ADVANCED

MATHEMATICS I
FAC1001
o Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
o Parallel & Orthogonal: lines &
planes
Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
o Two planes with normal vectors a and b are:
(i) parallel if a and b are parallel
(ii) orthogonal if a and b are orthogonal
a b

∴ a = 𝜆b for some scalar 𝜆.

b

∴ a∙b= 0
Parallel & Orthogonal: planes
▪EXAMPLE 1:
Prove that the planes 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑𝒚 − 𝒛 − 𝟓 = 𝟎 and
− 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟗𝒚 + 𝟑𝒛 + 𝟐 = 𝟎 are parallel.
▪Solution:
The planes have normal vectors,
𝐚 = 𝟐, −𝟑, −𝟏 and 𝐛 = −𝟔, 𝟗, 𝟑 .
Thus,
b = −𝟑 𝟐, −𝟑, −𝟏
= −𝟑a ∴ 𝐛 = −𝟑a

Therefore, the vectors a and b are parallel

and hence the planes are also parallel.
 PARALLEL & PERPENDICULAR: LINES & PLANES

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
𝝅: ax + by + cz = d
l r = a +tv
v

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
Line and plane are parallel if, 𝐧 ∙ 𝐯 = 𝟎
v

l Line and plane

n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄
v are
v n = 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 perpendicular
if, ∴ n = 𝜆v

𝝅: ax + by + cz = d OR 𝐧×𝐯=𝟎
 EXAMPLE 2
• Determine if the plane given by −𝑥 +
2𝑧 = 10 and the line given by 𝐫 =
5, 2 − 𝑡, 10 + 4𝑡 are orthogonal,
parallel or neither.
INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

An intersection line
between two planes

If two distinct planes intersect,

the solution is the set of points
that lie on the line of
intersection.
INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

The planes are parallel

and coincident

If the planes are coincident,

every point on the plane is a
solution.
INTERSECTIONS OF PLANES

Given two planes in three-space, there are three

possible geometric models for the intersection of the
planes.

the planes are parallel

and distinct.

Parallel planes do not intersect,

so there is no solution.
 EXAMPLE 3
• Let l be the line of intersection of the
two planes
2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 4 and 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 1.
Find parametric equations for l.
 EXAMPLE 4
• Describe how the planes in each pair
intersect.
a) 𝜋1 : 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 4𝑧 − 7 = 0
𝜋2 : 3𝑥 − 9𝑦 + 6𝑧 − 2 = 0

b) 𝜋3 : 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 2 = 0
𝜋4 : 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4𝑧 + 4 = 0
ANGLES: PLANE & PLANE
The angle between two planes is equal to the
angle determined by the normal vectors of the
planes.

The angle 𝜃 between two

planes with normals of n1
and n2, respectively, can be
calculated using the
n2 formula:
n1
𝐧𝟏 ∙ 𝐧𝟐
cos 𝜃 =
𝐧𝟏 𝐧𝟐
ANGLES: LINE & PLANE

EXAMPLE 4

• Determine the acute angle between the

two planes:
𝜋1 : 𝑥 − 𝑦 − 2𝑧 + 3 = 0
𝜋2 : 2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑧 + 2 = 0
ANGLES: LINE & PLANE
The angle between a line
and plane is 𝜃.
We find the angle
between line and a
normal to the plane, 𝛼.
𝐧∙𝐯
cos 𝛼 =
𝐧 𝐯

Therefore, the angle between line and plane:

𝜃 = 90° − 𝛼
ANGLES: LINE & PLANE

EXAMPLE 5
𝑥−1 𝑦 𝑧+4
• Given is a line, = =
3 −1 −2
and a plane, 𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2𝑧 − 8 = 0.
Find the angles between line and plane.
Thank you ☺