We need to find the unit vectors perpendicular to the plane determined by the points $(1, 3, 5)$, $(3, -1, 2)$, and $(4, 0, 1)$.

GeometryVectors3D GeometryCross ProductUnit VectorsPlanes
2025/4/9

1. Problem Description

We need to find the unit vectors perpendicular to the plane determined by the points (1,3,5)(1, 3, 5), (3,1,2)(3, -1, 2), and (4,0,1)(4, 0, 1).

2. Solution Steps

First, let's find two vectors in the plane. We can do this by subtracting the coordinates of the given points. Let A=(1,3,5)A = (1, 3, 5), B=(3,1,2)B = (3, -1, 2), and C=(4,0,1)C = (4, 0, 1).
Vector AB=BA=(31,13,25)=(2,4,3)\vec{AB} = B - A = (3-1, -1-3, 2-5) = (2, -4, -3).
Vector AC=CA=(41,03,15)=(3,3,4)\vec{AC} = C - A = (4-1, 0-3, 1-5) = (3, -3, -4).
Now, we find a vector normal to the plane by taking the cross product of AB\vec{AB} and AC\vec{AC}.
$\vec{n} = \vec{AB} \times \vec{AC} = \begin{vmatrix}
\hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\
2 & -4 & -3 \\
3 & -3 & -4
\end{vmatrix} = \hat{i}((-4)(-4) - (-3)(-3)) - \hat{j}((2)(-4) - (-3)(3)) + \hat{k}((2)(-3) - (-4)(3)) = \hat{i}(16 - 9) - \hat{j}(-8 + 9) + \hat{k}(-6 + 12) = 7\hat{i} - 1\hat{j} + 6\hat{k} = (7, -1, 6)$.
The normal vector is n=(7,1,6)\vec{n} = (7, -1, 6).
Now, we need to find the magnitude of this vector:
n=72+(1)2+62=49+1+36=86|\vec{n}| = \sqrt{7^2 + (-1)^2 + 6^2} = \sqrt{49 + 1 + 36} = \sqrt{86}.
To find the unit vectors, we divide the normal vector by its magnitude:
u^=±nn=±(7,1,6)86=±(786,186,686)\hat{u} = \pm \frac{\vec{n}}{|\vec{n}|} = \pm \frac{(7, -1, 6)}{\sqrt{86}} = \pm \left(\frac{7}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{-1}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{6}{\sqrt{86}}\right).

3. Final Answer

The unit vectors perpendicular to the plane are (786,186,686)\left(\frac{7}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{-1}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{6}{\sqrt{86}}\right) and (786,186,686)\left(\frac{-7}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{86}}, \frac{-6}{\sqrt{86}}\right).

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