# Confused with equation of plane

The equation of plane:

$$Ax + By + Cz = d$$

Where $$A \hat i + B \hat j + C \hat k$$ is the normal vector $$\vec n$$ perpendicular to the plane.

The position vector $$\vec r = x \hat i + y \hat j + z \hat k$$

Then,

$$\vec r \cdot \vec n = d$$

This last equation says that a position vector to any point on the plane has the same projection along $$\vec n$$ because $$d$$ is a constant.

But I can't see that graphically. Different position vectors to the plane have different slopes, while the normal vector of the plane is always perpendicular and doesn't change, so how does every position vector to any point on the plane have the same projection along $$\vec n$$? Thank you.

• Yes, they have. It is the position vector of the orthogonal projection of the origin onto the plane. – Bernard Feb 21 '19 at 16:19
• Have a look at goo.gl/images/HjdXrF. – amd Feb 21 '19 at 23:37

I like to think of it in terms of orthogonality. Let $$(x_0,y_0,z_0)$$ be a point on the plane, and consider the position vector $$\vec r_0 = x_0 \hat\imath + y_0 \hat\jmath + z_0 \hat k$$. Since the point is on the plane $$\vec r_0 \cdot \vec n = d$$ too. So the plane equation becomes $$\vec r \cdot \vec n = \vec r_0 \cdot \vec n \implies (\vec r-\vec r_0)\cdot \vec n = 0$$ This says that the vector drawn from $$(x_0,y_0,z_0)$$ to $$(x,y,z)$$ is perpendicular to $$\vec n$$.