Q19 of 93 Page 25

Find a unit vector perpendicular to the plane ABC, where the coordinates of A, B and C are A(3, –1, 2), B(1, –1, –3) and C(4, –3, 1).

Given points A(3, –1, 2), B(1, –1, –3) and C(4, –3, 1)


Let position vectors of the points A, B and C be, and respectively.



We know position vector of a point (x, y, z) is given by, where, and are unit vectors along X, Y and Z directions.




Similarly, we have and


Plane ABC contains the two vectors and.


So, a vector perpendicular to this plane is also perpendicular to both of these vectors.


Recall the vector is given by







Similarly, the vector is given by







We need to find a unit vector perpendicular to and.


Recall a vector that is perpendicular to two vectors and is



Here, we have (a1, a2, a3) = (–2, 0, –5) and (b1, b2, b3) = (1, –2, –1)






Let the unit vector in the direction of be.


We know unit vector in the direction of a vector is given by .



Recall the magnitude of the vector is



Now, we find.





So, we have



Thus, the required unit vector that is perpendicular to plane ABC is.


More from this chapter

All 93 →