Graphing Vectors, Lines, and Planes with Mathematica
Don’t forget to press Shift-Enter to execute each part. Watch out for upper- and lower-case.
Creating and Graphing Vectors
Define vector v = <0, 2, 1> by typing and executing v={0,2,1}
Define vector u = <1, 2, -1> the same way.
To graph vector v, we are going to graph it as a short line. Let’s use P(1, 1, 1) as our initial point.
The line though P in the direction of v in parametric form is: x = 1, y = 2t + 1, z = t + 1
To graph this, type and execute: ParametricPlot3D[{1,2t+1,t+1},{t,0,1}]
Since we will want to look at this graph later, go back and name it by typing vGraph= in front of it and
re-execute. Do the same thing for vector u and call it uGraph.
To find the normal vector type and execute: Cross[u,v]. Graph this vector and call it nGraph.
To see all of the vectors together use Show[vGraph,uGraph,nGraph].
If you want to be able to rotate the graph, type and execute <<RealTime3D` (note the backwards
apostrophe). Nothing will seem to happen. Re-execute the Show command. Click and drag over the
image to rotate it. Use Ctrl while dragging to zoom.
Creating and Graphing a Plane
The easiest way to create the graph of a 3D surface is to use the command
Plot3D[f(x,y),{x, xmin, xmax},{y,ymin, ymax}] where f(x,y) is the stuff that z equals.
For example, to graph the circular paraboloid z = x2 + y2, type and execute:
Plot3D[x^2+y^2,{x,-4,4},{y,-4,4}] (Why doesn’t it look round?)
Therefore, sometimes we have to solve for z before graphing. We can use Mathematica for the algebra:
Type and execute Solve[3x+5y==0,y] and observe what happens. (Note the double = )
Back to our vectors u and v. Type out the equation of the plane containing these two vectors and point P.
Use the Solve command to solve for z. (Don’t forget to use two = signs.)
Now, rather than re-typing this result, highlight and copy the expression following the arrow. Type the
Plot3D command Plot3D[f(x,y),{x,0,2},{y,0,2},PlotPoints->2]and paste the
expression for z in for f(x,y). PlotPoints helps it look better—we only need two points in each
direction for a plane. (Note: The domain for x and y places our point P(1,1,1) is at the center.)
Name this graph by typing plane= in front of the Plot3D command and re-execute it.
Show all of the graphs together using Show[vGraph,uGraph,nGraph,plane].
Graph this in default mode by typing and executing <<Default3D` (note the backwards apostrophe).
Nothing seems to happen. Re-execute the Show command. Notice now that you have a frame and axes.
To change the view point, go inside the last ] of the Show command and insert a , (comma). Now
select “3D ViewPoint Selector . . .” from the “Input” menu. Rotate the box to the angle you want to view
your graph. Select “Paste” and then re-execute the code. (Triple-click ViewPoint to select for changing.)
Exercise: Find the plane that contains the point (1, 2, 11) and the vector <2, 6, -1> and is orthogonal to
the plane 3x - 4y + z = 6. Graph all three objects to verify your result. (Hint: Graph in RealTime.)
Abby Brown - www.abbymath.com - 9/2003
