# Equation of Plane - Intercept Form

Vectors are physical quantities which like other quantities have a magnitude but also a direction linked to them. In the three-dimensional Cartesian system, position vectors are simply used to denote the location or position of the point, but a reference point is necessary.

## Intercept form of the Equation of the Plane

There are infinite number of planes which are perpendicular to a particular vector as we have already discussed in our earlier sections. But when talking of a specific point only one exclusive plane occurs which is perpendicular to the point going through the given area. This can be denoted by this particular vector equation:

($\vec{r} – \vec{a}$). $\vec{N}$

Here,  $\vec{r}$ and  $\vec{a}$ denote the position vector

The denotation of this type of plane in a Cartesian equation is the following:

$A(x-{x}_{1}) + B (y- {y}_{1}) + C (z -{z}_{1}) = 0$

The direction ratios here are denoted by A, B, and C.

Also the equation of a plane crossing the three non-collinear points in vector form is given as:

$(\vec{r} – \vec{a}).[(\vec{b}- \vec{a}) × (\vec{c}- \vec{a})] = 0$

The equation of a plane in Cartesian form passing through three non-collinear points is given as:

Let us now discuss the equation of a plane in intercept form.

The general equation of a plane is given as:

Ax + By + Cz + D = 0 (D ≠ 0)

Let us now try to determine the equation of a plane in terms of the intercepts which is formed by the given plane on the respective co-ordinate axes. Let us assume that the plane makes intercepts of a, b and c on the three co-ordinate axes respectively. Thus, the coordinates of the point of intersection of the plane with x, y and z axes are given by (a, 0, 0), (0, b, 0) and (0, 0, c) respectively.

Substituting these values in the general equation of a plane, we have

Aa + D = 0

Bb + D = 0

Cc + D = 0

From the above three equations, we have

Substituting these values of A, B, c and D in the general equation of the plane, we have

This gives us the required equation of a plane in the intercept form.