The planes 2x2y5z17 and 4y5x5z40 are not parallel so they mu
The planes 2x?2y+5z=?17 and 4y?5x+5z=?40 are not parallel, so they must intersect along a line that is common to both of them. The vector parametric equation for this line is
L(t) =
L(t) =
Solution
Now, the vector or cross product of these two normal vectors gives a vector which is perpendicular to both of them and which is therefore parallel to the line of intersection of the two planes. So this cross product will give a direction vector for the line of intersection. The cross product of (2, -2, 5) and (-5 4, 5) is (-30,-35,-2). In order to find the vector equation of the line of intersection, we also need to find the position vector from the origin of some point which lies on it. So we need to find some point which lies on both the planes because then it must lie on their line of intersection. Any point which lies on both planes will do. I can see that both planes will have points for which x = 0. These points in 2x - 2y + 5z = 12 will have -2y + 5z = -17. These points in -5x +4y +5z = 6 will have 4y+5z = -40. Solving these two equations simultaneously gives y = -23/6 and z = -74/15 so the point with position vector (0, -23/6 , -74/15) lies on the line of intersection. Therefore the equation of the line of intersection is r = (0,-23/6 , -74/15 ) + t(-30,-35,-2 ).
