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Exercise 6.8 · Q2

Q.Show that the lines x−21=y−31=z−43\dfrac{x-2}{1}=\dfrac{y-3}{1}=\dfrac{z-4}{3} and x−1−3=y−42=z−51\dfrac{x-1}{-3}=\dfrac{y-4}{2}=\dfrac{z-5}{1} are coplanar. Also, find the plane containing these lines.

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✓ Free question

Same recipe as before: check the coplanarity determinant, then use the cross product of the two directions as the containing plane's normal.

Step 1. Data. a⃗=(2,3,4),b⃗=(1,1,3); c⃗=(1,4,5),d⃗=(−3,2,1)\vec a=(2,3,4),\vec b=(1,1,3);\ \vec c=(1,4,5),\vec d=(-3,2,1).

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

∣i^j^k^113−321∣=i^(1−6)−j^(1+9)+k^(2+3)=−5i^−10j^+5k^.\begin{vmatrix}\hat i&\hat j&\hat k\\1&1&3\\-3&2&1\end{vmatrix}=\hat i(1-6)-\hat j(1+9)+\hat k(2+3)=-5\hat i-10\hat j+5\hat k.

Step 3. Coplanarity test. c⃗−a⃗=(−1,1,1)\vec c-\vec a=(-1,1,1).

(c⃗−a⃗)⋅(b⃗×d⃗)=(−1)(−5)+(1)(−10)+(1)(5)=5−10+5=0.(\vec c-\vec a)\cdot(\vec b\times\vec d)=(-1)(-5)+(1)(-10)+(1)(5)=5-10+5=0.

Coplanar confirmed.

Step 4. Plane equation. Normal (−5,−10,5)∝(1,2,−1)(-5,-10,5)\propto(1,2,-1) (dividing by −5-5).

r⃗⋅(−5i^−10j^+5k^)=a⃗⋅(−5i^−10j^+5k^)=(2)(−5)+(3)(−10)+(4)(5)=−10−30+20=−20.\vec r\cdot(-5\hat i-10\hat j+5\hat k)=\vec a\cdot(-5\hat i-10\hat j+5\hat k)=(2)(-5)+(3)(-10)+(4)(5)=-10-30+20=-20.

Divide through by −5-5: r⃗⋅(i^+2j^−k^)=4\vec r\cdot(\hat i+2\hat j-\hat k)=4, i.e. x+2y−z=4x+2y-z=4.

✓Final answer

Coplanar (test =0=0); plane: x+2y−z=4x+2y-z=4.

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