Math Insight

Forming plane examples

Example 1

Find the equation for the plane through the point $(0,1,-7)$ perpendicular to the vector $(4, -1, 6)$.

Solution: Let $\vc{a} = (0,1,-7)$. Let $\vc{n} = (4,-1,6)$. Then, for $\vc{x} = (x,y,z)$, the equation for the plane is \begin{align*} \vc{n} \cdot (\vc{x}-\vc{a})=0. \end{align*} This becomes \begin{align*} (4,-1,6) \cdot (x-0, y-1, z+7) = 0 \end{align*} or \begin{align*} 4x -(y-1) + 6(z+7) = 0. \end{align*} Often, we prefer to write this as \begin{align*} 4x -y +6z +43 =0. \end{align*} (Note that you can read the normal vector $\vc{n} = (4,-1,6)$ right from the equation for the plane; the components of $\vc{n}$ are simply the coefficients of $x$, $y$, and $z$.)

Example 2

Find the equation for the plane through the points $(0,1,-7)$, $(3,1,-9)$, and $(0, -5, -8)$.

Solution: Let $\vc{b} = (0, 1, -7) - (3,1,-9) = (-3, 0, 2)$. Let $\vc{c} = (0, 1, -7) - (0 -5, -8) = (0, 6, 1)$. Then, we can find a normal vector by taking their cross product \begin{align*} \vc{n} &= \vc{b} \times \vc{c}\\ &= \left| \begin{array}{rrr} \vc{i} & \vc{j} & \vc{k}\\ -3 & 0 & 2\\ 0 & 6 & 1 \end{array} \right| \\ &= \vc{i} (0 -12) - \vc{j} (-3 -0) + \vc{k}(-18 -0)\\ &= (-12, 3, -18). \end{align*} We'll pick the first point and let $\vc{a} = (0, 1, -7)$. The equation for the plane becomes \begin{align*} (-12, 3, -18) \cdot (x-0, y-1, z+7) = 0 \end{align*} which we rewrite as \begin{align*} -12x +3(y-1) -18(z+7) = 0 \end{align*} or \begin{align*} -12x +3y -18z - 129 = 0. \end{align*}

The planes from both examples went through the same point $(0, 1, -7)$. Did you also notice that their normal vectors are parallel to each other? If you multiply the $\vc{n}$ from Example 1 by $-3$, you obtain the $\vc{n}$ from Example 2: \begin{align*} -3(4, -1, 6) = (-12, 3, -18). \end{align*}

What does that mean about the relationship between the two planes? The two planes must be equal. (See the page on forming planes for a discussion of this fact.) In fact, if you divide both sides of the equation of the second plane by $-3$, you get the equation of the first plane.

Example 3

Find the equation for the plane through the points $(1,2,3)$, $(2,4,6)$, and $(-3,-6,-9)$.

Solution: Let $\vc{b} = (2,4,6) - (1,2,3) = (1,2,3)$ and let $\vc{c} = (1,2,3) - (-3,-6,-9) = (4, 8, 12)$. Then, we attempt to find a normal vector as their cross product: \begin{align*} \vc{n} &= \vc{b} \times \vc{c}\\ &= \left| \begin{array}{rrr} \vc{i} & \vc{j} & \vc{k}\\ 1 & 2 & 3\\ 4 & 8 & 12 \end{array} \right| \\ &= \vc{i} (24 -24) - \vc{j} (12 -12) + \vc{k}(8 -8)\\ &= (0, 0, 0). \end{align*}

Something clearly went wrong, as we weren't able to find a normal direction. Do the three points actually determine a plane? If you are still puzzled, check the page on forming planes for any conditions on the ability of three points to determine a plane.