Perpendicular distance of P(x, y, z ) from XY, YZ and XZ planes respectively are 1, 2 and 3. Which of the following could be the coordinates of P?
(-2, 3, 1)
(2, -3, 1)
This question is related to the coordinates of a point in space. For that, let’s first understand how we find the coordinates of a point.
Consider a point P in the space. We drop perpendicular from P to XY plane. Length of this perpendicular will give us the modulus of Z-coordinate. Sign will be positive, if we are measuring the length in the direction of positive Z-axis from XY plane. Otherwise negative.
Similarly, perpendicular distance from XZ plane will give the modulus of Y-coordinate and perpendicular distance from YZ plane will give the X coordinate.
In the question, we are given these perpendicular distances. We are not given the direction in which these distances are measured.
Perpendicular distance from XY plane is given as 1. It means the Z coordinate can be ±1.
Similarly, we get Y coordinate equal to ±3 and X coordinate equal to ±2 . So the coordinates, can be (±2,±3,±1) . So, (-2, 3, 1) and (2, -3, 1) are correct.