Intersection of Lines & Planes: Find Point?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the point of intersection of two lines and the relationship between lines and planes in three-dimensional space. Participants explore various methods and concepts related to this geometric problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss whether the method for finding the intersection of two lines is similar to that of a line and a plane. Some mention using parametric equations and setting lines equal to each other. Others raise questions about the formulas and concepts involved, such as the distance between lines and the use of normal vectors.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing different approaches and questioning the clarity of certain formulas. There is no explicit consensus, but several lines of reasoning are being explored, including vector forms and coplanarity of vectors.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about specific formulas and concepts, indicating a potential gap in understanding the mathematical principles involved. The discussion includes references to textbooks and graphical interpretations, suggesting a reliance on external resources for clarification.

EvaBugs
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To find the point of intersection of two lines, do I use the same method as in finding the intersection of a line and a plane?
 
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what method do you use to find the intersection of a line and a plane?
 
The line intersects the xy-plane when z=0
 
well, here's what i do to find the point of intersection of two lines. i just set them equal to each other.
 
ooh a graphics question...sorry i can't remember the solution off the top of my head its in my graphics book but assuming you no that the 2 lines intersect then the solution
evolves using the parametrics

aight i go get the book...

This ist he distance between 2 lines: obviously if there is an intersection
then d=0 but the solution points still hold true to what your looking for

|t1| = |V1.V1 ,-V1.V2|^-1 * |(P2-P1).V1|
|t2|... |V1.V2 ,-v2.v2|...|(P2-P1).V2|
hope this doesn't look ugly

t1,t2 will give you the parametric solution plug into one and you get your point.
 
neurocomp2003 said:
ooh a graphics question...sorry i can't remember the solution off the top of my head its in my graphics book but assuming you no that the 2 lines intersect then the solution
evolves using the parametrics

aight i go get the book...

This ist he distance between 2 lines: obviously if there is an intersection
then d=0 but the solution points still hold true to what your looking for

|t1| = |V1.V1 ,-V1.V2|^-1 * |(P2-P1).V1|
|t2|... |V1.V2 ,-v2.v2|...|(P2-P1).V2|
hope this doesn't look ugly

t1,t2 will give you the parametric solution plug into one and you get your point.

I'm sorry, but I don't really understand the formula. Is that the distance formula?
 
Should I find the line that is the cross-product of the normal vectors?
 
its a matrix form(2 equation Linear system)formula for distance...and if the distance is zero than the parameters t1,t2 find the same point...sorry but i don't know how to make the spaces stick.

The formula(from a math game book but found in any text)
takes the parametric form of lines and then solves the dist...using minimization and PDEs it results in the 2 equation linear system above.
 
Last edited:
EvaBugs said:
Should I find the line that is the cross-product of the normal vectors?

What form are you equations in? Lines in three dimensions are usually written by specifying a point on the line as a vector, plus a multiple of a vector parallel to the line. The multiplying constant is called a parameter, often designated by t

\overrightarrow r = \overrightarrow r _0 + t\overrightarrow r _\parallel

Another way of specifying a line is to eliminate the parameter and write the multiple equalities

\frac{{x - x_0 }}{a} = \frac{{y - y_0 }}{b} = \frac{{z - z_0 }}{c}

Whichever way your lines are written, to find their intersection you need to have the lines passing through the same point in space. For the first form of the equation, that means

\overrightarrow r_1 = \overrightarrow r _{0,1} + t_1\overrightarrow r _{\parallel,1} = \overrightarrow r_2 = \overrightarrow r _{0,2} + t_2\overrightarrow r _{\parallel,2}

I think this is probably easier to deal with than the second form. It is a vector equation, which is really three equations. The only way two vectors can be equal is if their individual components are each equal.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
Another way to look at this situation:

If your equations are in vector form, consider the vector

\overrightarrow r_2 - \overrightarrow r_1

The two lines go through the points that are defined by these vectors. For the lines to intersect, they must be coplaner with this difference vector. Do you know how to find out if three vectors lie in the same plane?
 

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