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3D Coordinate Geometry

13 practice questions with full worked solutions. Free, no account needed.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #3558 International

Problem 1 — Distance and Midpoint in 3D

The point M(4,0,2) is the midpoint of the segment AB, and A has coordinates (2,−4,6). The coordinates of B are:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (6,4,−2)✓ correct
  2. B. (3,−2,4)
  3. C. (6,−4,8)
  4. D. (2,4,−4)
  5. E. (10,−4,10)

Set up one equation per coordinate from A(2,−4,6) and M(4,0,2): 2+xB2=4,−4+yB2=0,6+zB2=2

Multiply each equation by 2: 2+xB=8,−4+yB=0,6+zB=4

Solve each one: xB=6,yB=4,zB=−2

Check: the midpoint of A(2,−4,6) and (6,4,−2) is (2+62, −4+42, 6−22)=(4,0,2)=M. B(6,4,−2)

Problem #0582 International

Problem 2 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

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

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 4
  2. B. 5✓ correct
  3. C. 7
  4. D. 50

d=32+42+02=25=5. (3-4-5 triple in the xy-plane.)

Problem #0584 International

Problem 3 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

(1,2,3)⋅(2,−1,1)=?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 0
  2. B. 2
  3. C. 3✓ correct
  4. D. 6

1⋅2+2⋅(−1)+3⋅1=2−2+3=3.

Problem #0581 International

Problem 4 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

The magnitude ∥v⃗∥ for v⃗=(1,2,2) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 5
  2. B. 3✓ correct
  3. C. 5
  4. D. 9

∥v⃗∥=1+4+4=9=3.

Problem #0583 International

Problem 5 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

Midpoint of A(2,−1,4) and B(8,5,−2):

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

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

Problem #3559 International

Problem 6 — Distance and Midpoint in 3D

In the triangle with vertices A(1,2,3), B(5,0,−1) and C(−1,4,3), the length of the median from A is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 5✓ correct
  2. B. 35
  3. C. 14
  4. D. 5
  5. E. 17

Locate the endpoint of the median, the midpoint M of BC with B(5,0,−1) and C(−1,4,3): M=(5+(−1)2, 0+42, −1+32)=(2,2,1)

Take the coordinate differences between A(1,2,3) and M(2,2,1): Δx=2−1=1,Δy=2−2=0,Δz=1−3=−2

Square, add, and take the square root: ∣AM∣=12+02+(−2)2=1+0+4=5

Problem #3560 International

Problem 7 — Lines and Planes in 3D

The line ℓ has vector equation

r⃗=(12−1)+t(2−13),t∈R,

and the plane π has equation x+y+z=10. The point at which ℓ meets π is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (5,0,5)✓ correct
  2. B. (−3,4,−7)
  3. C. (5,5,0)
  4. D. (4,−2,6)
  5. E. (3,4,1)

A general point of ℓ has coordinates

(x,y,z)=(1+2t,  2−t,  −1+3t).

Such a point lies on π exactly when its coordinates satisfy x+y+z=10:

(1+2t)+(2−t)+(−1+3t)=10.

Collecting the constants and the terms in t:

2+4t=10⟹4t=8⟹t=2.

Substituting t=2 back into the parametric coordinates:

x=1+2(2)=5,y=2−2=0,z=−1+3(2)=5.

The check 5+0+5=10 confirms the point lies on π, and t=2 places it on ℓ. Since the direction vector (2,−1,3) is not perpendicular to the normal (1,1,1) — their dot product is 2−1+3=4≠0 — the line is not parallel to the plane, so this intersection point is unique:

(5,0,5).

Problem #0586 International

Problem 8 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

(1,0,0)×(0,2,0)=?

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

(1,0,0)×(0,2,0)=(0⋅0−0⋅2,0⋅0−1⋅0,1⋅2−0⋅0)=(0,0,2).

Problem #0585 International

Problem 9 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

For which value of a is (a,1,2)⊥(3,−1,−1)?

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

3a−1−2=0⇒3a=3⇒a=1.

Problem #0588 International

Problem 10 — 3D Coordinate Geometry

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

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2✓ correct
  2. B. 3
  3. C. 5
  4. D. 6

d=∣−6∣/4+4+1=6/3=2.

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