Equation of a plane multipled by a constant.

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Homework Statement


Given the points A(1,2,3) B(0,1,2) and C(2,3,-1) find:
a.) a vector perpendicular to the plane pi(A,B,C)
b.) the equation of the plane pi(A,B,C)

The Attempt at a Solution


a.) ∏<5,-5,0>
b.)∏(x-y)=∏

Am I incorrect in assuming that I would find the normal vector and plane equations as normal and multiply the result by Pi? The question seems counter-intuitive to me because couldn't Pi be factored out at anytime?

Thanks in advance
 
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shamus390 said:

Homework Statement


Given the points A(1,2,3) B(0,1,2) and C(2,3,-1) find:
a.) a vector perpendicular to the plane pi(A,B,C)
b.) the equation of the plane pi(A,B,C)


The Attempt at a Solution


a.) ∏<5,-5,0>
b.)∏(x-y)=∏

Am I incorrect in assuming that I would find the normal vector and plane equations as normal and multiply the result by Pi? The question seems counter-intuitive to me because couldn't Pi be factored out at anytime?

Thanks in advance

I have never seen the notation Pi(A,B,C) for a plane. What does that mean? Do you mean the equation of the plane passing through the given three points? If so, ##\pi## doesn't have anything to do with it.
 
shamus390 said:

Homework Statement


Given the points A(1,2,3) B(0,1,2) and C(2,3,-1) find:
a.) a vector perpendicular to the plane pi(A,B,C)
b.) the equation of the plane pi(A,B,C)





The Attempt at a Solution


a.) ∏<5,-5,0>
b.)∏(x-y)=∏

Am I incorrect in assuming that I would find the normal vector and plane equations as normal and multiply the result by Pi? The question seems counter-intuitive to me because couldn't Pi be factored out at anytime?

Thanks in advance

I think the question is just using the notation 'pi(A,B,C)' to mean the plane through the points A, B and C. I don't think it's supposed to be the number pi.
 
Dick said:
I think the question is just using the notation 'pi(A,B,C)' to mean the plane through the points A, B and C. I don't think it's supposed to be the number pi.
I agree with Dick that ∏(A, B, C) is just notation that identifies a plane.
 
So essentially he is using ∏ to name the plane? Either I'm misunderstanding or this was a strange question (its from a review sheet for an exam Thursday).
 
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That's what Dick and I think. Instead of identifying it as P(A, B, C), the instructor used the equivalent Greek letter to (possibly) prevent you from thinking the P stood for "point."
 
Mark44 said:
That's what Dick and I think. Instead of identifying it as P(A, B, C), the instructor used the equivalent Greek letter to (possibly) prevent you from thinking the P stood for "point."

And the equation of your plane isn't quite correct in any event.
 
Ah, dropped the negative sign, is x-y=-1 correct?
 
shamus390 said:
Ah, dropped the negative sign, is x-y=-1 correct?

Yep.
 
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Thanks to both of you.
 
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