(a) Use suffix notation to prove that
a⋅(b×c)=c⋅(a×b)
(b) Show that the equation of the plane through three non-colinear points with position vectors a,b and c is
r⋅(a×b+b×c+c×a)=a⋅(b×c)
where r is the position vector of a point in this plane.
Find a unit vector normal to the plane in the case a=(2,0,1),b=(0,4,0) and c=(1,−1,2).
(c) Let r be the position vector of a point in a given plane. The plane is a distance d from the origin and has unit normal vector n, where n⋅r⩾0. Write down the equation of this plane.
This plane intersects the sphere with centre at p and radius q in a circle with centre at m and radius ρ. Show that
m−p=γn
Find γ in terms of q and ρ. Hence find ρ in terms of n,d,p and q.