Find a vector parallel to two planes

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding a vector that is parallel to two given planes defined by their equations. The subject area pertains to vector mathematics and the properties of planes in three-dimensional space.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to find a vector parallel to the planes by calculating the cross product of their normal vectors. Some participants discuss the validity of the resulting vector and its multiples.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes confirmations of the original poster's approach, with some participants providing additional insights about the nature of the solutions, indicating that multiple vectors can satisfy the conditions of the problem.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the requirement for the vector to have a positive first coordinate, which may influence the selection of the final answer.

UrbanXrisis
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there are two planes:

3x+y+z=1
3x+z=0

find a vector U with positive first coordinate that is parallel to both planes.

the way I went about solving this:
the normal vectors are: <3,1,1> and <3,0,1>, the cross product of the vectors will give a vector perpendicular to the normal, which means it would be parallel to the two planes right?
 
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Yes, that's right.
 
when I did this, I get <1,0,-3> and this is not correct. so i do not know where I went wrong
 
(1, 0, -3) is correct. Maybe you are comparing it to a vector that is a multiple of (1, 0, -3)--there is more than one answer. (2, 0, -6) is also correct.
 

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