3
$\begingroup$

I am having trouble finding the intersection line between two planes:

$\prod_1 :x - y - z = 1$

and

$\prod_2 :2x-y=3$

I have managed to find the vector of intersection between these two planes by calculating the cross product between planes normals which equals to: $(-1,-2,1)$

Could someone please give me a hint or a hand of how to calculate a point that lies in both these planes? Since $\prod_2$ doesn't have any z coordinate it makes me confused on what to do next.

$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Hint: The intersection between two non-parallel planes is a line. A line in three dimensions is given by two linear equations. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 29, 2023 at 18:24

2 Answers 2

3
$\begingroup$

First we need check that the planes $\Pi_1$ and $\Pi_2$ they are intersects. In order to see it, noticed that $\frac{2}{1}\not=\frac{-1}{-1}$ so $\Pi_{1}\cap\Pi_2=L$ with $L$ the line intersection. Here, we can use two way to find $L$.

  • Solving the linear system: Indeed, we have $$\begin{cases}x-y-z=1\\2x-y=3\end{cases},$$then $$\begin{pmatrix}1&-1&-1&1\\2&-1&0&3 \end{pmatrix}\sim \begin{pmatrix}1&-1&-1&1\\0&1&2&1 \end{pmatrix}$$ So we have $y+2z=1$ then $y=1-2z$ and $x-y-z=1$ then $x=1+y+z=1+(1-2z)+z=2-z$. Setting $z:=t\in{\bf R}$ we get $$L:\begin{cases}x=2-t\\y=1-2t\\z=t\end{cases},\quad t\in {\bf R}$$

  • Find the director vector $s$ and a point $P\in L$: The director vector $s$ can be find using the vector product between the normal vectors of the planes, that is,$$s=\begin{vmatrix}\vec{i}&\vec{j}&\vec{k}\\1&-1&-1\\2&-1&0 \end{vmatrix}=(-1,-2,1)$$ For the point $P\in L$ it is enough to fix one of the variables and solve the system simultaneously for the other variables. Setting $z=0$, we have $$\begin{cases}x-y=1\\2x-y=3\end{cases}$$ Then, $x=2$ and $y=1$ so $P(2,1,0)\in L$ and therefore $$L:\begin{cases}x=2-t\\y=1-2t\\z=0+t\end{cases},\quad t\in {\bf R}$$

$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Thank you for showing me two different ways of solving this and for the detailed response A. P.! $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 29, 2023 at 19:35
  • $\begingroup$ I had trouble understanding how to cope with the issue where the 2nd plane didn't have any z coordinate. Your response made it clear for me! $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 29, 2023 at 19:42
  • $\begingroup$ It is a pleasure to help, many successes in the studies. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 29, 2023 at 21:32
2
$\begingroup$

Any point of intersection between the planes would be a solution for the linear system composed with the equations of the two planes:

$$P(x,y,z)\in \Pi_1\cap \Pi_2\Rightarrow x-y-z=1, 2x-y=3\Rightarrow (x,y,z)=(2-z,1-2z,z)$$

The vector equation of a line is $$\vec r-\vec r_0=t\cdot \vec a, t\in \mathbb R, \vec r_0\text{ point on the line}, \vec a \text{ direction}$$

The difference between any two vectors pointing on the line would give me the direction vector: $$\Delta \vec r=t\vec a\Leftrightarrow (-\Delta z, -2\Delta z, \Delta z)=t\vec a\Leftrightarrow \Delta z\cdot(-1,-2,1)=t\vec a, \Delta z\ne 0$$

Therefore $$\vec a=(a_x, a_y, a_z)=(-1,-2,1)$$

For $\vec r_0$ I would choose $$z=0: \vec r_0=(x_0, y_0, z_0)=(2,1,0)$$

The line equation would be $$\frac{x-x_0}{a_x}=\frac{y-y_0}{a_y}=\frac{z-z_0}{a_z}$$

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.