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Exercise 6.8 · Q1

Q.Show that the straight lines r⃗=(5i^+7j^−3k^)+s(4i^+4j^−5k^)\vec r=(5\hat i+7\hat j-3\hat k)+s(4\hat i+4\hat j-5\hat k) and r⃗=(8i^+4j^+5k^)+t(7i^+j^+3k^)\vec r=(8\hat i+4\hat j+5\hat k)+t(7\hat i+\hat j+3\hat k) are coplanar. Find the vector equation of the plane in which they lie.

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✓ Free question

Verify the coplanarity determinant vanishes, then build the containing plane's equation using that same cross product as its normal.

Step 1. Data. a⃗=(5,7,−3),b⃗=(4,4,−5); c⃗=(8,4,5),d⃗=(7,1,3)\vec a=(5,7,-3),\vec b=(4,4,-5);\ \vec c=(8,4,5),\vec d=(7,1,3).

Step 2. Compute b⃗×d⃗\vec b\times\vec d.

∣i^j^k^44−5713∣=i^(12+5)−j^(12+35)+k^(4−28)=17i^−47j^−24k^.\begin{vmatrix}\hat i&\hat j&\hat k\\4&4&-5\\7&1&3\end{vmatrix}=\hat i(12+5)-\hat j(12+35)+\hat k(4-28)=17\hat i-47\hat j-24\hat k.

Step 3. Compute c⃗−a⃗\vec c-\vec a and the coplanarity test.

c⃗−a⃗=(3,−3,8).\vec c-\vec a=(3,-3,8).

(c⃗−a⃗)⋅(b⃗×d⃗)=(3)(17)+(−3)(−47)+(8)(−24)=51+141−192=0.(\vec c-\vec a)\cdot(\vec b\times\vec d)=(3)(17)+(-3)(-47)+(8)(-24)=51+141-192=0.

Coplanar confirmed.

Step 4. Equation of the containing plane (normal b⃗×d⃗\vec b\times\vec d, through a⃗\vec a):

r⃗⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=a⃗⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=(5)(17)+(7)(−47)+(−3)(−24)=85−329+72=−172.\vec r\cdot(17\hat i-47\hat j-24\hat k)=\vec a\cdot(17\hat i-47\hat j-24\hat k)=(5)(17)+(7)(-47)+(-3)(-24)=85-329+72=-172.

✓Final answer

Coplanar (test =0=0); plane: r⃗⋅(17i^−47j^−24k^)=−172\vec r\cdot(17\hat i-47\hat j-24\hat k)=-172.

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