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3D Lines and Planes Problem

Name: CALCIII 2009-09-12 23:55

Ok, here's what should be a simple problem dealing with parametric equations of a line and planes in 3D space, but I'm completely stumped. Here's the problem:

Find an equation of a plane through the point (3, 3, 0) which is orthogonal to the line
x = -2 - 3t, y = -4 + 3t, z = 2 + 3t
in which the coefficient of x is -3.

I know I'm supposed to determine the vector from the point P(3,3,0) on the plane to a point on the line so that it is orthogonal to the line, but I have no idea how. Anyone able to help?

Name: Anonymous 2009-09-13 0:23

Name: Anonymous 2009-09-14 1:18

The vector of the line is (-2, -4, 2) + t(-3, 3, 3)
From here, you can see that the normal vector of the plane is (-3, 3, 3), so that the plane itself is orhogonal to the line. The general equation for the plane thus becomes:
-3x + 3y + 3z = C
In order to obtain the value of C we only need to fill in the given point, which is in the plane:
-9 + 9 + 0 = C = 0
The plane equation is: -3x + 3y + 3z = 0

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