Geometric configuration of planes

Questions asking to determine whether three planes meet at a point, form a sheaf, or have other special configurations, often involving parameters.

4 questions · Standard +0.9

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CAIE P3 2017 November Q10
11 marks Standard +0.8
10 Two planes \(p\) and \(q\) have equations \(x + y + 3 z = 8\) and \(2 x - 2 y + z = 3\) respectively.
  1. Calculate the acute angle between the planes \(p\) and \(q\).
  2. The point \(A\) on the line of intersection of \(p\) and \(q\) has \(y\)-coordinate equal to 2 . Find the equation of the plane which contains the point \(A\) and is perpendicular to both the planes \(p\) and \(q\). Give your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
OCR MEI Further Pure Core 2021 November Q15
6 marks Standard +0.8
15 The equations of three planes are $$\begin{aligned} - 4 x + k y + 7 z & = 4 \\ x - 2 y + 5 z & = 1 \\ 2 x + 3 y + z & = 2 \end{aligned}$$ Given that the planes form a sheaf, determine the values of \(k\) and \(l\).
OCR FP3 2011 January Q7
10 marks Challenging +1.2
Three planes \(\Pi_1\), \(\Pi_2\) and \(\Pi_3\) have equations $$\mathbf{r} \cdot (\mathbf{i} + \mathbf{j} - 2\mathbf{k}) = 5, \quad \mathbf{r} \cdot (\mathbf{i} - \mathbf{j} + 3\mathbf{k}) = 6, \quad \mathbf{r} \cdot (\mathbf{i} + 5\mathbf{j} - 12\mathbf{k}) = 12,$$ respectively. Planes \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) intersect in a line \(l\); planes \(\Pi_2\) and \(\Pi_3\) intersect in a line \(m\).
  1. Show that \(l\) and \(m\) are in the same direction. [5]
  2. Write down what you can deduce about the line of intersection of planes \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_3\). [1]
  3. By considering the cartesian equations of \(\Pi_1\), \(\Pi_2\) and \(\Pi_3\), or otherwise, determine whether or not the three planes have a common line of intersection. [4]
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/1 2015 June Q10
11 marks Standard +0.8
  1. Find a vector equation for the line of intersection of the planes with cartesian equations $$x + 7y - 6z = -10 \quad \text{and} \quad 3x - 5y + 8z = 48.$$ [5]
  2. Determine the value of \(k\) for which the system of equations \begin{align} x + 7y - 6z &= -10
    3x - 5y + 8z &= 48
    kx + 2y + 3z &= 16 \end{align} does not have a unique solution and show that, for this value of \(k\), the system of equations is inconsistent. [6]