Are the Given Planes Parallel, Perpendicular, or Intersecting at an Angle?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter karush
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Planes Relation
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on determining the relationship between two planes, specifically whether they are parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting at an angle. The planes are defined as \( P_1: x + z = 1 \) with normal vector \( n_1 = \langle 1, 0, 1 \rangle \) and \( P_2: y + z = 1 \) with normal vector \( n_2 = \langle 0, 1, 1 \rangle \). The angle of intersection is calculated using the formula \( \cos(\theta) = \frac{n_1 \cdot n_2}{|n_1||n_2|} \), resulting in an angle of \( 60^\circ \). The discussion also emphasizes the importance of understanding the definitions of parallel and perpendicular planes based on their normal vectors.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector mathematics, specifically normal vectors.
  • Familiarity with the dot product and its geometric interpretation.
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions, particularly cosine and inverse cosine.
  • Basic algebraic manipulation of equations representing planes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of normal vectors in three-dimensional geometry.
  • Learn how to apply the dot product to determine the angle between vectors.
  • Explore additional examples of plane relationships using different equations.
  • Investigate graphical representations of planes using tools like Wolfram Alpha.
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those studying geometry and linear algebra, as well as professionals in fields requiring spatial analysis and vector calculations.

karush
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
3,240
Reaction score
5
$\tiny{{s4}.{13}.{5}.{41}}$

$\textsf{find if planes are $\parallel, \perp$ or $\angle$ of intersection }\\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
{P_1}&={x+z=1}\\
\therefore n_1&=\langle 1,0,1 \rangle\\
\\
{P_2}&={y+z=1}\\
\therefore n_2&=\langle 0,1,1 \rangle\\
\\
\cos(\theta)&=
\frac{n_1\cdot n_2}{|n_1||n_2|}\\
&=\frac{1(0)+0(1)+1(1)}
{\sqrt{1+1}\cdot\sqrt{1+1}}
=\frac{1}{2}\\
\cos^{-1}\left({\frac{1}{2}}\right)&=
\color{red}{60^o}
\end{align}

$\textit{there are 2 more problems like this so presume this is best method.. }\\$
$\textit{didn't know if it is
common notation to call a plane $P_1$}$
 
Physics news on Phys.org
karush said:
$\tiny{{s4}.{13}.{5}.{41}}$

$\textsf{find if planes are $\parallel, \perp$ or $\angle$ of intersection }\\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
{P_1}&={x+z=1}\\
\therefore n_1&=\langle 1,0,1 \rangle\\
\\
{P_2}&={y+z=1}\\
\therefore n_2&=\langle 0,1,1 \rangle\\
\\
\cos(\theta)&=
\frac{n_1\cdot n_2}{|n_1||n_2|}\\
&=\frac{1(0)+0(1)+1(1)}
{\sqrt{1+1}\cdot\sqrt{1+1}}
=\frac{1}{2}\\
\cos^{-1}\left({\frac{1}{2}}\right)&=
\color{red}{60^o}
\end{align}

$\textit{there are 2 more problems like this so presume this is best method.. }\\$
$\textit{didn't know if it is
common notation to call a plane $P_1$}$

Everything you've posted is fine. You can give a plane any name you like, but I would write something like this:

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} P_1 : x + z = 1 \end{align*}$

That way we can see that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} P_1 \end{align*}$ is DEFINED as the relationship "the sum of the x and z values needs to be 1", not that it is some variable that has something to do with the equation.
 
The problem asks you to do three things:
1) determine if the planes are parallel.
2) determine if the planes are perpendicular.
3) if neither of those, determine the angle of intersection of the two planes.

Yes, by using that formula to determine the angle, you can then answer all three questions but it should be simpler to determine the first two without using that formula:

The two planes are parallel if and only if the two normal vectors are parallel- if one is a multiple of the other.

The two planes are perpendicular if and only if the two normal vectors are perpendicular: if their dot product is 0.

If neither of those is true, then you can use the dot product you found as the numerator in the formula to determine the angle.
 
that's very helpful
hard to see that in their examples

the next 2 problems are probably
$$\parallel , \perp$$
 
$\tiny{s4.854.13.5.43}$
$\textsf{Determine if the 2 given planes are perpendicular, parallel or at an angle to each other}$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
{p_1}&:{x+4y-3z=1}
\therefore n_1=\langle 1,4,-3 \rangle\\
\nonumber\\
{p_2}&:{-3x+6y+7z=0} \therefore n_2=\langle -3,6,7 \rangle
\end{align}
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
\cos(\theta)&= \frac{n_1\cdot n_2}{|n_1||n_2|}=0\\
\therefore p_1 &\perp p_2
\end{align}

$\tiny{s4.854.13.5.45}$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
{p_1}&:{2x+4y-2z=1}
\therefore n_1=\langle 2,4,-2 \rangle\\
\nonumber\\
{p_2}&:{-3x+6y+3z=0} \therefore n_2=\langle -3,6,7 \rangle \\
n_1&=-\frac{2}{3} n_2 \\
&\therefore n_1\parallel n_2
\end{align}

$\textit{btw what is the input string to see the 2 plane on a W|A graph?}$
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
Replies
33
Views
5K