Class 11: Introduction to 3D Geometry

Coordinate Axes, Planes, Octants & Distance Formula

1. Coordinate Axes and Planes

Coordinate Axes Three mutually perpendicular lines intersecting at Origin $$O$$.
X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis
Coordinate Planes XY-Plane: Determined by X and Y axes ($$z=0$$)
YZ-Plane: Determined by Y and Z axes ($$x=0$$)
ZX-Plane: Determined by Z and X axes ($$y=0$$)
Octants The three coordinate planes divide the space into eight parts called Octants.

2. Coordinates of a Point

A point $$P$$is represented by an ordered triplet$$(x, y, z)$$

Location Coordinates Form
Point on X-axis $$(x, 0, 0)$$
Point on Y-axis $$(0, y, 0)$$
Point on Z-axis $$(0, 0, z)$$
Point in XY-plane $$(x, y, 0)$$
Sign Convention in Octants:

Octant I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Sign +,+,+ -,+,+ -,-,+ +,-,+ +,+,- -,+,- -,-,- +,-,-

3. Distance Formula

Distance between two points $$P(x_1, y_1, z_1)$$and$$Q(x_2, y_2, z_2)$$

Distance Formula $$PQ = \sqrt{(x_2 – x_1)^2 + (y_2 – y_1)^2 + (z_2 – z_1)^2}$$
Distance from Origin Distance of $$P(x, y, z)$$from Origin$$O(0,0,0)$$
$$OP = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}$$
Collinear Points Three points A, B, C are collinear if sum of any two distances equals the third distance (e.g., $$AB + BC = AC$$).