WTW 124: Selected Answers to Chapter 1 (1.7 and 1.

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EXERCISE 1.7

1(a) h2, 3, 4i

1(b) h−2, −3, −4i

1(c) h0, 0, 0i

1(d) h−3, −4, −6i

1(e) h4, 6, 9i

1(f) h−16, −3, 10i

1(g) h2, −7, 4i

1(h) 0

1(i) Not possible. Cross product is between two vectors.

1(j) h−2, −4, −6i

1(k) h−40, −64, 88i

2(a) Let n̄ = (p̄ − r̄) × (q̄ − r̄) = h2, 0, 2i. Then P has Cartesian equation n̄ · (x̄ − r̄) = 0, or

x + z = 3.

2(b) TYPO: P has vector parametric equation x̄ = h1 + t − s, 2s + t, 3 + t + si, s, t ∈ R.

Write the vector parametric equation for P as

x̄ = h1, 0, 3i + sh−1, 2, 1i + th1, 1, 1i, s, t ∈ R.

Let n̄ = h−1, 2, 1i×h1, 1, 1i = h1, 2, −3i. Then P has Cartesian equation n̄·(x̄−h−1, 2, 1i) = 0,
or
x + 2y − 3z = 0.

3. See Example 1.7.21. Find three points p̄, q̄ and r̄ on P such that p̄ − r̄ and q̄ − r̄ are not
scalar multiples of each other. Then P has equation

x̄ = r̄ + s(p̄ − r̄) + t(q̄ − r̄), s, t ∈ R.

Note that a plane has many different vector parametric equations, depending on how you
pick the points p̄, q̄ and r̄.
(a) x̄ = h0, 0, −3i + sh0, 6, 3i + th6, 0, 3i, s, t ∈ R
(b) x̄ = h0, −1, 0i + sh1, 2, 0i + th−1, −1, 1i, s, t ∈ R
(c) x̄ = h6, 0, 0i + sh−6, 4, 0i + th−6, 0, −12i, s, t ∈ R
(d) x̄ = h0, 0, 2i + sh1, 0, 0i + th0, 1, 0i, s, t ∈ R

4(a) h 34 , 3, 23 i

4(b) The line and the plane do not intersect.

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4(c) h 34 , 12 , 4 i

4(d) L ⊆ P ; every point on L is a point of intersection.

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 4(e) The line and the plane do not intersect.

4(f) h 92 , 17 1
2 , −2i

4(g) L ⊆ P ; every point on L is a point of intersection.

5(a) The two planes intersect in the line with equation x̄ = h0, 32 , 2i + th1, −1, −1i

5(b) The two planes intersect in the line with equation x̄ = h 21 , 0, 23 i + th2, 1, −1i

5(c) The two planes do not intersect.

5(d) The two planes are equal.

5(e) The two planes intersect in the line with equation x̄ = h0, 5, 3i + th1, 0, −1i

5(f) The two planes intersect in the line with equation x̄ = h1, 0, 3i + th0, 1, −1i

5(g) The two planes intersect in the line with equation x̄ = h 12 , 32 , 0i + th−1, 5, 2i

6(a) The line has equation x̄ = h2, −1, 0i + th2, 2, −1i.

6(b) The line has equation x̄ = h3, −2, −4i + th3, 1, 1i.

7. Calculate u × v and v × u separately and then show that the left-hand side is equal to the
right-hand side.

8. Hint: By Theorem 1.7.4 (1) we can see LHS = (v + v) × w = −[w × (v + v)].

9. Hint: Calculate each vector and show they are equal.

10(a) i. Hint: Apply the definition of the cross product.

10(b) Hint: Write out u × v in terms of the components of ū and v̄. Then solve for the components
of v̄ in the equation Use u × v = 0.

11. Hint: Do the algebra: Calculate ū · (ū × v̄) and v̄ · (ū × v̄) to see that both are equal to 0.

12. Hint: Use Definition 1.5.3 and sin2 θ = 1 − cos2 θ.

13. Use Theorem 1.7.15 to show that

sin θ1 k(b̄ − ā) × (c̄ − ā)k
=
kb̄ − c̄k kb̄ − c̄k kb̄ − āk kc̄ − āk

sin θ2 k(ā − b̄) × (c̄ − b̄)k

=
kā − c̄k kb̄ − c̄k kb̄ − āk kc̄ − āk
sin θ3 k(ā − c̄) × (b̄ − c̄)k
= .
kb̄ − āk kb̄ − c̄k kb̄ − āk kc̄ − āk
Now use Theorem 1.7.4 (1) to (4) to show that

(ā − b̄) × (c̄ − b̄) = −(b̄ − ā) × (c̄ − ā)

and
(ā − c̄) × (b̄ − c̄) = (b̄ − ā) × (c̄ − ā)
Now show that
sin θ1 sin θ2 sin θ3
= =
kb̄ − c̄k kā − c̄k kb̄ − āk

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14(a) Hint: Recall the definition of n and that p − r and q − r are not scalar multiples of each
other.

14(b) Hint: Use a previous theorem from this section.

14(c) Hint: Show each point is on the plane A.

14(d) Hint: Assume for a contradiction they are on the same line. Remember, we assume that
p̄ − r̄ and q̄ − r̄ are not scalar multiples of each other.

14(e) Hint: If three points are not all on the same line, how many planes are there that contain
all three points?

15(a) Hint: What if a = b? What do we know about p̄ − q̄ and q̄ − ā?

14(b) Hint: Do the calculation.

16. Hint: Let x̄ be a point on the line through ā and b̄. Show that x̄ ∈ P and x̄ ∈ Q. Use
Theorem 1.6.6.

17(a) Hint: Use a previous theorem from this section.

17(b) Hint: Use the fact that the intersection is not a line.

17(c) Hint: Use (b).

EXERCISE 1.8
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1. α = 2 and β = 12 .

2. Hint: Use the definition of parallel lines.

3. Hint: Show that the conditions in the definition of a plane is satisfied. Now verify that 0̄, ā,
b̄ and ā + b̄ are points on this plane.

4. Hint: Assume that 0̄, ā and b̄ are all on the same line, and prove that ā and b̄ are scalar
multiples of each other. Why does it now follow that ā and b̄ are not all on the same line?

5. Hint: Apply definition of a parallelogram.

6. x̄ = h1, 2, 3i + th1, −1, 2i, t ∈ R

7. Let n̄ be a normal vector for P . If x̄ and ȳ are parallel to P , then x̄ and ȳ are perpendicular
to n̄, that is, n̄ · x̄ = n̄ · ȳ = 0. We can therefore take

n̄ = x̄ × ȳ = h−1, 3, 2i.

Then a Cartesian equation for P is

x − 3y − 2z = 1

x̄ · ȳ
8. If θ is the magnitude of the angle between x̄ and ȳ, then cos θ = , see the table
kx̄kkbaryk
on page 79.
(a) π/3 (b) π/6 (c) 0
√
9. α = −1 ± 2. (See the table on page 79.)

10. x̄ and ȳ are parallel if and only if x̄ = β ȳ for some β 6= 0, see the table on page 79. If x̄ = β ȳ,
show that β = 2. Now prove that α = ±1. If α = ±1, show that x̄ = 2ȳ.

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11. Let n̄ be the normal vector of P . Then x̄ is parallel to P if√and only if n̄ · x̄ = 0, see the
table on page 79. Show that n̄ · x̄ = 0 if and only if α = 1 ± 2.

12. Let n̄ be the normal vector of the plane P . Then P and x̄ are perpendicular if and only if
x̄ = β n̄ for some β 6= 0. Proceed as in question 10 to find α = 3.