ii) Find a vector equation for the line of intersection between two planes :
2x -y - 3z= 7 and x + 2y + 2z=0
Solution : The normal vectors of 2 planes are n1= ( 2,-1,-3) and n2= (1,2,2)
These 2 vectors form a new plane.
The normal vector of this new plane is ( 2,-1,-3) X (1,2,2) = (4, -7, 5)
The normal vector is parallel to the line of intersection of the 2 planes.
So the direction vector for the line of intersection of 2 planes is a ( 4, -7, 5 )
Now we have to find the position vector of a point on the line of intersection
In the equations of 2x - y -3z= 7 and x + 2y + 2z = 0,there are 3 unknowns.
Reduce to 2 equations with 2 unknowns only by putting x=0 or y=0 or z=o
We choose y=0
Solve for x and z in the equations 2x -3Z = 7
x + 2Z = 0
we get Z = -1 x = 2
So the vector equation for the line of intersection of 2 planes is
r= 2i -k + a( 4,-7 , 5 )