Find the length and the foot of the perpendicular from the point $\left(1, \frac{3}{2}, 2\right)$ to the plane $2x - 2y + 4z + 5 = 0$.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(A) The equation of the given plane is $2x - 2y + 4z + 5 = 0$ ... $(i)$
The normal vector to the plane is $\vec{n} = 2\hat{i} - 2\hat{j} + 4\hat{k}$.
The equation of the line passing through the point $P\left(1, \frac{3}{2}, 2\right)$ and perpendicular to the plane is given by $\frac{x-1}{2} = \frac{y-3/2}{-2} = \frac{z-2}{4} = \lambda$.
Thus,any point on this line is given by $x = 2\lambda + 1$,$y = -2\lambda + \frac{3}{2}$,and $z = 4\lambda + 2$.
If this point lies on the plane,it must satisfy the plane equation:
$2(2\lambda + 1) - 2(-2\lambda + \frac{3}{2}) + 4(4\lambda + 2) + 5 = 0$
$4\lambda + 2 + 4\lambda - 3 + 16\lambda + 8 + 5 = 0$
$24\lambda + 12 = 0 \Rightarrow 24\lambda = -12 \Rightarrow \lambda = -\frac{1}{2}$.
Substituting $\lambda = -\frac{1}{2}$ into the coordinates,the foot of the perpendicular is $\left(2(-\frac{1}{2}) + 1, -2(-\frac{1}{2}) + \frac{3}{2}, 4(-\frac{1}{2}) + 2\right) = \left(0, \frac{5}{2}, 0\right)$.
The length of the perpendicular is the distance between $\left(1, \frac{3}{2}, 2\right)$ and $\left(0, \frac{5}{2}, 0\right)$:
$d = \sqrt{(1-0)^2 + (\frac{3}{2} - \frac{5}{2})^2 + (2-0)^2} = \sqrt{1^2 + (-1)^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{1 + 1 + 4} = \sqrt{6}$ units.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Under what condition is the straight line $\frac{x - x_0}{l} = \frac{y - y_0}{m} = \frac{z - z_0}{n}$ parallel to the $xy$-plane?

$L$ is a line passing through the point $A(1, 0, -3)$ and parallel to a line having direction ratios $0, 1, -2$. $P$ is a point on the line $L$ which is at a minimum distance from the plane $2x + 3y + 5z = 1$. Then, the equation of the plane through $P$ and perpendicular to $AP$ is

The Cartesian equation of the plane passing through the point $(0, 7, -7)$ and containing the line $\frac{x+1}{-3} = \frac{y-3}{2} = \frac{z+2}{1}$ is

The equation of the line passing through $(-4, 1, 3)$,parallel to the plane $x + 2y - z - 5 = 0$ and intersecting the line $\frac{x + 1}{-3} = \frac{y - 3}{2} = \frac{z - 2}{-1}$ is

The acute angle between the line $\frac{x-5}{2}=\frac{y+1}{-1}=\frac{z+4}{1}$ and the plane $3x-4y-z+5=0$ is

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo