Math Help - Vector problem

1. Vector problem

I'm sorry if i'm posting this in the wrong section,i couldn't figure out which section vectors would go in to.

Here is the question :-
A,B and C are the point (0,1,2),(3,2,1) and (1,-1,0) respectively.Find the unit vector perpendicular to the plane ABC.
I've just started learning this topic,and i'm not very strong at it.It'd be great if someone can help me out here.
Thanks.

2. Originally Posted by kandyfloss
I'm sorry if i'm posting this in the wrong section,i couldn't figure out which section vectors would go in to.

Here is the question :-
A,B and C are the point (0,1,2),(3,2,1) and (1,-1,0) respectively.Find the unit vector perpendicular to the plane ABC.
I've just started learning this topic,and i'm not very strong at it.It'd be great if someone can help me out here.
Thanks.
A plane has equation

$ax + by + cz = d$.

$b + 2c = d$

$3a + 2b + c = d$

$a - b = d$.

This gives the system

$\left[\begin{matrix}1&-1&\phantom{-}0\\0&\phantom{-}1&\phantom{-}2\\3&\phantom{-}2&\phantom{-}1\end{matrix}\right]\left[\begin{matrix}a\\b\\c\end{matrix}\right] = \left[\begin{matrix}d\\d\\d\end{matrix}\right]$ (I switched order of the rows)

$R_3 - 3R_1 \to R_3$

$\left[\begin{matrix}1&-1&\phantom{-}0\\0&\phantom{-}1&\phantom{-}2\\0&\phantom{-}5&\phantom{-}1\end{matrix}\right]\left[\begin{matrix}a\\b\\c\end{matrix}\right] = \left[\begin{matrix}\phantom{-}d\\\phantom{-}d\\-2d\end{matrix}\right]$

$R_3 - 5R_2 \to R_3$

$\left[\begin{matrix}1&-1&\phantom{-}0\\0&\phantom{-}1&\phantom{-}2\\0&\phantom{-}0&-9\end{matrix}\right]\left[\begin{matrix}a\\b\\c\end{matrix}\right] = \left[\begin{matrix}\phantom{-}d\\\phantom{-}d\\-7d\end{matrix}\right]$

You can see $-9c = -7d$ so $c = \frac{7}{9}d$.

You can see $b + 2c = d$

$b + 2\left(\frac{7}{9}d\right) = d$

$b + \frac{14}{9}d = d$

$b = -\frac{5}{9}d$.

You can see $a - b = d$

$a - \left(-\frac{5}{9}d\right) = d$

$a + \frac{5}{9}d = d$

$a = \frac{4}{9}d$.

$d$ is a free variable, you can let it be whatever you like to get a consistent solution set. So why not let $d = 9$.

Therefore a correct equation of the plane is

$4x - 5y + 7z = 9$.

The vectors normal to the plane has the same coefficients as the coefficients of the plane itself.

Therefore a vector normal to the plane is

$\mathbf{n} = 4\mathbf{i} - 5\mathbf{j} + 7\mathbf{k}$.

To find the unit vector, divide by its length.

$\frac{\mathbf{n}}{|\mathbf{n}|} = \frac{4\mathbf{i} - 5\mathbf{j} + 7\mathbf{k}}{\sqrt{4^2 + (-5)^2 + 7^2}}$

$= \frac{4\mathbf{i} - 5\mathbf{j} + 7\mathbf{k}}{\sqrt{16 + 25 + 49}}$

$= \frac{4\mathbf{i} - 5\mathbf{j} + 7\mathbf{k}}{\sqrt{90}}$

$= \frac{4\mathbf{i} - 5\mathbf{j} + 7\mathbf{k}}{3\sqrt{10}}$

$= \frac{4\sqrt{10}}{30}\mathbf{i} - \frac{5\sqrt{10}}{30}\mathbf{j} + \frac{7\sqrt{10}}{30}\mathbf{k}$

$= \frac{2\sqrt{10}}{15}\mathbf{i} - \frac{\sqrt{10}}{6}\mathbf{j} + \frac{7\sqrt{10}}{30}\mathbf{k}$.

3. Originally Posted by kandyfloss
I'm sorry if i'm posting this in the wrong section,i couldn't figure out which section vectors would go in to.

Here is the question :-
A,B and C are the point (0,1,2),(3,2,1) and (1,-1,0) respectively.Find the unit vector perpendicular to the plane ABC.
I've just started learning this topic,and i'm not very strong at it.It'd be great if someone can help me out here.
Thanks.
Dear kandyfloss,

Another approch,

Find $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{CB}$

Now, $\overline{AB}\times\overline{CB}$ is a perpendicular vector to the plane. (by the definition of cross product.)

Hence $\frac{\overline{AB}\times\overline{CB}}{\mid\overl ine{AB}\times\overline{CB}\mid}$ is a unit perpenducular vector to the plane.

4. Wow! That was really helpful ..got a bit confused in the row reduction part,but its all clear now.
Thanks a lot

5. Originally Posted by Sudharaka
Dear kandyfloss,

Another approch,

Find $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{CB}$

Now, $\overline{AB}\times\overline{CB}$ is a perpendicular vector to the plane. (by the definition of cross product.)

Hence $\frac{\overline{AB}\times\overline{CB}}{\mid\overl ine{AB}\times\overline{CB}\mid}$ is a unit perpenducular vector to the plane.