Find the image of the point with position vector
in the plane
Also, find the position vectors of the foot of the perpendicular and the equation of the perpendicular line through ![]()
Let P be the point with position vector
and M be the image of P in the plane
.
In addition, let Q be the foot of the perpendicular from P on to the given plane. So, Q is the midpoint of PM.
Direction ratios of PM are proportional to 2, –1, 1 as PM is normal to the plane and parallel to
.
Recall the vector equation of the line passing through the point with position vector
and parallel to vector
is given by
![]()
Here,
and![]()
Hence, the equation of PM is
![]()
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Let the position vector of M be
. As M is a point on this line, for some scalar α, we have
![]()
Now, let us find the position vector of Q, the midpoint of PM.
Let this be
.
Using the midpoint formula, we have
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
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This point lies on the given plane, which means this point satisfies the plane equation
.
![]()
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We have the image ![]()
![]()
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Therefore, image is (1, 2, 1)
Foot of the perpendicular![]()
![]()
![]()
Thus, the position vector of the image is
and that of the foot of perpendicular is
.