# Homework Help: Distance between the point and the plane

1. May 29, 2012

### ezsmith

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Determine the distance between the point (10,2,3) and the plane determined by the points A(2,3,0), B(3,1,4), and C(5,2,1).

3. The attempt at a solution
What I did was I took (B-A) and (C-B) and then I cross product (B-A) and (C-B) and I got -10i + 11j + 5k. After this step, I took point (10,2,3) x -10i + 11j + 5k and then I got -63. Lastly I use l-63l divide with the magnitude of the cross product which is $$\sqrt{(-10)^2 + 11^2 + 5^2}$$ and I got some really weird answer which is $$\sqrt{246}$$ also known as 15.68 and it end up with 63/15.68 = 4.018. I am afraid I have gone extremely wrong.

2. May 29, 2012

### HallsofIvy

This is an error. The B- A= i- 2j+ 4k and C- B= 2i+ j- 3k and the cross product is
$$\left|\begin{array}{ccc}i & j & k \\ 1 & -2 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 & -3\end{array}\right|= (6- 4)i- (-3- 8)j+ (1+ 4)k= 2i+ 11j+ 5k$$
Looks like you have a sign error.