# Cartesian Equation of Plane

• August 11th 2012, 06:04 PM
SkyCapri
Cartesian Equation of Plane
Find the cartesian equation of a plane which passes through the point (3,-4,1) and is parallel to the plane containing the point (1,2,-1) and the line r=t(1,1,1).

The answer is 3x-2y-z=16. I don't know how to find the normal vector of the plane. I know that the fixed point is (3,-4,1). Please help.
I'm really weak in vectors, is there any way to improve my mastery of this topic?(Worried)
• August 11th 2012, 07:04 PM
Plato
Re: Cartesian Equation of Plane
Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyCapri
Find the cartesian equation of a plane which passes through the point (3,-4,1) and is parallel to the plane containing the point (1,2,-1) and the line r=t(1,1,1).
The answer is 3x-2y-z=16. I don't know how to find the normal vector of the plane. I know that the fixed point is (3,-4,1). Please help.

the required normal is $n=<1,2,-1>\times<1,1,1>$.
• August 12th 2012, 06:12 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: Cartesian Equation of Plane
Taking t= 0, one point on that line, and so in the plane, is (0, 0, 0). Taking t= 1, another point in the plane is (1, 1, 1). <1, 1, 1> is the vector from (0, 0, 0) to (1, 1, 1). <1, 2, -1> is the vector from (0, 0, 0) to (1, 2, -1). Those are two vectors in the plane so their cross product is normal to the plane.