Multivariable Calculus, 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 0-53849-787-4
ISBN 13: 978-0-53849-787-9

Chapter 12 - Vectors and the Geometry of Space - 12.1 Exercises - Page 815: 40

Answer

The sphere has center $(\frac{25}{3}, 1, -\frac{11}{3})$ and radius $\frac{2\sqrt {83}}{3}$ (See process for proof).

Work Step by Step

First, we give $P$ the general coordinates $(x, y, z)$. Then, using the formula for distance, the distance from $P$ to $A(-1, 5, 3)$ becomes: $|PA| =\sqrt {(x+1)^{2} + (y-5)^{2} + (z-3)^{2}}$ And the distance from $P$ to $B(6, 2, -2)$ becomes: $|PB| =\sqrt {(x-6)^{2} + (y-2)^{2} + (z+2)^{2}}$. The problem says that $|PA|$ is twice $|PB|$, and so $|PA| = 2|PB|$. Thus we have that: $\sqrt {(x+1)^{2} + (y-5)^{2} + (z-3)^{2}} = 2\sqrt {(x-6)^{2} + (y-2)^{2} + (z+2)^{2}}$ Squaring both sides we get: $(x+1)^{2} + (y-5)^{2} + (z-3)^{2} = 4((x-6)^{2} + (y-2)^{2} + (z+2)^{2})$ Expanding and distributing, we get: $x^{2} +2x+1 + y^{2}-10y+25 + z^{2}-6z+9 = 4x^{2}-48x+144 + 4y^{2}-16y+16 + 4z^{2}+16z+16$ Now we combine like terms and leave the constant term on the right side: $3x^{2}-50x + 3y^{2}-6y+ 3z^{2}+22z= -141$ To complete the square more easily, we divide both sides by 3: $x^{2}-\frac{50}{3}x + y^{2}-2y+ z^{2}+\frac{22}{3}z= -47$ Now we complete the square for each variable: $x^{2}-\frac{50}{3}x + \frac{625}{9} + y^{2}-2y+1+ z^{2}+\frac{22}{3}z+\frac{121}{9}= -47 + \frac{625}{9} +1 + \frac{121}{9}$ $(x-\frac{25}{3})^{2} + (y-1)^{2}+ (z+\frac{11}{3})^{2}= \frac{332}{9}$ This is the equation of a sphere with center $(\frac{25}{3}, 1, -\frac{11}{3})$ and radius $\frac{\sqrt {332}}{3}$ (or $\frac{2\sqrt {83}}{3}$).
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