MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

Three Dimensional Geometry

Top Review
1.

If P x1, y1, z1 and Q x2 , y2 , z2 are two points in space, then

PQ
2.

x2 x1

y2 y1 z2 z1
2

The distance of a point P x1, y1, z1 from the origin O is given by

OP x12 y12 z12

3.

The coordinates of a point R which divides the line joining the points

P x1, y1, z1 and Q x2 , y2 , z2 internally in the ratio m : n are

mx2 nx1 my2 ny1 mz2 nz1
mn , mn , mn .

4.

The coordinates of a point R which divides the line joining the points

P x1, y1, z1 and Q x2 , y2 , z2 externally in the ratio m : n are

mx2 nx1 my2 ny1 mz2 nz1
m n , m n , m n .

5.

Let P x1, y1, z1 and Q x2 , y2 , z2 be two points in space. The coordinates of the midpoint of PQ

x x2 y1 y2 z1 z2
,
,
are 1
.
2
2
2
6.

Let P x1, y1, z1 , Q x2 , y2 , z2 and R x3 , y3, z3 be three vertices of the triangle.

x x2 x3 y1 y2 y3 z1 z2 z3
Hence, the centroid G x, y, z is G 1
,
,
.
3
3
3

7.

The projection of the line joining points P x1, y1, z1 and Q x2 , y2 , z2 to the line with direction
cosines, l, m and n is

www.topperlearning.com

x2 x1 l y2 y1 m z2 z1 n .

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

Top Concepts
1. The angles , and which a directed line L, through the origin, makes with the x , y and z axes,
respectively, are called direction angles.

If the direction of line L is reversed, then the direction angles will be , and .
2. If a directed line L passes through the origin and makes angles , and with the x, y and z axes
respectively, then
= cos , m = cos and n = cos are called direction cosines of line L.
3. For a given line to have a unique set of direction cosines, a directed line is used.
4. The direction cosines of the directed line which does not pass through the origin can be obtained by
drawing a line parallel to it and passing through the origin.

5. Any three numbers which are proportional to the direction cosines of the line are called direction ratios.
If ,m and n are the direction cosines and a, b and c are the direction ratios of a line, then = ka,m =
kb and n = kc, where k is any non-zero real number.
6. For any line, there are an infinite number of direction ratios.
7. Direction ratios of the line joining P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2) may be taken as
x2 x1, y2 y1,z2 z1 or x1 x2 , y1 y2 ,z1 z2

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

8. Direction cosines of the x-axis are cos0, cos90, cos90, i.e. 1, 0, 0.
Similarly, the direction cosines of the y-axis are 0, 1, 0 and the z-axis are 0, 0, 1, respectively.
9. A line is uniquely determined if
1) It passes through a given point and has given direction ratios
OR
2) It passes through two given points.
10. Two lines with direction ratios a1, a2, a3 and b1, b2, b3, respectively, are perpendicular if
a1b1 a2b2 a3b3 0

11. Two lines with direction ratios a1, a2, a3 and b1, b2, b3, respectively, are parallel if

a
a1 a2

3
b1 b2 b3

12. The lines which are neither intersecting nor parallel are called as skew lines. Skew lines are noncoplanar, i.e. they do not belong to the same 2D plane.

GE and DB are skew lines.

13. The angle between skew lines is the angle between two intersecting lines drawn from any point
(preferably through the origin) parallel to each of the skew lines.
14. If two lines in space are intersecting, then the shortest distance between them is zero.
15. If two lines in space are parallel, then the shortest distance between them is the perpendicular
distance.

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

16. The normal vector, often simply called the normal to a surface, is a vector perpendicular to a surface.

17. If the three points are collinear, then the line containing those three points can be part of many planes.

18. The angle between two planes is defined as the angle between their normals.
If the planes A1 x+ B1 y+ C1 z+ D1 = 0 and A 2 x+ B2 y+ C 2 z+ D 2 = 0 are perpendicular to each
19.
other, then A1A2 +B1B2 +C1C2 0
If the planes A1x+B1y+C1z+D1=0 and A2x+B2y+C2z+D2=0 are parallel, then

A1 B1 C1

A2 B2 C2

20. The angle between a line and a plane is the complement of the angle between the line and the normal
to the plane.

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

21. The distance of a point from a plane is the length of the unique line from the point to the plane which is
perpendicular to the plane.

Top Formulae
2
2
2
1. Direction cosines of the line L are connected by the relation +m +n 1 .

2. If a, b, and c are the direction ratios of a line, and , m, and n are its direction cosines, then

a
2

a +b +c

, m

b
2

a +b +c

,n

c
2

a +b2+c2

3. The direction cosines of the line joining

P( x1 ,y1 ,z1 ) and Q( x2 ,y2 ,z2 ) are
x2 -x1 y2 -y1 z2 z1
,
,
PQ
PQ
PQ
where PQ= (x2 -x1 )2 +(y2 -y1 )2+(z2 -z1 )2

4. Vector equation of a line which passes through the given point whose position vector

is a and parallel to a given vector b is r=a+b

5. If coordinates of point A are (x1,y1,z1)and direction ratios of the line are a, b, c,

then cartesian form of equation of line is :

x-x1 y-y1 z-z1

a
b
c

6. If coordinates of point A are (x1,y1,z1)and direction cosines of the line are , m, and n,
then Cartesian equation of line is :

x x1 y y1 z z1

m
n

7. The vector equation of a line which passes through two points whose position vectors are

a and b is r=a+(b-a)

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

8. Cartesian equation of a line which passes through two points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2 , y2 , z2 ) is
x x1
y y1
z z1

x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1

x x1 y y1 z z1

are
a
b
c
x x1 ar, y y1 br, z z1 cr , where r R

9. The parametric equations of the line

10. Equation of the x-axis:

x0 y0 z0

or y=0 and z=0

1
0
0

11. Equation of the y-axis:

x0 y0 z0

or x=0 and z=0

0
1
0

12. Equation of the z-axis:

x0 y0 z0

or x=0 and y=0

0
0
1

13. Conversion of a Cartesian form of an equation of a line to a vector form:

x x1 y y1 z z1

Let the Cartesian form of an equation of a line be

.
a
b
c
Hence, the vector form of the equation of the line is

r x i y j z k ai bj ck , where is a parameter.

14. Conversion of a vector form of the equation of a line to the Cartesian form:
Let the Cartesian form of the equation of a line be

r a m, where a x i y j z k and m ai bj ck
1

and is a parameter
Then the Cartesian form of the equation of the line is
x x1 y y1 z z1

.
a
b
c
15. Angle between two lines L1 and L2 passing through the origin and having direction ratios a1, b1, c1
and a2 ,b2, c2 is
cos

a1a2+b1b2+c1c2
2
a1 +b12+c12 a22+b22+c22

Or sin =

(a1b2 -a2b1)2+(b1c 2-b 2c1) 2+(c 1a2-c 2a1) 2

a12+b12+c12 a22+b22+c22

16. Condition of perpendicularity: If the lines are perpendicular to each other, then a1a2+b1b2+c1c2 0

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

17. Condition of parallelism: If the lines are parallel, then

a1 b1 c1

a2 b2 c2

18. Equation of a line passing through a point having position vector k and perpendicular to the lines

r a1 mb1 and r a2 mb2 is r k m b1 b2

19. To find the intersection of two lines:

Consider the two lines:
x x1 y y1 z z1
x x2 y y2 z z2

and

a1
b1
c1
a2
b2
c2
Step (i): The general coordinates of general points on the given two lines are

a1k x1,b1k y1, c1k z1

and a2m x2 ,b2m y2, c2m z2

Step (ii) Equate both the points

Thus, we have a1k x1 a2m x2 ,b1k y1 b2m y2 , c1k z1 c2m z2
Step (iii): Solve the first two equations to get the values of k and m. Check whether the point satisfies
the third equation also. If it satisfies, then the lines intersect, otherwise they do not.
Step (iv): Substitute the values of k and m in the set of three equations to get the intersection point.

20. To find the intersection of two lines in the vector form:

Let the two lines be

r a i a j a k k b i b j b k ....(1)

r a1i a2 j a3k m b1i b2 j b3k ....(2)

Step (i): Position vectors of arbitrary points on (1) and (2) are
a i a j a k k b i b j b k

a i a j a k m b i b j b k
1

Step (ii): Because the lines (1) and (2) intersect, they intersect each other, and their points of
intersection are as follows:

a1 ka1 b1 mb1;a2 ka2 b2 mb2;a3 ka3 b3 mb3

Step (iii): Solve any two of the equations to get the values of k and m. Substitute the values of k and m
in the third equation to check whether it satisfies it. If it does satisfy it, then the two lines intersect,
otherwise they do not.
Step (iv): Substitute the values of k and m to get the point of intersection.

21. Perpendicular distance of a line from a point: Let P(u, v, w) be the given point.
x x1 y y1 z z1

Let
be the given line.
a
b
c
Let N be the foot of the perpendicular.
Then the coordinates of N are,
a u x1 b v y1 c w z1
x1 ak, y1 bk, z1 ck , where k=
a2 b2 c2
Now, the distance PN can be determined using the distance formula.
www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

22. Perpendicular distance of a line from a point when it is in the vector form:

Step (i): Let P u be the given point. Let r a kb be the position vector of the line.

Step (ii): Find PN Position vector of N Position vector of P

Step (iii): PN b 0
Step (iv): Get the value of k

Step (v): Substitute the value of k in r a kb

Step (vi): Compute PN to obtain the perpendicular distance

23. Skew lines: Two lines are said to be skew lines if they are neither parallel nor intersecting.
24. Shortest distance: The shortest distance between two lines L1 and L2 is the distance PQ between
the points P and Q, where the lines of shortest distance intersect the two given lines.

25. The shortest distance between two skew lines L and M having equations

r a1 b1 and r a2 b2 respectively, is

d=

b b (a a )
1

b1b2

26. Condition for two given lines to intersect: If the lines r a1 kb1 and r a2 kb2 intersect, then the
shortest distance between them is zero.

Thus,

b b (a a )
1

b1b2

0 b1b2 (a2 a1)=0

27. The shortest distance between the lines in the Cartesian form
z z1
z z2
x x1
y y1
x x2
y y2
=
=
and
=
=
c1
c2
a1
b1
a2
b2

is given by

d=

x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
a1
b1
c1
a2
b2
c2
(b1c2 b2c1 )2+(c1a2 c2a1 )2+(a1b2 a2b1 )2

b(a2 -a1 )
28. Distance between parallel lines r a1 b and r a2 b is d =
.

n is the unit vector normal to the plane,

29. The equation of a plane at a distance d from the origin where

d.
through the origin in vector form, is r.n

www.topperlearning.com

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

30. Equation of a plane which is at a distance of d from the origin and the direction cosines of the normal
to the plane are l, m, n is lx + my + nz = d.

31. The general equation of the plane is ax by cz d 0 .

32. The equation of a plane perpendicular to a given vector N and passing through a given point a is

( r - a ). N = 0.
33. The equation of a plane perpendicular to a given line with direction ratios A, B and C and passing
through a given point (x1, y1, z1) is A(x x1) + B(y y1) + C(z z1) = 0

34. The equation of a plane passing through three non-collinear points in the vector form is given as



( r - a ). [( b - a ) ( c - a )] = 0
35. Reduction of the vector form of the equation of a plane to the Cartesian equation:

a a i a j a k and n n i n j n k
Let r xi yj zk,
1

Then the Cartesian equation of a plane is,

x a1 n1 y a2 n2 z a3 n3

36. The vector equation of the plane passing through the points having position vectors a,b and c is

r 1 m n a mb nc
parametric form




r ab r b c r c a a b c
non parametric form

37. The equation of a plane passing through three non-collinear points (x1, y1, z1),
(x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3) in the Cartesian form is
x x1 y y1
z z1
x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1 = 0
x3 x1 y3 y1 z3 z1

38. The intercept form of the equation of a plane is

x y z
+ + = 1, where a, b and c are the intercepts on
a b c

the x, y and z-axes, respectively.

www.topperlearning.com

10

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

39. Any plane passing through the intersection of two planes r . n1 = d1 and r . n2 = d2 is given by

r. n1 n2 d1 d2

40. The Cartesian equation of a plane passing through the intersection of two planes
A1x + B1y + C1z = d1 and A2x + B2y + C2z = d2 is
(A1x + B1y + C1z d1) + (A2x + B2y + C2z d2) = 0
41. The equation of the planes bisecting the angles between the planes
a1x b1y c1z d1 0 and a2x b2y c2z d2 0 is given by

a1x b1y c1z d1

a12 b12 c12

a2x b2y c2z d2

42. The angle between a line

a22 b22 c22

x x1 y y1 z z1

and the plane ax by cz d 0 is given

l
m
n

by the following relation:

al bm cn
sin
2
2
a b c2 l2 m2 n2
43. If a line is perpendicular to a normal to the plane, then it is parallel to the plane.
44. If a line is parallel to a normal to the plane, then it is perpendicular to the plane.

45. The line r a kb lies in the plane r n d if a n d and b n 0

x x1 y y1 z z1

lies in the plane ax by cz d 0 if

l
m
n
ax1 by1 cz1 d 0 and al+bm+cn=0 .

46. The line

x x1 y y1 z z1

is
l
m
n
0, where al+bm+cn=0 .

47. The equation of a plane containing the line

a x x1 b y y1 c z z1

48. The given lines r a1 b1 and r a2 b2 are coplanar if and only

a2 a1 . b1 b2 0

49. Let (x1,y1,z1 ) and (x2 ,y2 ,z2 ) be the coordinates of the points M and N, respectively.

Let a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 be the direction ratios of b1 and b2 , respectively. The given lines are
coplanar if and only if,
x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
=0
a1
b1
c1
a2
b2
c2
www.topperlearning.com

11

MATHS THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

50. Two lines

x x1 y y1 z z1
x x2 y y2 z z2

and

are coplanar if
a1
b1
c1
a2
b2
c2

x2 x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
a1
b1
c1
0
a2
b2
c2

51. The equation of the plane containing the lines

x x1 y y1 z z1
x x2 y y2 z z2

and

is
a1
b1
c1
a2
b2
c2
x x1 y2 y1 z2 z1
x x2
a1
b1
c1
0 or
a1
a2
b2
c2
a2

y y2
b1
b2

z z2
c1 0
c2

52. If n1 and n2 are normals to the planes

r.n1 = d1 and r.n2 = d2, and is the angle between the normals drawn from some common point, then

n1.n2
cos = .
n1 n2

53. Let be the angle between two planes A1x + B1y + C1z + D1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2z + D2 = 0.
The direction ratios of the normal to the planes are A1, B1, C1 and A2, B2, C2.
cos =

A1A2+B1B2+C1C2
2
1

A +B12+C12 A22+B22+C22

54. The angle between the line and the normal to the plane is given by

b.n

cos
2
b n

b.n
sin
b n

a.N-d

55. The distance of point P with position vector a from a plane r.N = d is
, where N is the normal
N

to the plane.

d
56. The length of the perpendicular from the origin O to the plane r.N = d is , where N is the normal to
N

the plane.

www.topperlearning.com

12