3-Dimensional Geometry

● Introduction
● Concept of DC & DR
● Straight lines in 3D
● Planes
In class XI, we covered geometry in 2D. Now, that we have good
understanding of vectors, we will use them to develop the geometry in
3D. Vectors here will be playing critical role in providing directions.
Concept of DC and DR
In 3-D geometry, there is no concept of “slope”. Here, vector are used to
give directions. For that we use the terms DC & DR. Lets understand the
concept of DC & DR first
Direction cosine
If vector parallel to a given line makes angles α, β & γ with x, y & z axis
respectively then the triplet cos⍺, cos β, cos γ are called Direction cosine of
line
Z

Direction cosine are generally denoted

by (l, m, n) 𝜸
β
Y
𝛼

X
Observation

We know that we can express any vector as:

Dividing both sides by a:

So, DC of any vector , are nothing but coefficients of

Note Clearly, l 2 + m 2 + n 2 = 1
Eg:
(a) DC of x-axis are

(b) If then

(c) DC of the line joining (1, 2, 1) & (0, 1, –1) are:

 Question!

Q (a) The direction cosines of a line equally inclined to the axes are
(b) The direction cosines of any normal to the xz-plane are
 Question!

Q (a) The angle between the lines whose direction cosines

satisfy the equations l + m + n = 0 and l2 = m2 + n2, is

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D
 Question!

Q (b) Find the direction cosines of the two lines which are
connected by the relation l - 5m + 3n = 0 and 7l2 + 5m2 - 3n2 = 0
 Question!

Q Find angle between two body diagonals of a cube

Direction ratios:
Three numbers a, b, c proportional to DC (l, m, n) are known as DR.
Basically, if line is parallel to a vector then DR of line are
(a, b, c), or better to say DR ∝ (a, b, c)
 Question!

Q A line passes through the points (6, -7, -1) and (2, -3, 1).
Find the direction cosines of the line if the line makes an
acute angle with the positive direction of the x-axis.
Straight Lines in 3D
Line through a given point & parallel to given vector
Let be a general point on line
Clearly

i.e. r
a

This is parametric form of line

Observation

Try to observe . In particular if we

λb
use i.e. written equation as

then: r = a + λb

This idea is used when we have to move few units on the line
Eg:
The points on the line lying 2 units away from A(1, 2, 3) are:

i.e

i.e
Now, that we have equation of line in vector form, we can easily write it in
cartesian form also

i.e.

Comparing, we get:

Remark
Here a, b, c are DR of line. Obviously, few can be zero also
Eg: Cartesian equation of:

(a) is

(b) is

(c) is

(d) is
 Question!

Q Equation of y-axis is:

B
A

D
 Question!

Q Equation of line through (2, 4, 5) & (3, 6, 7) is

 Question!

Q Write the following in standard form & hence find their DR

(a) 6x - 2 = 3y + 1 = 2z - 2
 Question!

Q Write the following in standard form & hence find their DR

(b)
 Question!

Q Write the following in standard form & hence find their DR

(c) x = 2y + 3; z = y - 4
 Question!

Q The lines
are perpendicular if

D
 Question!

Q Find the equation of a line which passes through point

A(1, 0, -1) and is perpendicular to the straight lines
Solution :
Assuming a point on line

Many times we will be required to assume a point on line. It plays very

critical role many times. So, lets see how to assume a point on line & few
examples on it
Consider a line:

A general point on this line is assumed as

Eg: General point on

(a) is taken as

(b) is taken as
 Question!

Q Find point of intersection of:

(a)
 Question!

Q Find point of intersection of:

(b)

(a)

(b)
 Question!

Q Find equation of internal angle bisector of ∠ABC if

 Question!

Q Find the coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular from

point A(1, 0, 3) to the join of points B(4, 7, 1) and C(3, 5, 3).
Remark
If we know foot of perpendicular of a point, we can easily find image also
using section formula
 Question!

Q Equation of line through (0, 1, 2) intersecting

perpendicularly is

D
 Question!

Q Equation of line through (0, 1, 2) intersecting

perpendicularly is

D
 Question!

Q From a point P(λ, λ, λ), perpendiculars PQ and PR are drawn

respectively on the lines y = x, z = 1 and y = -x, z = -1. If P is
such that ∠QPR is a right angle, then the possible value(s) of
λ is(are)

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B 1

C -1

D
 Question!

Q From a point P(λ, λ, λ), perpendiculars PQ and PR are drawn

respectively on the lines y = x, z = 1 and y = -x, z = -1. If P is
such that ∠QPR is a right angle, then the possible value(s) of
λ is(are)

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B 1

C -1

D
Distance of a point from a Line &
Distance between two Lines
Lets understand distance of a point from line through example
 Question!

Q (a) The distance of the point (-2, 4, -5) from the line

is

D None of these
 Question!

Q (b) Find distance of (5, 7, -2) from

measured along
Now let’s pick shortest distance between two lines
Observation
Two non-parallel lines in 3D may or may not intersect

Skew lines:
Two lines in space which are neither parallel nor intersecting are called
skew lines
Shortest distance between two lines is:

For skew line: For parallel line:

 Question!

Q (a) The shortest distance between the lines

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D 3
 Question!

Q The shortest distance between the lines

(b)
Result

Two lines are coplanar if either they are

parallel or shortest distance between them is zero, which can be
summarised in one condition
 Question!

If the lines and are

Q
coplanar, then k can have

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any value

B exactly one value

C exactly two values

D exactly three values

 Question!

Two lines and

Q
are coplanar. Then, 𝛼 can take values

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0

B 2

C 3

D 4
 Question!

Q Find equation of line through (1, -1, 0), intersecting

Now, lets develop equations of plane. Here you will realize the
things are quite similar to line in 2-D
Equations of plane
Plane through a fixed point & normal to a given vector: n

A( a )

R( r )

a
r
O
Equations of plane
Plane through a fixed point & normal to a given vector: n
Let be a general point on plane
A( a )

a R( r )

i.e.
r
This is the required vector form of plane O
For cartesian form: Let A & R be (x1, y1, z1) & (x, y, z) respectively & DR
of be (a, b, c), then

Note
In cartesian equation of plane the coefficients of x, y & z are DR of
Observation
In particular if we use instead of then equation is called
normal form of plane.
Here is perpendicular distance of plane from origin
 Question!

Q For the plane 3x - 4y - 5z = 10, find

(a) DC of normal to plane
 Question!

Q For the plane 3x - 4y - 5z = 10, find

(b) The intercepts on x, y & z axis
 Question!

Q For the plane 3x - 4y - 5z = 10, find

(c) Equation in normal form & hence find its perpendicular
distance from origin
 Question!

Q Find equation of plane through (2, -3, 4) & parallel to

-3x + y + 2z = 6
 Question!

Q is inclined to x-axis at 45°, y-axis at 60° & makes an acute

angle with z-axis. If plane passes through & is
normal to then find its equation.
Before doing more examples lets first learn deriving equation of Plane in
different situations

Remark
All the equations of plane are based on a single fundamental. Create a
vector in the plane using general point, and a vector normal to plane.
Their dot product equal to zero gives equation of plane
Equation of plane passing through & parallel to non-
collinear vectors ;
.A ( a )
 .A ( a )

In cartesian form:
Equation of plane passing through three points:
.A ( a )
 .A ( a )

In cartesian form
Intercept form:
Equation of plane having x, y, & z intercepts as a, b & c respectively is:
Intercept form:
Equation of plane having x, y, & z intercepts as a, b & c respectively is:

[Try deriving it from previous equation i.e. plane through three points]
Now, let’s do some examples to practice these equations
 Question!

Q Find equation of plane containing:

(a)

(a)

(b)
 Question!

Q Find equation of plane containing:

(b)
Solution :
Method I:
Let
Equation of plane containing both lines is
Solution :

Method II:

Equation of plane having DR of normal as (a, b, c), and passing

through the point (3, 2, 1) is a(x - 3) + b(y - 2) + c(z - 1) = 0
Now, normal to plane will be normal to line
∴ a - 4b + 5c = 0 …..(i)
Also, B(2, -3, -1) will satisfy the plane equation
⇒ a(2 - 3) + b(-3 - 2) + c(-1 -1) = 0
⇒ -a - 5b - 2c = 0
⇒ a + 5b + 2c = 0 …..(ii)
Solution :
Solving (i) and (ii), we get

⸫ Equation of plane
 Question!

Q The plane passing through the point (4, -1, 2) and parallel to
the lines
also passes through the point

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(-1, -1, -1)

B (-1, -1, 1)

C (1, 1, 1)

D (1, 1, -1)
 Question!

Q Find the equation of the plane passing through the points

(-1, 1, 1) and (1, -1, 1) and perpendicular to the plane
x + 2y + 2z = 5.
 Question!

Q The equation of the plane passing through the point (1, 1, 1)

and perpendicular to the planes 2x + y - 2z = 5 and
3x - 6y - 2z = 7, is

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-14x + 2y + 15z = 3

B 14x - 2y + 15z = 27

C 14x + 2y - 15z = 1

D 14x + 2y + 15z = 31
Solution :
 Question!

Q A variable plane moves in such a way that sum of reciprocals

of intercepts on axes is constant. Show that plane passes
through a fixed point
 Question!

Q (a) Find equation of plane through P(1, 2, 3) such that P is

foot of perpendicular of origin on the plane
 Question!

Q (b) A plane moves such that sum of its intercepts on 3 axes is

constant k. Find locus of foot of perpendicular from origin on it
Remark

Similar to family of lines in 2-D (i.e. L1 + λL2 = 0) we have a family of

planes in 3D.
Any plane through line of intersection of
P1 : a1x + b1y + c1z + d1 = 0 & P2 : a2x + b2y + c2y + d2 = 0 is of the form
P1 + λP2 = 0
i.e.
 Question!

Q (a) Equation of plane perpendicular to 5x + 3y + 6z + 8 = 0 &

containing the line of intersection of x + 2y + 3z - 4 = 0 &
2x + y - z + 5 = 0 is

D
 Question!

Q (b) A plane whose equation is 2x - y + 3z + 5 = 0 is rotated

through 90° about its line of intersection with plane
5x - 4y - 2z + 1 = 0. Find equation of plane in new position.
 Question!

Q The equation of the plane containing the line 2x - 5y + z = 3;

x + y + 4z = 5, and parallel to the plane, x + 3y + 6z = 1, is

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2x + 6y + 12z = 13

B x + 3y + 6z = -7

C x + 3y + 6z = 7

D 2x + 6y + 12z = -13
Some formulae
Angle between two planes:

Angle between a plane and line:

Some formulae
Angle between two planes:

Angle between a plane and line:

 Question!

If an angle between the line, and the

Q
plane, x - 2y - Kz = 3 is then a value of K is

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A

D
Remark
Distance of a point from plane, distance between two parallel planes, foot
of perpendicular, image of a point in plane, bisector of acute and obtuse
angle between two planes all are generalisation of 2-D results for straight
lines
(1) Distance of (x1, y1, z1) from ax + by + cz = d

(2) Distance between two parallel planes

(3) Foot of perpendicular of (x1, y1, z1) on ax + by + cz = d

(4) Image of a point (x1, y1, z1) in (ax + by + cz = d)

(5) Bisector of angle containing a given point
Consider a point (⍺, β, γ)

(a) If then required bisector is:

(b) If then required bisector is

(6) Bisector of acute and obtuse angles:

(a) If a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 > 0, then origin lies in obtuse angle

⸫ Obtuse angle bisector is

(b) If a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 < 0, then origin lies in acute angle and
equation of acute angle bisector:
(7) Ratio in which plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 divides join of A and B

ax + by + cz + d = 0

B (x2, y2, z2 )
 Question!

Q The perpendicular distance from the origin to the plane

containing the two lines.

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C 11

D
 Question!

Q Find distance between x + 2y - 2z + 1 = 0 and

2x + 4y - 4z + 4 = 0
 Question!

Q Find image of (3, -2, 1) in the plane 3x - y + 4z = 2

Ans: (0, –1, –3)

 Question!

Q Perpendiculars are drawn from points on the line

to the plane x + y + z = 3. The feet of
perpendicular lie on the line

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A

D
 Question!

Q Find equation of projection of

x - 2y - z + 1 = 0
on
Nature of planes and & symmetrical form of line
First let’s pick “Nature of planes”. Given three planes, they can be parallel
or they can form a prism or they can meet in a line or they can intersect at a
point. We can comment upon the nature using number of solutions
 Question!

Q Find nature of following planes

(a) 2x + 5y + 3z = 0, 7y - 5z + 4 = 0, x - y + 4z = 2
 Question!

Q Find nature of following planes

(b) x + y + z = 1, 4x + 2y + z = 8, 5x - y - 4z = 4
 Question!

A Intersect at a point

B Meet in a plane

C Form a prism

D Are parallel
Now, Lets understand what is symmetrical form of a line

Lets understand it through example

 Question!

Q Reduce in symmetrical form, the following equation of line

Remark
Primarily they asking line of intersection of given two planes
 Question!

Q Line of intersection of x + y - z + 1 = 0 & 2x + y + z - 1 = 0

D
 Question!

Q The equation of plane containing the line 2x - 5y + z = 3;

x + y + 4z = 5 & parallel to the plane x + 3y + 6z = 1 is

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