IB Maths AA

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Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes practice questions — IB Maths AA

10 free multiple-choice problems on three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes, ordered to match IB Maths AA difficulty, each with a full worked solution. No account needed — and there's a fresh problem set every day.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0589 International

Problem 1Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

Are the four points (0,0,0),(1,0,0),(0,1,0),(0,0,1)(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1) coplanar?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. Yes
  2. B. No✓ correct
  3. C. Only three of them are
  4. D. Cannot determine

The tetrahedron with these vertices has volume 1/601/6 \ne 0, so the four points are NOT coplanar — they form a non-degenerate tetrahedron.

Problem #0590 International

Problem 2Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

The volume of the tetrahedron with vertices (0,0,0),(3,0,0),(0,4,0),(0,0,5)(0,0,0), (3,0,0), (0,4,0), (0,0,5) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 55
  2. B. 1010✓ correct
  3. C. 3030
  4. D. 6060

The three edges from origin are (3,0,0),(0,4,0),(0,0,5)(3,0,0), (0,4,0), (0,0,5). Determinant: 345=603 \cdot 4 \cdot 5 = 60. Volume: 60/6=1060/6 = 10.

Problem #0585 International

Problem 3Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

For which value of aa is (a,1,2)(3,1,1)(a, 1, 2) \perp (3, -1, -1)?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00
  2. B. 11✓ correct
  3. C. 1-1
  4. D. 33

3a12=03a=3a=13a - 1 - 2 = 0 \Rightarrow 3a = 3 \Rightarrow a = 1.

Problem #0587 International

Problem 4Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

The radius of the sphere (x1)2+(y+2)2+(z3)2=49(x - 1)^2 + (y + 2)^2 + (z - 3)^2 = 49 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 66
  2. B. 77✓ correct
  3. C. 1414
  4. D. 4949

r2=49r=7r^2 = 49 \Rightarrow r = 7.

Problem #0588 International

Problem 5Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

The distance from (0,0,0)(0, 0, 0) to the plane 2x+2y+z6=02x + 2y + z - 6 = 0 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 22✓ correct
  2. B. 33
  3. C. 5\sqrt{5}
  4. D. 66

d=6/4+4+1=6/3=2d = |{-6}|/\sqrt{4 + 4 + 1} = 6/3 = 2.

Problem #0586 International

Problem 6Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

(1,0,0)×(0,2,0)=?(1, 0, 0) \times (0, 2, 0) = ?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (0,0,0)(0, 0, 0)
  2. B. (2,0,0)(2, 0, 0)
  3. C. (0,0,2)(0, 0, 2)✓ correct
  4. D. (0,2,0)(0, 2, 0)

(1,0,0)×(0,2,0)=(0002,0010,1200)=(0,0,2)(1, 0, 0) \times (0, 2, 0) = (0\cdot 0 - 0\cdot 2, 0\cdot 0 - 1\cdot 0, 1\cdot 2 - 0\cdot 0) = (0, 0, 2).

Problem #0582 International

Problem 7Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

The distance from A(1,2,3)A(1, 2, 3) to B(4,6,3)B(4, 6, 3) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 44
  2. B. 55✓ correct
  3. C. 77
  4. D. 50\sqrt{50}

d=32+42+02=25=5d = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2 + 0^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5. (3-4-5 triple in the xyxy-plane.)

Problem #0583 International

Problem 8Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

Midpoint of A(2,1,4)A(2, -1, 4) and B(8,5,2)B(8, 5, -2):

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (5,2,1)(5, 2, 1)✓ correct
  2. B. (6,6,6)(6, 6, -6)
  3. C. (3,3,1)(3, 3, 1)
  4. D. (10,4,2)(10, 4, 2)

Average each coordinate: ((2+8)/2,(1+5)/2,(42)/2)=(5,2,1)((2+8)/2, (-1+5)/2, (4-2)/2) = (5, 2, 1).

Problem #0581 International

Problem 9Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

The magnitude v\|\vec{v}\| for v=(1,2,2)\vec{v} = (1, 2, 2) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 5\sqrt{5}
  2. B. 33✓ correct
  3. C. 55
  4. D. 99

v=1+4+4=9=3\|\vec{v}\| = \sqrt{1 + 4 + 4} = \sqrt{9} = 3.

Problem #0584 International

Problem 10Three-dimensional geometry: lines and planes

(1,2,3)(2,1,1)=?(1, 2, 3) \cdot (2, -1, 1) = ?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00
  2. B. 22
  3. C. 33✓ correct
  4. D. 66

12+2(1)+31=22+3=31\cdot 2 + 2\cdot(-1) + 3\cdot 1 = 2 - 2 + 3 = 3.

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