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Exercise 6.6 · Q2

Q.Find the direction cosines of the normal to the plane 12x+3y−4z=6512x+3y-4z=65. Also, find the non-parametric form of vector equation of a plane and the length of the perpendicular to the plane from the origin.

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✓ Free question

Read the normal's direction ratios straight off the Cartesian equation, normalise by their magnitude for the direction cosines, and the RHS divided by that same magnitude gives the perpendicular distance.

Step 1. Direction ratios of the normal. From 12x+3y−4z=6512x+3y-4z=65: (12,3,−4)(12,3,-4).

Step 2. Magnitude. 122+32+(−4)2=144+9+16=169=13\sqrt{12^2+3^2+(-4)^2}=\sqrt{144+9+16}=\sqrt{169}=13.

Step 3. Direction cosines. (1213,313,−413)\left(\dfrac{12}{13},\dfrac3{13},-\dfrac4{13}\right).

Step 4. Non-parametric vector equation. r⃗⋅(12i^+3j^−4k^)=65\vec r\cdot(12\hat i+3\hat j-4\hat k)=65 (already in standard form r⃗⋅n⃗=q\vec r\cdot\vec n=q).

Step 5. Perpendicular distance from the origin. δ=q∣n⃗∣=6513=5\delta=\dfrac{q}{|\vec n|}=\dfrac{65}{13}=5.

✓Final answer

Direction cosines: (1213,313,−413)\left(\dfrac{12}{13},\dfrac3{13},-\dfrac4{13}\right). Vector equation: r⃗⋅(12i^+3j^−4k^)=65\vec r\cdot(12\hat i+3\hat j-4\hat k)=65. Distance from the origin: 55 units.

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