Analytic geometry: equations of planes (checking answers)

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a sphere defined by the equation \((x-2)^2+y^2+z^2=2\) and two planes with equations \(\Pi: x+z=2\) and \(\Sigma: 5x-2z=3\). The original poster seeks to demonstrate that the sphere and a line \(p\) intersect at exactly one point and to find the equations of planes that contain the point \((0,0,0)\), are parallel to line \(p\), do not contain line \(p\), and touch the sphere at one point.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster calculates the directional vector of line \(p\) using the cross product of the normal vectors of the planes and attempts to find a point of intersection with the sphere. They express uncertainty about their results for part b, particularly regarding the number of plane equations derived.
  • Some participants confirm the correctness of the original poster's answer for part a) and question the reasoning behind the scalar product used in part b).
  • Others suggest that the relationship between the line and the plane might be misunderstood, particularly regarding the conditions for parallelism and perpendicularity.
  • There is a suggestion to visualize the problem geometrically rather than relying solely on algebraic methods.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants providing validation for part a) and questioning the approach taken in part b). There are indications that visual aids may help clarify the problem, and some participants are exploring the implications of the plane touching the sphere.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original poster has just begun learning LaTeX, which may have contributed to some confusion in their expressions. The problem's complexity is compounded by the requirement for the plane to touch the sphere at a single point, which is under discussion.

Matejxx1
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Homework Statement


Let S be a sphere with the equation ##(x-2)^2+y^2+z^2=2 ## and let p a line which satisfies the condition ## p \in (\Pi \cap \Sigma) ## where ##\Pi## and ##\Sigma## are planes with equations:
##\Pi :x+z=2##
##\Sigma: 5x-2z=3##
a) Show that S and p have exactly one common point
b) find the equation of all planes that contain the point ##(0,0,0)##, are parallel to p , do not contain p and touch s at one point

Homework Equations


plane equation: ## ax+by+cz+d=0##
line equation : ##\frac{x-x_1}{a}=\frac{y-y_1}{b}=\frac{z-z_1}{c}=\theta##
distance from a point to a plane : ## d=\left | \frac{ax_0+by_0+cz_0+d}{\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}\right |## where ##x_0,y_0,z_0## are the coordinates of a point and a,b,c are the directional vectors of a plane

The Attempt at a Solution


Hi I would really appreciate if some could check my answers of this problem (especially b I think I got that one wrong). Also we just started learning Latex in our uni so I apologize for any mistakes
so I though a) was pretty easy. What I did was:
I calculated the directional vector of the line which is equal to ##\vec{p}=\vec{n}_\Pi \times \vec{n}_\Sigma=\begin{bmatrix}
i&j&k\\
1&0&1\\
5&0&-2
\end{bmatrix}=(0,7,0)=(0,1,0)
##
so now I had the directional vector I just needed a point which I got by solving ##x+z=2## and ##5x-2z=3## and got that x=1 and z=1 so :##p:\frac{x}{0}=1=\frac{z}{0}## and ##y=\theta##
now I just pluged in x=1, y=##\theta## and z=1 into the sphere equation and got only one common point ##(1,0,1)## can anybody check if this is correct?b was kinda harder and I think I got it wrong because the answers I got were not pretty
b)
I know that the plane has the point ##(0,0,0)## if we plug this into the plane equation we get ##a(0)+b(0)+c(0)+d=0## which must mean that d =0
then we also know that since the plane is parallel to the line the scalar product of the lines directional vector and the planes directional vector must be 0 therefore ##(\vec{a},\vec{b},\vec{c})\cdot(0,1,0)=0\Rightarrow b=0##
so the plane equation know looks like ##ax+cz=0##
then we also know that the since the plane touches the sphere the shortest distance from the plane to the center is the radius so ## \sqrt{2}=\left | \frac{2a}{\sqrt{a^2+c^2}}\right |## and since ##\sqrt{a^2+c^2}## is the directional vector its length is 1 that means that ##a=\pm\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}## and since ##\sqrt{a^2+c^2}=1## that means that ##c=\pm\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}##
so in the end I got 4 different equations:
##\begin{align}
\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}z=0\nonumber\\
-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}z=0\nonumber\\
\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}z=0\nonumber\\
-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}z=0\nonumber\\
\end{align}##
Which is totally weird to me since when I tried to visualize the problem I could only find 2 possible solutions at maximum . So having 4 just seems wrong to me
thanks for any help
 
Last edited:
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Your answer for a) is correct. For b) you went wrong with the scalar products being 0. That's for perpendicular vectors.
 
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But if a line is parallel to a plane doesn't it mean that is then perpendicular to the normal vector of a plane? or am I missing something
 
Matejxx1 said:
But if a line is parallel to a plane doesn't it mean that is then perpendicular to the normal vector of a plane? or am I missing something
Yes, sorry, I missed what you were doing.

I don't understand what you are doing with the sphere in part b).
 
PeroK said:
Yes, sorry, I missed what you were doing.

I don't understand what you doing with the sphere in part b).
sorry I just noticed I forgot to write something. I forgot to write that the plane should also touch the sphere S at some point .
thanks for pointing it out
 
Matejxx1 said:
sorry I just noticed I forgot to write something. I forgot to write that the plane should also touch the sphere S at some point .
thanks for pointing it out
You need a diagram. Using geometry rather than algebra might be easier here.
 
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I'm not sure what you mean. At school we've pretty much only done problems this way .
 
Matejxx1 said:
I'm not sure what you mean. At school we've pretty much only done problems this way .
Are you able to visualise this problem at all? Or is it just some equations?
 
1 001.jpg

I hope you can see from the picture, but that is how I envision the problem to look like. And I'm am asked to find ##\tau_1## and ##\tau_2##
 
  • #10
For example, for part a) you could have recognised that those are vertical planes, drawn the lines in the ##x-z## plane, found the point of intersection and ##p## is the vertical line through that point.
 
  • #11
I can't see your diagram very well, but it probably doesn't matter. That's geometry! You can solve part b) by using similar geometrical arguments to simplify the algebra required.

For example, you did a lot of work in part b) to show that a plane parallel to a vertical line is itself vertical!
 
  • #12
I just looked back at your first post, knowing now about touching the sphere. You got the right answer! Just simplify those four equations and you'll see there are just two really.
 
  • #13
PeroK said:
I just looked back at your first post, knowing now about touching the sphere. You got the right answer! Just simplify those four equations and you'll see there are just two really.
@Matejxx1
One of the planes contains the line p. The problem asked
find the equation of all planes that contain the point (0,0,0), are parallel to p , do not contain p and touch s at one point
The figure shows the projection of the set-up onto the (x,z) plane.

upload_2016-11-19_5-50-23.png
 
Last edited:
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