Parallel and perpendicular planes

Questions asking to find equations of planes parallel or perpendicular to given planes, or to determine relationships between planes.

12 questions · Standard +0.5

4.04b Plane equations: cartesian and vector forms
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CAIE P3 2010 June Q9
9 marks Standard +0.3
9 The plane \(p\) has equation \(3 x + 2 y + 4 z = 13\). A second plane \(q\) is perpendicular to \(p\) and has equation \(a x + y + z = 4\), where \(a\) is a constant.
  1. Find the value of \(a\).
  2. The line with equation \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } )\) meets the plane \(p\) at the point \(A\) and the plane \(q\) at the point \(B\). Find the length of \(A B\).
CAIE P3 2017 March Q6
8 marks Standard +0.8
6 The line \(l\) has equation \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - 3 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } )\). The plane \(p\) has equation \(3 x + y - 5 z = 20\).
  1. Show that the line \(l\) lies in the plane \(p\).
  2. A second plane is parallel to \(l\), perpendicular to \(p\) and contains the point with position vector \(3 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }\). Find the equation of this plane, giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\). [5]
CAIE P3 2006 November Q7
9 marks Standard +0.3
7 The line \(l\) has equation \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } + s ( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } )\). The plane \(p\) has equation \(x + 2 y + 3 z = 5\).
  1. Show that the line \(l\) lies in the plane \(p\).
  2. A second plane is perpendicular to the plane \(p\), parallel to the line \(l\) and contains the point with position vector \(2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k }\). Find the equation of this plane, giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
CAIE P3 2009 November Q10
10 marks Standard +0.3
10 The plane \(p\) has equation \(2 x - 3 y + 6 z = 16\). The plane \(q\) is parallel to \(p\) and contains the point with position vector \(\mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }\).
  1. Find the equation of \(q\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
  2. Calculate the perpendicular distance between \(p\) and \(q\).
  3. The line \(l\) is parallel to the plane \(p\) and also parallel to the plane with equation \(x - 2 y + 2 z = 5\). Given that \(l\) passes through the origin, find a vector equation for \(l\).
CAIE P3 2019 November Q7
9 marks Standard +0.3
7 The plane \(m\) has equation \(x + 4 y - 8 z = 2\). The plane \(n\) is parallel to \(m\) and passes through the point \(P\) with coordinates \(( 5,2 , - 2 )\).
  1. Find the equation of \(n\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
  2. Calculate the perpendicular distance between \(m\) and \(n\).
  3. The line \(l\) lies in the plane \(n\), passes through the point \(P\) and is perpendicular to \(O P\), where \(O\) is the origin. Find a vector equation for \(l\).
OCR MEI C4 2007 June Q2
4 marks Easy -1.2
2 Write down normal vectors to the planes \(2 x + 3 y + 4 z = 10\) and \(x - 2 y + z = 5\).
Hence show that these planes are perpendicular to each other.
OCR Further Pure Core 2 2022 June Q10
8 marks Challenging +1.8
10 The coordinates of the points \(A\) and \(B\) are ( \(3 , - 2 , - 1\) ) and ( \(13,10,9\) ) respectively.
  • The plane \(\Pi _ { A }\) contains \(A\) and the plane \(\Pi _ { B }\) contains \(B\).
  • The planes \(\Pi _ { A }\) and \(\Pi _ { B }\) are parallel.
  • The \(x\) and \(y\) components of any normal to plane \(\Pi _ { A }\) are equal.
  • The shortest distance between \(\Pi _ { A }\) and \(\Pi _ { B }\) is 2 .
There are two possible solution planes for \(\Pi _ { A }\) which satisfy the above conditions.
Determine the acute angle between these two possible solution planes.
OCR MEI Further Pure Core AS 2022 June Q2
7 marks Standard +0.3
2
  1. Show that the vector \(\mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }\) is parallel to the plane \(2 \mathrm { x } + \mathrm { y } - 3 \mathrm { z } = 10\).
  2. Determine the acute angle between the planes \(2 x + y - 3 z = 10\) and \(x - y - 3 z = 3\).
OCR MEI Further Pure Core AS 2020 November Q10
7 marks Challenging +1.2
10 A vector \(\mathbf { v }\) has magnitude 1 unit. The angle between \(\mathbf { v }\) and the positive \(z\)-axis is \(60 ^ { \circ }\), and \(\mathbf { v }\) is parallel to the plane \(x - 2 y = 0\). Given that \(\mathbf { v } = a \mathbf { i } + b \mathbf { j } + c \mathbf { k }\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are all positive, find \(\mathbf { v }\). \section*{END OF QUESTION PAPER}
OCR MEI Further Pure Core 2019 June Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.5
2 The plane \(x + 2 y + c z = 4\) is perpendicular to the plane \(2 x - c y + 6 z = 9\), where \(c\) is a constant. Find the value of \(c\).
OCR MEI Further Pure Core AS 2024 June Q9
8 marks Challenging +1.2
9 In this question you must show detailed reasoning. Find a vector \(\mathbf { v }\) which has the following properties.
  • It is a unit vector.
  • It is parallel to the plane \(2 x + 2 y + z = 10\).
  • It makes an angle of \(45 ^ { \circ }\) with the normal to the plane \(\mathrm { x } + \mathrm { z } = 5\).
\section*{END OF QUESTION PAPER} }{www.ocr.org.uk}) after the live examination series.
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Pre-U Pre-U 9795/1 2018 June Q13
18 marks Challenging +1.2
The planes \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) are both perpendicular to \(\mathbf{n}\), where \(\mathbf{n} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 2 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix}\). The points \(A(0, -9, 13)\) and \(B(8, 7, -3)\) lie in \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) respectively.
  1. Find the equations of \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) in the form \(\mathbf{r} \cdot \mathbf{n} = d\) and show that \(\overrightarrow{AB}\) is parallel to \(\mathbf{n}\). [4]
  2. Calculate the perpendicular distance between \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\). [2]
  3. Write down two vectors which are perpendicular to \(\mathbf{n}\) and hence find, in the form $$\mathbf{r} = \mathbf{u} + \lambda\mathbf{v} + \mu\mathbf{w},$$ an equation for the plane \(\Pi_3\) which is parallel to \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) and exactly half-way between them. [4]
  4. The locus of all points \(P\) such that \(AP = BP = 12\sqrt{2}\) is denoted by \(L\).
    1. Give a full geometrical description of \(L\). [4]
    2. Using the result of part (iii), or otherwise, find a point on \(L\) which has integer coordinates. [4]