How Do You Calculate the Direction Cosines of a Reflected Line?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the direction cosines of a reflected line in the context of a plane defined by the equation x - 2y - 2z = 27. Participants explore the reflection of a point and the subsequent direction of the line formed by the origin and the reflected point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of reflecting a point across a plane and the implications for finding direction cosines. Questions arise regarding the correct approach to determining the reflected line and whether the direction cosines are derived from the direction of the line itself.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various attempts to reflect points and find intersections with the plane. Some participants provide calculations and seek validation of their methods, while others question the consistency of direction cosines based on different vector orientations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need to consider the geometry of the situation, including the relationship between the incoming and reflected rays, and the specific coordinates involved in the reflection process. There is an emphasis on the mathematical relationships defined by the plane and the points involved.

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write the equation of the plane x - 2y - 2z = 27 in the form [tex]r.\hat{n} = d[/tex] done

write down the distance of the origin from the plane and show that the point which is the reflection of the origin is (6, -12, -12) done

A second point P has coordinates (-3,2,1). Find the direction cosines of the reflection of the line OP in the plane.

I need help with the last part. 1. How would I go about finding the line which is reflected? Also, how do I find the direction of cosines of a line - is it the just direction of cosines of the direction of the line?
 
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ok here is what i have so far

I thought I would use the point P and reflect it in the plane, doing this I got (5,-14,-15) as P' (reflected P). Then I created a line through O and P and saw that it intersected the line at (9,-6,-3) (call it A) then I found the direction of P' and where OP and the plane intersected and got (-4,8,-12) and used this to get find the cosines

is this a correct method? for instance, I done: P' - A to find the direction of the line, if I had done A-P' I would get a different value for the cosines no?
 
Let A be the point where ## \vec{OP} ## meets the plane and P' be the point where P is reflected on the plane:

finding A:

## \vec{OP} = r = \lambda \begin{pmatrix} -3 \\ 2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} ## subbing this into the equation of the plane: ## \lambda \begin{pmatrix} -3 \\ 2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}. \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix} = 27 ## finding ## \lambda = -3 ##and subbing this into the equation of OP I get A = ## \begin{pmatrix} 9 \\ -6 \\ -3 \end{pmatrix} ##

Finding P':

create a line which is normal to the plane and goes through p: ## r = \begin{pmatrix} -3+\lambda \\2-2\lambda \\ 1-2\lambda \end{pmatrix} ## use this to see where it intersects with the plane:

## \begin{pmatrix} -3+\lambda \\2-2\lambda \\ 1-2\lambda \end{pmatrix}. \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix} = 27 ## find ## \lambda = 4 ## double this and sub ## \lambda = 8 ## into the equation of the line with direction of the normal of the plane and find that ## P' = \begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ -14 \\ -15 \end{pmatrix} ## now do P' - A and I get ## P' - A = \begin{pmatrix} -4 \\ -8 \\ 18 \end{pmatrix} ## so the ## cos(a,b,c) = \dfrac{-4}{2\sqrt{101}},\dfrac{-8}{2\sqrt{101}},\dfrac{18}{2\sqrt{101}} ##
 

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