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Find the distance between points P 1 = ( 1 , −5 , 4 ) and P 2 = ( 4 , −1 , −1 ) .

5 2

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Before moving on to the next section, let’s get a feel for how 3 differs from 2 . For example, in 2 , lines that are not parallel must always intersect. This is not the case in 3 . For example, consider the line shown in [link] . These two lines are not parallel, nor do they intersect.

This figure is the 3-dimensional coordinate system. There is a line drawn at z = 3. It is parallel to the x y-plane. There is also a line drawn at y = 2. It is parallel to the x-axis.
These two lines are not parallel, but still do not intersect.

You can also have circles that are interconnected but have no points in common, as in [link] .

This figure is the 3-dimensional coordinate system. There are two cirlces drawn. The first circle is centered around the z-axis, at z = 1. The second circle has the positive x-axis as its diameter. It intersects the x-axis at x = 0 and x = 6. It is vertical.
These circles are interconnected, but have no points in common.

We have a lot more flexibility working in three dimensions than we do if we stuck with only two dimensions.

Writing equations in ℝ 3

Now that we can represent points in space and find the distance between them, we can learn how to write equations of geometric objects such as lines, planes, and curved surfaces in 3 . First, we start with a simple equation. Compare the graphs of the equation x = 0 in , 2 , and 3 ( [link] ). From these graphs, we can see the same equation can describe a point, a line, or a plane.

This figure has three images. The first is a horizontal axis with a point drawn at 0. The second is the two dimensional Cartesian coordinate plane. The third is the 3-dimensional coordinate system. It is inside of a box and has a grid drawn at the y z-plane.
(a) In , the equation x = 0 describes a single point. (b) In 2 , the equation x = 0 describes a line, the y -axis. (c) In 3 , the equation x = 0 describes a plane, the yz -plane.

In space, the equation x = 0 describes all points ( 0 , y , z ) . This equation defines the yz -plane. Similarly, the xy -plane contains all points of the form ( x , y , 0 ) . The equation z = 0 defines the xy -plane and the equation y = 0 describes the xz -plane ( [link] ).

This figure has two images. The first is the 3-dimensional coordinate system. It is inside of a box and has a grid drawn at the x y-plane. The second is the 3-dimensional coordinate system. It is inside of a box and has a grid drawn at the x z-plane.
(a) In space, the equation z = 0 describes the xy -plane. (b) All points in the xz -plane satisfy the equation y = 0 .

Understanding the equations of the coordinate planes allows us to write an equation for any plane that is parallel to one of the coordinate planes. When a plane is parallel to the xy -plane, for example, the z -coordinate of each point in the plane has the same constant value. Only the x - and y -coordinates of points in that plane vary from point to point.

Rule: equations of planes parallel to coordinate planes

  1. The plane in space that is parallel to the xy -plane and contains point ( a , b , c ) can be represented by the equation z = c .
  2. The plane in space that is parallel to the xz -plane and contains point ( a , b , c ) can be represented by the equation y = b .
  3. The plane in space that is parallel to the yz -plane and contains point ( a , b , c ) can be represented by the equation x = a .

Writing equations of planes parallel to coordinate planes

  1. Write an equation of the plane passing through point ( 3 , 11 , 7 ) that is parallel to the yz -plane.
  2. Find an equation of the plane passing through points ( 6 , −2 , 9 ) , ( 0 , −2 , 4 ) , and ( 1 , −2 , −3 ) .
  1. When a plane is parallel to the yz -plane, only the y - and z -coordinates may vary. The x -coordinate has the same constant value for all points in this plane, so this plane can be represented by the equation x = 3 .
  2. Each of the points ( 6 , −2 , 9 ) , ( 0 , −2 , 4 ) , and ( 1 , −2 , −3 ) has the same y -coordinate. This plane can be represented by the equation y = −2 .
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Write an equation of the plane passing through point ( 1 , −6 , −4 ) that is parallel to the xy -plane.

z = −4

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As we have seen, in 2 the equation x = 5 describes the vertical line passing through point ( 5 , 0 ) . This line is parallel to the y -axis. In a natural extension, the equation x = 5 in 3 describes the plane passing through point ( 5 , 0 , 0 ) , which is parallel to the yz -plane. Another natural extension of a familiar equation is found in the equation of a sphere.

Practice Key Terms 6

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Source:  OpenStax, Calculus volume 3. OpenStax CNX. Feb 05, 2016 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11966/1.2
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