Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

9.1 Intersection of a Line with a Plane A Relative Position of a Line and a Plane There are three possible situations as represented below: B Intersection of a Line and a Plane (Algebraic Method) To get the intersection between a line L and a plane : a) Substitute the parametric equations of the line x = x0 + tu x L : y = y0 + tu y (1) z = z 0 + tu z into the Cartesian equation of the plane : Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 (2) to get the equation: A( x0 + tu x ) + B( y0 + tu y ) + C ( z 0 + tu z ) + D = 0 (*) b) Solve (if possible) the equation (*) for the parameter t . c) Substitute the value of the parameter t into the parametric equations of the line (1) to get the point of intersection.

a) The line intersects the plane at a single point.

b) The line lies on the plane. There are an infinite number of points of intersections.

L = i c) The line is parallel to the plane but distinct. There is no point of intersection.

Ex 1. Find the point(s) of intersection between the line C Unique Solution (Point Intersection) r In this case, by solving the equation (*) you get a L : r = (6,9,1) + t (2,3,1), t R and the plane unique value for the parameter t . Therefore, there is : x + 2 y + z + 4 = 0 . a unique point of intersection between the line and the plane.

The line intersects the plane at a unique point.

D Infinite Number of Solutions (Line Intersection) Ex 2. Find the point(s) of intersection between the line r In this case, by solving the equation (*) you get the L : r = (3,0,0) + t (0,2,3), t R and the plane equation: : 2 x + 3 y + 2 z + 6 = 0 . 0t = 0 which has an infinite number of solutions. Therefore, there are an infinite number of points of intersection.

The line is lies on the plane.

9.1 Intersection of a Line with a Plane 2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 2

Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

E No Solution (No Intersection) In this case, by solving the equation (*) you get a false statement like: 0t = 1 The equation does not have any solution and therefore there is no point of intersection between the line and the plane.

Ex 3. Ex 2. Find the point(s) of intersection between the r line L : r = (1,2,3) + t (0,1,1), t R and the plane : x+ y z 3= 0 .

The line is parallel to the plane and does not lie on the plane. F Classifying Lines r r r Let consider the line L : r = r0 + tu , t R , where P0 ( x0 , y0 , z 0 ) is a specific point on the line, and the r plane : Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 , where n = ( A, B, C ) is a normal vector to the plane. Ex 4. Consider the plane : 4 x + 3 y 2 z + 12 = 0 . Classify each line as intersecting the plane, contained by the plane, or distinct from the plane. Do not find the point(s) of intersection using the algebraic method.
r a) L : r = (3,0,0) + t (0,2,3), t R r b) L : r = (1,0,2) + t (1,2,0), t R r c) L : r = t (1,0,2), t R

r r a) If n u 0 the line intersects the plane at a unique point.

r r b) If n u = 0 and Ax0 + By0 + Cz 0 + D = 0 then the line lies on the plane.

Ex 5. Show that the point P of intersection between the r r r r r r r plane : r = p0 + su + tv and the line L : r = l0 + qw is given r r r r r r ( p l ) (u v ) r by: rP = l0 + 0 r 0r r w . Explain. w (u v )

r r c) If n u = 0 and Ax0 + By0 + Cz 0 + D 0 then the line is parallel to the plane but does not lie on the plane.

Note. By solving the equation (*) for t you will end by getting the same cases and conditions as above. Try this as an exercise. Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 489-496 Homework: Nelson Textbook: Page 497 #1, 5, 7, 17
9.1 Intersection of a Line with a Plane 2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 2