Direction Ratios of Intersection of Two Planes

Rarely Tested

Direction Ratios of Intersection of Two Planes

For planes with normals:

$$\vec n_1=A_1\hat i+B_1\hat j+C_1\hat k$$

and:

$$\vec n_2=A_2\hat i+B_2\hat j+C_2\hat k$$

the direction vector of their intersection line is:

$$\vec d=\vec n_1\times\vec n_2$$

Usage

- Used to obtain the direction ratios of the line formed by two intersecting planes.

Question 1

Let the line $$L_1$$ pass through the point $$P(1, 2, 1)$$ and be parallel to the vector $$\vec{v} = 2\hat{i} - \hat{j} + 3\hat{k}$$. Let the line $$L_2$$ be the line of intersection of the two planes $$x + 2y - z = 3$$ and $$2x - y + 3z = 1$$. If  a plane $$\pi$$ contains the line $$L_1$$ and is parallel to the line $$L_2$$, then the distance of the point $$Q(2, 3, 4)$$ from the plane $$\pi$$ is equal to:

Go back to topics

Join CAT 2026 course by 5-Time CAT 100%iler

Start your IIM journey with the right preparation and crack CAT 2026.