Q.Show that the straight lines r=(5i^+7j^−3k^)+s(4i^+4j^−5k^) and r=(8i^+4j^+5k^)+t(7i^+j^+3k^) are coplanar. Find the vector equation of the plane in which they lie.
Concept understanding — Equation of a Plane
Equation of a Plane
A plane is fixed by a point on it and a direction perpendicular to it (its normal n). Every standard form below is really that one idea written differently.
Point + normal form
If the plane passes through a with normal n, then for any point r on it, r−a lies in the plane, so it is perpendicular to n:
(r−a)⋅n=0⟺r⋅n=a⋅n.
In Cartesian form with n=(A,B,C): A(x−x1)+B(y−y1)+C(z−z1)=0, i.e. Ax+By+Cz=d. The coefficients of x,y,z are the normal's direction ratios.
Normal (perpendicular) form
If n^ is the unit normal and the plane is at distance p from the origin: r⋅n^=p, i.e. lx+my+nz=p with l2+m2+n2=1.
Intercept form
A plane cutting the axes at a,b,c: ax+by+cz=1.
Through three points / a line of intersection
- Three points A,B,C: take n=AB×AC, then use point+normal.
- Family through the line of intersection of P1=0 and P2=0: every such plane is P1+λP2=0; fix λ from the extra condition (a point, a distance, or a perpendicularity).
Coplanar iff (c−a)⋅(b×d)=0; then plane normal =b×d.
(c−a)⋅(b×d)=0 — coplanar; plane: r⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=−172.
Verify the coplanarity determinant vanishes, then build the containing plane's equation using that same cross product as its normal.
Step 1. Data. a=(5,7,−3),b=(4,4,−5); c=(8,4,5),d=(7,1,3).
Step 2. Compute b×d.
i^47j^41k^−53=i^(12+5)−j^(12+35)+k^(4−28)=17i^−47j^−24k^.
Step 3. Compute c−a and the coplanarity test.
c−a=(3,−3,8).
(c−a)⋅(b×d)=(3)(17)+(−3)(−47)+(8)(−24)=51+141−192=0.
Coplanar confirmed.
Step 4. Equation of the containing plane (normal b×d, through a):
r⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=a⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=(5)(17)+(7)(−47)+(−3)(−24)=85−329+72=−172.
Coplanar (test =0); plane: r⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=−172.
Coplanarity determinant, then use the same cross product as the containing plane's normal
- Forgetting to verify the coplanarity test BEFORE writing a plane equation (a genuinely skew pair has no single containing plane)
- Sign slip in one of the three terms of the final dot product
Showing the 12 most recent of 28 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The equation of the plane having intercepts 2, −3, 1 on X, Y and Z axis respectively is ................. .(a) 2x − 3y + z = 0(b) 3x − 2y + 6z = 6(c) 3x + 2y + z = 3(d) x + 2y + 3z = 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the intercept form of a plane: x/a+y/b+z/c=1.
With a=2,b=−3,c=1:
2x+−3y+1z=1
Multiply through by 6 (LCM of 2,3,1):
3x−2y+6z=6
✓Final answer3x−2y+6z=6 — option (b).
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.Equation of a plane parallel to the plane 9x−8y+7z=10 is(a) 9x−8y−7z=5(b) 9x−8y+7z=5(c) 9x+8y+7z=5(d) 9x−y+7z=5
›Reveal solutionSolution
Parallel planes have identical coefficients of x,y,z (same normal), only the constant differs.
The plane 9x−8y+7z=10 has normal direction (9,−8,7). Any parallel plane must have the same normal, i.e. the same coefficients of x,y,z, differing only in the constant term. The only such option is 9x−8y+7z=5.
✓Final answer(B) 9x−8y+7z=5.
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.The equation of the xy-plane is(a) x=0(b) y=0(c) z=0(d) none of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Points on the xy-plane have z=0.
The xy-plane consists of all points (x,y,0); the defining condition is that the z-coordinate vanishes. Hence its equation is z=0. (Similarly x=0 is the yz-plane and y=0 is the zx-plane.)
✓Final answer(c) z=0.
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.The equation of the plane parallel to the plane 3x−5y+4z=11 is(a) 3x−5y+4z=21(b) 3x+5y+4z=25(c) 3x+5y+4z=35(d) none of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Parallel planes share the same normal, so the coefficients of x,y,z must be identical: 3x−5y+4z=21.
Two planes are parallel iff their normal vectors are proportional. The given plane 3x−5y+4z=11 has normal (3,−5,4). A parallel plane must therefore have the form
3x−5y+4z=k
for some constant k=11. Among the options, only (A) preserves all three coefficients (3,−5,4); options (B) and (C) change −5y to +5y, so their normals differ.
✓Final answer(A) 3x−5y+4z=21.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The Cartesian equation of the plane r⃗ · (î + ĵ − k̂) = 2 is :(a) x − y − z = 2(b) x + y − z = 2(c) x + y + z = 2(d) x + y − z = −2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing r⃗ = xî + yĵ + zk̂ and dotting with (î + ĵ − k̂) directly gives the Cartesian form x + y − z = 2.
The vector equation of a plane is r⋅n=d, where r=x^+y^+zk^ is the position vector of a general point and n is the plane's normal.
Here n=^+^−k^ and d=2.
Substituting: (x^+y^+zk^)⋅(^+^−k^)=2⇒x+y−z=2.
✓Final answerx + y − z = 2 — option (b).
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The Cartesian equation of the plane r⋅(i^+j^−k^)=2 is-(a) x+y−z=0(b) x+y−z=2(c) x+y−z=1(d) x+y+z+2=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute r=xi^+yj^+zk^ into the vector equation of the plane and take the dot product.
Given r⋅(i^+j^−k^)=2, with r=xi^+yj^+zk^:
(xi^+yj^+zk^)⋅(i^+j^−k^)=2
x(1)+y(1)+z(−1)=2
x+y−z=2.
✓Final answerOption (b) x+y−z=2
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.Direction ratios of the normal to the plane x+2y−3z+15=0 are(a) 1,2,3(b) 1,−2,3(c) 1,2,−3(d) 1,2,15
›Reveal solutionSolution
The normal to ax+by+cz+d=0 has direction ratios a,b,c, i.e. 1,2,−3.
For a plane written as ax+by+cz+d=0, the normal vector is ai+bj+ck, so its direction ratios are the coefficients a,b,c.
For x+2y−3z+15=0 these are 1,2,−3.
✓Final answer(c) 1,2,−3.
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.Equation of a plane parallel to the plane x−8y−9z=12 is(a) x+8y+9z=12(b) x−8y−9z=2023(c) 8x−y−9z=12(d) x−9y−8z=12
›Reveal solutionSolution
A plane parallel to x−8y−9z=12 keeps the coefficients 1,−8,−9; only the constant changes, e.g. x−8y−9z=2023.
Two planes are parallel iff their normal vectors are proportional, i.e. the coefficients of x,y,z are the same (up to a common factor). Only the constant term may differ.
Among the options, x−8y−9z=2023 has exactly the coefficients 1,−8,−9, so it is parallel to x−8y−9z=12.
✓Final answer(b) x−8y−9z=2023.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The equation of the plane with intercepts of 2, 3 and 4 on the x,y and z-axes respectively is:(a) 4x+6y+3z=12(b) 6x+4y+3z=12(c) 3x+4y+6z=12(d) 5x+4y+3z=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the intercept form of a plane, ax+by+cz=1, then clear denominators.
With intercepts a=2, b=3, c=4:
2x+3y+4z=1
Multiply through by the LCM 12:
6x+4y+3z=12
✓Final answer(b) 6x+4y+3z=12.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the intercepts cut off by the plane 2x+y−z=5 on co-ordinate axes.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the plane equation in intercept form ax+by+cz=1 by dividing through so the RHS becomes 1.
2x+y−z=5
Divide both sides by 5:
5/2x+5y+−5z=1
So the intercepts are a=25 on the x-axis, b=5 on the y-axis, and c=−5 on the z-axis.
✓Final answerx-intercept =25, y-intercept =5, z-intercept =−5.
- CBSE 2022Set HE2191 markQ.Write true or false: Equation of a plane in normal form is lx+my+nz=d.
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is exactly the standard normal (or perpendicular) form of the equation of a plane.
The equation of a plane in normal form is lx+my+nz=d, where (l,m,n) are the direction cosines of the normal to the plane from the origin, and d (≥0) is the perpendicular distance of the plane from the origin. This matches the given statement.
✓Final answerTrue.
- CBSE 2022Set HE2191 markQ.Write true or false: The planes 2x−y+4z=5 and 5x−2.5y+10z=6 are parallel.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two planes are parallel if their normal vectors are proportional; check the ratio of coefficients.
Plane 1: 2x−y+4z=5, normal (2,−1,4).
Plane 2: 5x−2.5y+10z=6, normal (5,−2.5,10).
Check proportionality: 25=2.5, −1−2.5=2.5, 410=2.5. All three ratios are equal, so the normals are parallel (scalar multiples of each other), meaning the planes are parallel. (Since 6=2.5×5=12.5, they are two distinct parallel planes, not the same plane.)
✓Final answerTrue — the planes are parallel.
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