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = −6
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 12
c)
5𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 7𝑧 − 19 = 0
𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 8 = 0
3𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 𝑧 − 1 = 0
d)
2𝑥 − 5𝑦 − 𝑧 = 9
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑧 = −13
2𝑥 + 8𝑦 + 3𝑧 = −192

5. Determine if each system of planes is consistent or inconsistent. If possible, solve the system.
a)
3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 18
6𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 10𝑧 = −10
3𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 10𝑧 = 10
b)
2𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 12
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3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 5
4𝑥 + 10𝑦 − 6𝑧 = −10
c)
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 10
5𝑥 − 15𝑦 + 5𝑧 = 25
−4𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 4𝑧 = −4
d)
3𝑥 − 5𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 1
−6𝑥 + 10𝑦 + 10𝑧 = −2
15𝑥 − 25𝑦 − 25𝑧 = 20
e)
3𝑥 + 15𝑦 − 9𝑧 = 12
6𝑥 + 30𝑦 − 18𝑧 = 24
5𝑥 + 25𝑦 − 15𝑧 = 10
f)
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 5
6𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 12𝑧 = 15
4𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 8𝑧 = 10
g)
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = 8
12𝑥 + 8𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 20
18𝑥 + 12𝑦 − 6𝑧 = −3
h)
8𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 7
12𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 9𝑧 = 1
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 1
i)
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = −2
2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 7
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 4𝑧 = −3
j)
3𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 1
6𝑥 − 8𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 10
15𝑥 − 20𝑦 + 10𝑧 = −3
k)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 5
5𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 1
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 15𝑧 = 9
l)
𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 20
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = −4
2𝑥 − 5𝑦 − 𝑧 = −6
m)
4𝑥 + 8𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 7
5𝑥 + 10𝑦 + 5𝑧 = −10
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3𝑥 − 𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 6
n)
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 10
5𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 13
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 6
o)
2𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 1
4𝑦 + 𝑧 = 1
7𝑥 − 4𝑧 = 1
p)
3𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = 0
𝑥 − 𝑧 = 0
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0
q)
𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 11
4𝑦 − 4𝑧 = −16
3𝑦 − 3𝑧 = −12

6. Show that the planes in each set are mutually perpendicular and have a unique solution.
a)
5𝑥 + 𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 18
𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = −16
𝑥−𝑦−𝑧 = 0
b)
2𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 𝑧 = −16
7𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 41
27𝑥 + 𝑦 − 48𝑧 = −11

7. Determine the value of 𝑘 so the planes intersect in a line.

𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 0
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 0
𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 = 0

8. Determine the value of 𝑘 so the planes do not intersect in a point.

𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 𝑎
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 𝑏
𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 = 𝑐

9. Show that these planes intersect in a point for all values of 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐.
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 𝑎
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 𝑏
𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 = 𝑐

10.
a) Determine the intersection of these planes
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2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3𝑧 = −5
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
4𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 = −3
⃗ × 𝑐 𝑎⃗ · 𝑑 × 𝑐 𝑎⃗ · 𝑏
𝑑·𝑏 ⃗ ×𝑑
b) Verify that the point of intersection in part a) can be determined using (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (𝑎⃗ · 𝑑 × 𝑐 , 𝑎⃗ · 𝑏⃗ × 𝑐 , 𝑎⃗ · 𝑏⃗ × 𝑐 ) , where the components

of the vectors 𝑎, 𝑏⃗ and 𝑐 are the coefficients of the variables 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 respectively, and the components of 𝑑 are the constant
values.

*11. Determine the volume of the figure bounded by the following planes.
𝑧 = 3
𝑧 = −8
𝑥 – 2𝑦 = 6
4𝑥 + 𝑦 = −15
𝑥 + 𝑦 = −2

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