If a,b,c are three non coplanar vectors, then prove that the vector equation r=(1−p−q)vec(a)+p vec(b)+q vec(c) represents a plane

caritatsjq

caritatsjq

Answered question

2022-10-21

If a,b,c are three non coplanar vectors, then prove that the vector equation
r = ( 1 p q ) a + p b + q c represents a plane
Let r = x a + y b + z c
Comparing with the given equation, we obtain
x+y+z=1
which is a plane
What I don’t understand is how does this say r is a plane, since r is actually x a + y b + z c

Answer & Explanation

honotMornne

honotMornne

Beginner2022-10-22Added 12 answers

Rearrange to
r = a + p ( b a ) + q ( c a )
And this is of the form of the plane equation
r = p + λ s + μ q
More precisely, this is the plane that passes through the point with position vector a and with normal vector ( b a ) × ( c a )
robbbiehu

robbbiehu

Beginner2022-10-23Added 5 answers

A plane r = ( x , y , z ) that passes the point a and with normal vector n is
(1) ( r a ) n = 0
Observe that the given vector can be rearranged as
r a = p ( b a ) + q ( c a )
which satisfies the plane equation (1) with the choice of n = ( b a ) × ( c a )

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