Chapter 11: Problem 31
How far is the plane \(x+y-z=1\) from (0,0,0) and also from (1,1,-1)\(?\) Find the nearest points.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The distances are \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\) from (0,0,0) and \(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\) from (1,1,-1); nearest point: \(\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, -\frac{1}{3}\right)\).
Step by step solution
01
Determine the normal vector
For the plane given by the equation \(x+y-z=1\), the normal vector can be directly obtained from the coefficients of \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\). The normal vector \(\mathbf{n}\) is \([1, 1, -1]\).
02
Compute distance from origin
The distance \(d\) from a point \((x_0, y_0, z_0)\) to the plane \(ax+by+cz=d\) is given by:\[d = \frac{|ax_0 + by_0 + cz_0 - d|}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}}\]Substituting the values for the origin \((0,0,0)\) into the formula:\[d = \frac{|0 + 0 + 0 - 1|}{\sqrt{1^2 + 1^2 + (-1)^2}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\]
03
Compute distance from point (1,1,-1)
Applying the distance formula to the point \((1,1,-1)\):\[d = \frac{|1 \cdot 1 + 1 \cdot 1 - 1 \cdot (-1) - 1|}{\sqrt{1^2 + 1^2 + (-1)^2}}\]Simplifying inside the absolute value gives:\[1 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 2\]Thus, the distance is:\[d = \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\]
04
Find nearest point on plane from origin
The point on the plane nearest to \((0,0,0)\) can be found by moving in the direction of the normal vector. If a point on the plane is \((x, y, z)\), then \(x+y-z=1\). The nearest point is along the normal from the origin and is obtained by solving:\[(x, y, z) = t \cdot [1, 1, -1]\]Substitute in plane equation:\[t \cdot 1 + t \cdot 1 - t \cdot (-1) = 1 \implies 3t = 1 \implies t=\frac{1}{3}\]So, the point is \(\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, -\frac{1}{3}\right)\).
05
Find nearest point on plane from (1,1,-1)
The direction vector from \((1, 1, -1)\) along the normal is:\[(1+t, 1+t, -1-t) \]Substitute into the plane's equation:\[ (1+t) + (1+t) - (-1-t) = 1 \]This simplifies to:\[3 + 3t = 1 \implies 3t = -2 \implies t = -\frac{2}{3}\]So, the nearest point on the plane is:\[\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, -\frac{1}{3}\right)\].
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Normal Vector
In the context of planes in three-dimensional space, understanding the normal vector is crucial. The normal vector is a vector that is perpendicular to the plane. It is essential because it helps in defining the orientation of the plane.
Given a plane equation like \[ ax + by + cz = d \]The coefficients \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are components of the normal vector \( \mathbf{n} \).
Given a plane equation like \[ ax + by + cz = d \]The coefficients \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are components of the normal vector \( \mathbf{n} \).
- These coefficients directly inform us about the direction the plane faces.
- A change in any of these coefficients tilts the plane in space.
- For the plane \(x + y - z = 1\), the normal vector is simply \([1, 1, -1]\).
Distance Formula
The distance formula measures how far a given point in space is from a defined plane. It is integral in many applications, such as physics and engineering.
The formula used is:\[ d = \frac{|ax_0 + by_0 + cz_0 - d|}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}} \]Here's a breakdown of what each part means:
For example, using this formula, we found the distances from (0,0,0) and (1,1,-1) to the plane were \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\) and \(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\) respectively.
The formula used is:\[ d = \frac{|ax_0 + by_0 + cz_0 - d|}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}} \]Here's a breakdown of what each part means:
- \((x_0, y_0, z_0)\) is the point for which you want to compute the distance.
- \(a, b, c\) are from the normal vector of the plane.
- \(d\) represents the constant on the right of the plane equation.
For example, using this formula, we found the distances from (0,0,0) and (1,1,-1) to the plane were \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\) and \(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\) respectively.
Point on Plane
Finding a point on a plane from a specific point is about determining where the perpendicular from the given point punctures the plane.
If you have a plane described by the equation \(x+y-z=1\), you need to ensure any point \((x, y, z)\) you derive satisfies this equation. The approach often involves starting from a baseline point:
If you have a plane described by the equation \(x+y-z=1\), you need to ensure any point \((x, y, z)\) you derive satisfies this equation. The approach often involves starting from a baseline point:
- Identify any given on- or off-plane point.
- Move along the direction of the normal vector.
Nearest Point Calculation
When determining the nearest point along a plane from a given point, the normal vector is your best friend. It serves as the guide to trace the shortest route. This calculation is a geometric filtering process:
For example, using this method, from \((0, 0, 0)\) the nearest point is \(\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, -\frac{1}{3}\right)\). By leveraging the normal vector, you can efficiently determine proximity from any point to a plane.
- Start from your point, say the origin.
- Move along the vector perpendicular to the plane, the normal vector.
- Apply it directionally: if a point on the plane is \((x, y, z)\) and the equation is \(x+y-z=1\), substitute in \(t \cdot \mathbf{n}\).
For example, using this method, from \((0, 0, 0)\) the nearest point is \(\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, -\frac{1}{3}\right)\). By leveraging the normal vector, you can efficiently determine proximity from any point to a plane.