Vectors and the

Geometry of Space
12.5 Lines and Planes in Space

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
I. Write equations for lines and line segments in space,
II. Write equations for planes.

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

 Lines and Line Segments in Space
Parametric Equations for a line:
The standard parametrization of the line through 𝑷𝟎(𝒙𝟎, 𝒚𝟎, 𝒛𝟎)
parallel to 𝒗 = 𝒗𝟏𝒊 + 𝒗𝟐𝒋 + 𝒗𝟑𝒌 is
𝒙 = 𝒙𝒐 + 𝒕𝒗𝟏, 𝒚 = 𝒚𝒐 + 𝒕𝒗𝟐, 𝒛 = 𝒛𝒐 + 𝒕𝒗𝟑, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

Ø Example 1: Find parametric equations for the line through 𝑃0(−2, 0, 4) parallel to 𝑣 = 2𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 2𝑘.
Solution: 𝒙 = −𝟐 + 𝟐𝒕, 𝒚 = 𝟒𝒕, 𝒛 = 𝟒 − 𝟐𝒕, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.

Ø Example 2: Find parametric equations for the line through 𝑃(−3, 2, −3) and 𝑄(1, −1, 4).
Solution: 𝑃𝑄 = 1 − −3 𝑖 + −1 − 2 𝑗 + 4 − −3 𝑘 = 4𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 7𝑘 is a directing vector for (PQ),
Take 𝑃 as 𝑃0 then we get 𝒙 = −𝟑 + 𝟒𝒕, 𝒚 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒕, 𝒛 = −𝟑 + 𝟕𝒕, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.

Ø Example 3: Parametrize the line segment joining the points 𝑃(−3, 2, −3) and 𝑄(1, −1, 4).
Solution: from Example 2, equations for the line (PQ) are given by
𝒙 = −𝟑 + 𝟒𝒕, 𝒚 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒕, 𝒛 = −𝟑 + 𝟕𝒕, 𝑡 ∈ℝ
To find the restriction on 𝑡:
• 𝑃(−3, 2, −3) ∈ (𝑃𝑄), then −𝟑 = −𝟑 + 𝟒𝒕, 𝟐 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒕, −𝟑 = −𝟑 + 𝟕𝒕, we get 𝑡 = 0.
• 𝑄(1, −1, 4) ∈ (𝑃𝑄), then 𝟏 = −𝟑 + 𝟒𝒕, −𝟏 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒕, 𝟒 = −𝟑 + 𝟕𝒕, we get 𝑡 = 1.
We add the restriction 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1 to parametrize the segment:
𝒙 = −𝟑 + 𝟒𝒕, 𝒚 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒕, 𝒛 = −𝟑 + 𝟕𝒕, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1.

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

 An Equation for a Plane in Space
Equation for a Plane
The plane through 𝑷𝟎(𝒙𝟎, 𝒚𝟎, 𝒛𝟎) normal to 𝒏 = 𝑨𝒊 + 𝑩𝒋 + 𝑪𝒌
has a cartisian equation in the form

A(𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 ) + 𝑩(𝒚 − 𝒚𝒐 ) + 𝑪(𝒛 − 𝒛𝒐 ) = 𝟎.

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

Ø Example 1: Find an equation for the plane through 𝑃0(−3, 0, 7) perpendicular to 𝑛 = 5𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 𝑘.
Solution: 5(𝒙 − (−𝟑) ) + 𝟐(𝒚 − 𝟎 ) − (𝒛 − 𝟕 ) = 𝟎, we get 5x+𝟐𝒚 − 𝒛 + 𝟐𝟐 = 𝟎

Ø Example 2: Find an equation for the plane through 𝐴(0, 0, 1), 𝐵(2, 0, 0) and 𝐶(0, 3, 0) .
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Solution: 𝐴𝐵×𝐴𝐶 = 2 0 −1 = 0×(−1) − 3× −1 𝑖 − 2× −1 − 0× −1 𝑗 + 2×3 − 0×0 𝑘
0 3 −1
= 3𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 6𝑘 is a normal vector for the given plane,
Take 𝐴 as 𝑃0 then we get 3(𝒙 − 𝟎 ) + 𝟐(𝒚 − 𝟎 ) + 𝟔 (𝒛 − 𝟏 ) = 𝟎, then 3x+𝟐𝒚 + 𝟔 𝒛 − 𝟔 = 𝟎

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space

 Particular lines and planes
1. The x-axis: 𝒙 = 𝒕, 𝒚 = 𝟎, 𝒛 = 𝟎, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ. z

2. The y-axis: 𝒙 = 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝒕, 𝒛 = 𝟎, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.
3. The z-axis: 𝒙 = 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟎, 𝒛 = 𝒕, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.
y
4. The xy-plane: 𝒛 = 𝟎.
5. The yz-plane: 𝒙 = 𝟎
x
6. The xz-plane: 𝒚 = 𝟎

Chapter 12: Geometry of Space