KAGUMO TTC 2022

VECTOR GEOMETRY 2 REVISION

TOPIC: EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT LINE IN 3D

 We need a point where the line passes through and the directional vector to
the line
 The equations are in three forms

{ { {
x x0 a
y= y0 + t b
z z0 c

 Parametric equations of the line

X=x0 + at;
Y=y0 + bt;
z=z0 + ct,
 Symmetric/Cartesian equation
x−X 0− ¿ ¿ = y− y o = z−z 0 =t
a b c
 Vector equation
r=OA+t(b-a)
r=(x0 +at)i+(y0 +bt)j+(z0+ct)k

 Examples,
If a line passes through points A(-2,4,1) and B(2,1,3),the equation of the
line will be

solution

AB=b-a= (4,-3,2)
 [] ( )
2 4
Hence r= +t
4 −3 .
3 2

Example 2: If the line passes through points

(i)A(1,6,3) and B(8,2,7).

(ii)A(1,2,3) and B(-2,-4,-6)

(iii) A(−3,5,9),B(4,−7,2)

(1v)A(−3,5,9),B(4,−7,2)

 Determine the parametric, symmetric and vector equation of the line

Example from DTE examination

2021:5a. Aline passes through the points (2,4.1) and (-1,5,2)Find:

i)The equation of the line Lin parametric form(3marks)

ii)The unit vector in the direction of L(2marks)

2020-N0 QUESTION

2019-Aline passes through points P(1,3,2)and Q(-1,-2,11).Find the vector equation

of the line(4marks)

m/scheme

 OP&OQ
 R=a+t(b-a)
 I+3j+2k+t(-2i-5j+9k)

 (1-2t)i+(3-5t)j+(2+9t)k
 And they gave a mark for Cartesian/symmetric equation equation

x−1 y −3 z −2
= =
−2 −5 9

2018: A line passes through point (6,-3,1)and is parallel to the vector 3i-
2j+k.Determine the equation of the line in Cartesian form(3marks)

m/scheme

 General form

()( ) ( )
x 6 3
y = −3 +t −2
z 1 1

 X=6+3t;Y=-3-2t;Z=1+t
x−6 y +3 z−1
 3
=
−2
=
1

2015: Aline passes through (2,4,-1)and parallel to 2i+3j+4k.Find the parametric

equation of the line
TOPIC 2:DOT PRODUCT
 it’s a scalar product
 a.b=|a||b|cosθ

Vectors are said to be orthogonal or perpendicular if their dot product is 0

 The dot product is commutative. That is a ∙b= b∙ a .

|a| 2
 a∙ a = . That is, the dot product of a vector with itself is the square of the
magnitude of the vector. This formula relates the dot product of a vector
with the vector’s magnitude.
 The dot product of the zero vector with any other vector results in the scalar
value 0. That is,a ∙ 0 ∙ = 0 .
 The sign of the dot product indicates whether the angle between the two
vectors is acute, obtuse, or zero. Assume that a and b are two non-zero
vectors.
 If a.b >0(positive value), then the angle formed by a and b is acute(LESS
THAN 90)(3,1,2&1,4,3)
 If a.b<0(-ve value),then the angle formed by a and b is obtuse(90<X<180)
(-4,3,0&2,-1,3)
 If a.b=0,then the angle between the vectors is 90.. Two vectors that
have this property are said to be orthogonal.(4,1,1&1,-2,-2)

Example1
If vector a = (3, 1,2) and b = (1,4,3) Find the dot product of
a and b and determine the angle between them
solution
Dot product=3*1+1*4+2*3=13
 Angle between the vectors
a.b=|a||b|cosθ
A .B
= cosθ
| A||B|
13
= √ 14. √ 26 =

=470
Example 2: Attempt

(ii)a = (3, −4,1) and b = (5,2, ,−6 ),

Then find the angle formed by a and b.

Example from DTE examination

2021:6d

The coordinates of a triangle PQR are given asP(2,3,5) Q(4,2,-1) ad

R(3,6,4).Determine its area

sol

2020-no question

2019-no direct question

2018: Find the angle between u=2i-3j+6k and v=2i+5j-k (3marks)

u.v
=cos θ .
|u||v|

2.2+−3.5+6.−1.
=cos θ
|√ 49||√ 30|
 cos θ=¿
θ=¿

(4)
The angle between a=6i+3j-2k and b=-2i+tj-4k is cos -1 21 Determine the

positive value of t
Sol?

2015----no question
2014 : Find the angle between vectors ,,,,,,(4marks)
Topic 3: cross product
 It’s also a binary operation on two vectors in 3 dimensional space;
denoted by symbol x
 If a and b are linearly independent vectors, the cross product(axb) is a
vector that perpendicular to both a and b and thus normal to the plane
containing them.
 The magnitude of the product equals the area of a parallelogram with
vectors for sides, thus
|axb|=|a|[ b ] sin θ
• Example1
• Determine the unit vector perpendicular to vectors a (1,3,2) &b(4,0,1)
Solution:
•

{ }
i j k
1 3 2
4 0 1

=3i-(-7)j+(-12)====3i+7j-12k
Unit vector?
|3 i+7 j−12 k|=√ 202=
EXAMPLE 2
DTE 2020:
The vectors 4i+6j-2k and 2i+4j+2k form adjacent sides of a triangle. Determine the
area of the triangle(4marks)
Solution
|axb|=area of the parallelogram
 { }
i j k
Area of the triangle will be ½(|axb|) 4 6 −2
2 4 2

20i-12j+4k
Magnitude=√ 560
4. √ 35
Area 2
square units

DTE 2019
A triangle ABC has vertices A(2,1,1)B(1,3,4),C(4,2,5).Determine the area of the
triangle
ANS
 ANY TWO VECTORS
 CORRECT CROSSING
 DIVIDING BY 2
 ANS 6.124SQ UNITS
DTE 2018
THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS ON D
OT PRODUCT
DTE 2015
NO QUESTION
TOPIC 4: EQUATION OF A PLANE
 IF Q(1,-3,5);R(1,2,-1) ;S(-2,-1,0)
  QR=(0,5,-6);QS(-3,2,-5)
 (X,Y,Z)=(1,-3,5)+β(0,5.-6)+µ(-3,2,-5)
 The parametric equations will be
X=1-3µ
Y=-3+5β+2µ
Z=5-6β-5µ
 Planes are parallel if the normal the planes in question have the same
coefficient or the coefficient are multiples of one another
• Example, the equation of the plane through point (2,1,-3) and parallel to
the plane
• x-3y+z=17, will be x-3y+z=(1*2)+(-3*1)+(1*-3)=-4
 planes are perpendicular if the normal vectors to both planes are
perpendicular

EXAMPLE
Find an equation for the plane passing through the point Q(1,1,1) and parallel to
the plane 2x+3y+z = 5.

Solution: parallel planes have the same normal. So any plane parallel to 2x+3y+z =
5 has normal n = ⟨2,3,1⟩.

On the other hand, since Q(1,1,1) lies on the parallel plane, the vector

b = ⟨1,1,1⟩determines a point on the parallel plane

SO,
•
•
 •
•
EXAMPLE 3
• find the equation of the plane which passes through the points (2,2,1)
and (-1,1,-1)and which is perpendicular to the planes
• 2x-3y+z=3
• sol
• (-3,-1,-2)is a vector on the plane
• also vector(2,-3,1) is a vector on the plane……why???
• crossing the two vectors, we get a vector normal to the plane……..
• hence the equation 7x+y-11z=5

EXAMPLE 4
Plane passing through intersection of 2 planes:
- -
• Let π and π be two planes with equations r . n̂ = d and r .n̂ =d
1 2 1 1 2 2

• Π (a x + b y + c z – d ) + λ(a x + b y + c z – d ) = 0
3= 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
 •
Find the equation of the plane through the intersection of the planes 3x – y + 2z – 4
= 0 and x + y + z – 2 = 0 and the point (2, 2, 1).
• SOL
The equation of any plane through the intersection of the planes,
3x − y + 2z − 4 = 0 and x + y + z − 2 = 0, is
(3x − y + 2z – 4)+ λ (x + y + z – 2) = 0 where λ ∈ R. (1)
The plane passes through the point (2, 2, 1).
Therefore, this point will satisfy equation (1).
Therefore (3x2-2+2x1-4) + λ(2+2+1-2)=0=>2+3λ=0.
• => λ= (-2/3)
Substituting λ= (-2/3) in equation (1), we obtain
(3x − y + 2z – 4)(-2/3)(x + y + z – 2)=0
=>3(3x − y + 2z – 4)-2(x + y + z – 2) =0
=> (9x-3y+6z-12)-2(x+y+z-2)=0
=>7x-5y+4z-8=0.
This is the required equation of the plane
Find the equation of the plane through the line of intersection of the planes x + y +
z = 1 and

2x + 3y + 4z = 5 which is perpendicular to the plane x – y + z = 0.

Answer:-
The equation of the plane through the intersection of the planes, x + y + z = 1 and

2x + 3y + 4z = 5, is

(x + y + z -1) +λ (2x + 3y + 4z- 5)=0.

=> (2λ+1)x+(3λ+1)y+(4λ+1)z= (1)

The direction ratios, a1, b1, c1, of this plane are (2λ + 1), (3λ + 1), and (4λ + 1).
The plane in equation (1) is perpendicular to x – y + z=0.

Its direction ratios a2, b2, c2, are 1, −1, and 1.

Since the planes are perpendicular,

a1a2+b1b2+c1c2=0
=> (2λ + 1)-(3λ + 1) + (4λ + 1) =0

=>3λ + 1=0

=>λ= (-1/3)

Substituting λ= (-1/3) in equation (1), we obtain

This is the required equation of the plane.

(1/3) x-(1/3) z+2/3) =0

=>x-z+2=0.
DTE EXAMPLES
DTE 2021: A plane passes through the point (3,4,5) and is perpendicular to the
vector 8i+6j+9k.Determine the Cartesian equation of the plane(3mks)

DTE 2020:
Plane 1 contains line x=1+t,y=1,z=-1+t and is perpendicular to another plane with
equation 3x-y+z=7.determine the equation of plane 1(6marks)

SOLUTION

()( ) () ()
x 1 1 1
 Line y = 1 +t 0 so, vector, v= 0 is on the plane.
z −1 1 1

()
3
 Since the plane is perpendicular to the plane with normal n= −1 , then this
1

normal is parallel to the plane.

 So vector p=vxn(1,2,-1) is the vector normal to the plane in question
 Point (1,1,-1)is a point on the plane ,therefore the equation of the plane
becomes: x+2y-k=1*1+2*1+-1*-1
 X+2y-k=4

DTE 2019(2 QUESTIONS ONE IN 5 AND THE OTHER IN 6)

  A plane passes through points (2,-5,3) and is perpendicular to the vector -
3i+5j+2k(3marks)
 A plane passes through the common line of planes x+y+z+6=0 and x-
y+z+5=0.Determine the equation of the plane(4mks)


DTE 2018
A plane passes through the point (2,1,-3) and contains the vectors 3i+j+4k and
4i+2j+3k.determine the equation of the plane.
(5mks)

TOPIC 5:(i) INTERSECTION OF TWO LINES (point and the angle)

POINT
• Find the point of intersection between line L1 and L2 whose vector
equations are

()
2 6
• r1= 1 .+ λ −8
−2 10

•
 ( )()
−1 6
• r2= −10 + μ 7
5 −2

•
• Solution
 For these two lines to intersect there must be a value of λ and μ that
will provide a point that lies both on L1 and L2. The strategy is to
solve for λ and μ. Next we have to make sure the point satisfies both
r1 and r2.
 Equating coordinates x, y, and z allow us to have the following
system of equations:
2 + 6λ = -1 + 6μ -------(1)
1 - 8λ = -10 + 7μ ------(2)
-2 + 10λ = 5 - 2μ ------(3)
 Solving this system using (1) and (2) simultaneously, allows us to
obtain
λ = 1/2 and μ = 1.
 Substituting λ = 1/2 and μ = 1 into (1), (2) and (3) gives us the point
of intersection at (5, -3, 3).
ANGLE

 We can solve this problem by finding the cosine of the angle between the
directional vectors of the two lines and then taking an inverse of the
cosine.
• Let θ be the angle between the two lines. We know that:
a.b
• Cos θ=|a|.|b|……………. The dot product formulae
 6.6 +−8.7+10.−2
 so in our case, Cos θ= |
√200| .|√ 89|
 Cos -1 θ=¿

DTE EXAMPLES
DTE 2020:NO QUESTION
DTE 2019:
Lines (x + 3)/2 = y /3 = (z -5 )/-1 and (x + 4)/5 = (y – 2)/4 = z /3 intersect. Find
the point of intersection(5mks)
Plus the angle
DTE 2018:NO QUESTION

(ii) INTERSECTION OF A LINES AND A PLANE (POINT AND THE

ANGLE)
POINT

Determine whether the following line intersects with the given plane. If they do
intersect,, Determine this point of intersection.

x−8 y−3 z−4

 Plane 2X-3Y+7Z=10 and line 5 = 2 = 3

 Line: x=2−t, y=1+t,z=3t Plane:3x−2y+z=10

Notice that we can substitute the expressions of t given in the parametric
equations of the line into the plane equation for x, y, and z.
3(2−t)−2(1+t)+3t=10
Solving this equation for t:
6−3t−2−2t+3t=104−2t=104−2t=10
−2t=6−2t=6
t=−3
Since we found a single value of t from this process, we know that the line should
intersect the plane in a single point, here where t==−3. So the point of intersection
can be determined by plugging this value in for t in the parametric equations of the
line. 9x=2−(−3)=5,y=1+(−3)=−2,andz=3(−3)=−9.
So the point of intersection of this line with this plane is (5,−2,−9). We can verify
this by putting the coordinates of this point into the plane equation and checking to
see that it is satisfied.
Check: 3(5)−2(−2)+(−9)=15+4−9=10✓
ANGLE BETWEEN A LINE AND A PLANE
If in space given the direction vector of line L

s = {l; m; n}
and equation of the plane
Ax + By + Cz + D = 0,
then the angle between this line and plane can be found using this formula

|A·l+B·m+C·n|
sin φ =
√ A2 + B2 + C2 · √ l2 + m2 + n2

WHY? LECTURER TO EXPLAIN

EXAMPLES FROM DTE PAPERS

DTE 2021: REP OF 2020 QUESTION
DTE 2020:
x−1 y +2 z−1
Line = = and Plane 2x-y+4z=6. Find the point of intersection(5mks)
3 2 5
SOL
DTE 2019:NO QUESTION
DTE 2018:
x+3 y −5 z−2
Line = = and Plane 2x+7y+5z-3=0. Find the point of
2 −1 −3
intersection(4mks)

(iii) INTERSECTION OF TWO PLANES (LINE AND THE ANGLE)

 The angle between two planes is equal to the angle between their normals.
 LINE Calculate the line of intersection between planes x+2y+3z=5 &2x-2y-
2z=2
When solving equations with 3 unknown, we start by eliminating one of the
variables.
In our case we can eliminate by adding to be left with 3x+z=7
After that,we can express one variable interms of the other;z=7-3x
At this point we let one variable be equal to a constant or a parameter…..we can let
x =t
Z=7-3t
We can now substitute these values in the equation of either the planes to get the
value of
2y=5-t-3(7-3t)
Y=4t-8

() ( ) ( )
x 0 1
Hence the line of intersection will be y = −8 +t 4
z 7 −3

EXAMPLES FROM DTE PAPERS

DTE 2021:
The planes 4x+5y+7Z=9 and 2x-3y-4z=8 intersect. Determine the equation of the
line of the intersection(5marks)
sol

DTE 2020:
Planes x+y+2z=6 and 2x-y-z=4 intersect. Find the equation of the line of
Intersection
Solution:

DTE 2019: NO QUESTION ON THE INTERSETION OF THE PLANE

DTE 2018:
Planes 5x-y+z-8=0 and x+3y+z+4=0 intersect. Determine the equation of
intersection

TOPIC 6: DISTANCES
(I)DISTANCE BETWEEN A POINT AND A LINE
(II)DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL LINES

Let A be a point in 3-D space and d be the

shortest distance from the point A to a line represented by vector ⃗b.
If we know vector ⃗a and angle θ as in the diagram then
⌊ axb ⌋
Hence |b| ¿|a|sin θ=d

EXAMPLES FROM DTE PAPERS

DTE 2021
The equation of a line l given by r=(i+15j+11k) +t(4i-12j-3k).Find perpendicular
distance of line l from the point (2,3,4) (5marks)
DTE 2020
Calculate the shortest distance between from the point Q(2,1,3)to the line
r=(1-t)i+(2-3t)j+2k
SOL

() () ( )
x 1 −1
y = 2 +t −3
z 0 2

( )( ) ( )
1 2 −1
a¿ 2 - 1 = 1
0 3 −3

i j k
|axb|=−1 1 −3
−1 −3 2
9.4868
=-7i+5j+4k== 3.742

=2.535units

DTE 2019: NO QUESTION ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A POINT

AND LINE

DTE 2018: NO QUESTION ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A POINT

AND LINE

(iii)DISTANCE BETWEEN A POINT AND A PLANE

(iv)DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL PLANES
 The distance btw a point and a plane is the projection of a vector from the
point to a plane onto the normal vector to the plane
 {| | }
a
b

{ }
x 0−x c
‖ax 0+ by 0+ cz 0−D‖
y 0− y . ¿ ¿ . ===
z 0−z a √ a2 +b 2+ c 2
b
c

EXAMPLES FROM DTE SPAPERS

DTE 2021: Determine the distance from point p(22,4,9)to the plane 3x+4y-
5z+12=0
DTE 2020:NO QUESTION ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A P
OINT AND A PLANE
DTE 2019:
 Find the distance between point (4,3,-1) and plane 4x-2y+5z-21=0 (3MKS)
 Determine the distance between planes x-2y+3z=5 and x-y+3z+7=0 (7MKS)
Sol
4.4+ 3.−2+−1.5−21
=2.385units
√ 45
DTE 2018
Find the distance between point p(3,2,-1) and plane x+2y-z+7=0 (3mks)

(Iv) DISTANCES BETWEEN SKEW LINES

 The shortest distance between skew lines is equal to the length of the
perpendicular between the two lines
 • Then, the shortest distance between the two skew lines will be the
projection of PQ onto the normal to both l1 and l2, which is given by
b 1 xb 2
• d = a2-a1.|b 1 xb 2| ; where a1 and a2 are points on the lines.b1 and b2

are directional vectors of the line

where d measures the distance or the length of the perpendicular
• EXAMPLE 1
• Calculate the distance

{}{ } { } {}{ } { }
x −2 2 x 1 −1
betweenL1: y = 1 +t 3 and l2: y = −1 +s 2
z −1 −1 z 2 4

EXAMPLES FROM DTE PAPERS2

DTE 2020:
Lines l1=i+2j+k+λ(i-j+k) and l2=2i-j-k+µ(2i+j+2k) are skew. Calculate the
shortest distance between them(5mks)
Solution
b 1 xb 2
d = a2-a1.|b 1 xb 2|

( )( )
2−1 1
= −1−2 = −3
−1−1 −2

{ }
i j k
=b1xb2= 1 −1 1 =2i+3j+k.
2 −1 −1

|b 1 xb 2|=√ 14 .
1.2+−3..3+−2.1
Distance= 3.742
=2.405units

DTE 2019 NO QUESTION ON SKEW LINES

DTE 2018:
Find the distance between the lines r1=i+j+γ (2 i− j+ k) and r2=2i+j-k+ μ(3i-5j+2k)
Solution