Archived May, 2026.

Parameterizing an oblique circle in 3D

mark

(10 points)

Let

  • F be the position in the alphabet of your first initial,
  • M be the position in the alphabet of your middle initial, and
  • L be the position in the alphabet of your last initial.

Parameterize the circle of radius 2 centered at the origin and contained in the plane

Fx-My+Lz=0.

Then, share a Desmos3D link illustrating your result using the techniques I used here:


Be sure to typeset your response! It might look something like this:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sqrt{10}}\langle 0,-3,1 \rangle + \frac{\sin(t)}{\sqrt{410}} \langle 20,-1,-3 \rangle.

You can cntrl-click or alt-click on that expression above to pull up the LaTeX code to generate it and you can use the proofreader to help out as well.

User 033

Name Circle Parameter | Desmos

My letters are REG (18,5,7)

My Equation: \vec{p}(t) = \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{349}}\langle 5,18,0\rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{125342}}\langle -126,35,329\rangle

User 023

My initials where DJL, and my parameterizing equation ended up being:

\vec p(t)=\frac{\cos (t)}{\sqrt{61}}\langle 0,6,5\rangle+\frac{\sin (t)}{\sqrt{3782}}\langle 61,10,-12\rangle

Here's my Desmos 3D link!: link

User 018

The equation of my plane is

5x - 13y + 19z = 0

The equation of a circle of radius 2 centered at the origin in this plane is

r(t) = 2 \cdot \left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{107670}}(-95,247,194)\cos t + \frac{1}{\sqrt{194}}(13,5,0)\sin t\right)

Here is a desmos link to my graph

User 004

Here's the link for my Parameterized Circle 3D Graph

My intitials were JGB and my equation was

My equation was

\vec p(t)= \left(\frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{17}}\right) \langle 2,2,-3\rangle + \left(\frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{9}}\right) \langle 1,2,2\rangle .
User 008

The equation of my plane would be

8x - 11y + 13z = 0.

From this I was able to get my normal vector

\mathbf{n} = \langle 8,\,-11,\,13 \rangle.

To find my \mathbf{u} vector I made

\mathbf{u} = \langle 0,\,13,\,11 \rangle.

based on

8(0) - 11(13) + 13(11) = 0.

x=0,
y=13,
z=11.
Now that I have my normal vector and my vector u I took the cross product to find my vector v:

\mathbf{n} \times \mathbf{u} = \langle -290,\,-88,\,104 \rangle.

Now I have vector u and vector v, I found the magnitude of both of them in order to normalize them:
|\mathbf{u}| = \sqrt{290},
|\mathbf{v}| = \sqrt{103725}.
So my final equation is

\mathbf{c}(t) = \frac{2\cos t}{\sqrt{290}} \,(0,13,11) + \frac{2\sin t}{\sqrt{103725}} \,(-290,-88,104).
User 001

My initials are NPC (14, 16, 3).

So my equation came out to be:

\left(\frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{113}}\right)\begin{pmatrix}8 \\ 7 \\ 0\end{pmatrix} + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{25093}}\begin{pmatrix}-21 \\ 24 \\ 226\end{pmatrix}
mark

@User 045
Do you have a link to what this looks like in Desmos 3D?

User 001

Added to original post!

User 034

my intials are JKG, so 10,11,7
the plane is:
10x-11y+7z=0
the equation becomes

\vec{p}(t) =2 \frac{\cos(t)}{\sqrt{99}}\langle 7,7,1 \rangle + 2\frac{\sin(t)}{\sqrt{26730}} \langle -60,39,147 \rangle.

heres what it looks like in desmos!

User 025

My initials are KMM and my equation is:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sqrt{2}}\langle 0,1,1 \rangle + \frac{\sin(t)}{\sqrt{918}} \langle -26,-11,11 \rangle.

Here is the link to my desmos Calc 3 | Desmos

User 017

My initials are JRH, (10,18,8), so my equation for the plane looks like:

10x - 18y + 8z = 0

I took \langle 10,-18,8\rangle as my normal vector \vec{n} from the plane. Then, I found \vec{u} as \langle 1,1,1\rangle since \vec{n}\cdot\vec{u}=0. To find \vec{v}, I computed \vec{u}\times\vec{n}=\langle -26,-2,28\rangle. Then, to set the vectors as unit vectors, I divided them by their magnitudes. Since we're looking to parameterize a circle of radius = 2, multiply \vec{u} and \vec{v} by 2cos(t) and 2sin(t) respectively.

Thus, the parameterization of the circle I found is:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{3}} \langle 1,1,1\rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{1464}} \langle -26,-2,28\rangle
User 010

My initials are MCS. In relation to the alphabet, the numbers are (13,3,19).

From this I got my normal vector which is essentially the same as the plane.

n = \langle 13,-3,19\rangle.

To get vector u I made

u = \langle 3,13,0\rangle.

Then I took the cross product of both vectors n and u to find vector v:

n \times u = \langle -247,57,178\rangle.

Then I found the magnitudes of both u and v.

\lVert\textbf{u}\rVert = \sqrt{178}
\lVert\textbf{v}\rVert = \sqrt{95942}

Therefore,

My equation is:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{178}} \langle 3,13,0\rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{95942}} \langle -247,57,178\rangle

The link to my graph is here:

User 031

My initials are OAF and my equation is

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sqrt{10}}\langle 0,-3,1 \rangle + \frac{\sin(t)}{\sqrt{410}} \langle 20,-1,-3 \rangle.

Desmos graph

User 006

Visit my graph at: Bennett Name Circle Desmos Graph

My name letters (BAM) are determined by the normal vector

\mathbf{p}(t) = 2\cos(t)\,\langle 2, 1, 13\rangle.

My Equations:

\mathbf{u} = \frac{\left\langle1,\,2,\,0\right\rangle}{\sqrt{5}}
\mathbf{v} = \frac{\left\langle-26,\,13,\,5\right\rangle}{\sqrt{\left(-26\right)^{2}+13^{2}+5^{2}}}

Circle determined by function \mathbf{c}(t)=2\cos\left(t\right)\mathbf{u}+2\sin\left(t\right)\mathbf{v}.

User 028

My initials are whn.

Vector \mathbf{n} = \langle 8,\;-23,\;14\rangle.
Vector \mathbf{u} = \langle 23,\;8,\;0\rangle.
Vector \mathbf{v} = \langle -112,\;322,\;593\rangle.

My equations:

\begin{aligned} \mathbf{u} &= \frac{\langle 23,\;8,\;0\rangle}{\sqrt{593}}, \\ \mathbf{v} &= \frac{\langle -112,\;322,\;593\rangle}{\sqrt{467877}}. \end{aligned}

Circle: c(t) = l(0) + 2\cos(t)\mathbf{u} + 2\sin(t)\mathbf{v}.

User 019

My initials are RSD (18,19,4)

My equation:p(t) = ((108/41)+57\cos t+12\sin t-(114/41)+54\cos t-54\sin t)

Mylink

User 015

My initials are FSV: (6,19,22)
My equation is:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{2 \cos t}{\sqrt{845}} (0, 22, 19) + \frac{2 \sin t}{\sqrt{744445}} (-845, -114, 132)

Desmos3D link: Circular Motion 3D Graph

User 029

My initials are AJD (1,10,4).
My equation is

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sqrt{116}}\langle 0,4,10 \rangle + \frac{\sin(t)}{\sqrt{27672}} \langle -116,-10,4 \rangle.

This is the link to my model: Parameterizing an obique circle | Desmos

User 040

Here is the link to the Desmos graph: Circle Name Graph | Desmos

My initials are: CMJ (3, 13, 10)

And the parameterizing equation is:

\vec{p}(t)= \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{178}}\langle 13,3,0\rangle+ \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{49384}}\langle -30,130,178\rangle
User 016

My initials are EVV and my equation is:

\vec{p}(t) = \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{2}}\langle 0,1,1 \rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{1968}}\langle -44,-5,5 \rangle.

Here is the link to my Desmos: Parameterizing circle in 3D | Desmos

User 011

My letters were ABA (1,2,1).

My equation was vector \mathbf{p}(t) = (-5,2,1)\frac {2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{30}} + (0,1,-2)\frac {2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{5}}.
This is my Desmos link: Circular motion in 3D | Desmos.

User 039
\vec{p}(t)=\frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{5}} \left\langle -2,0,1 \right\rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{945}}\left\langle -13,-10,-26 \right\rangle

Letters: BMD

User 013

My initials are SDT and my equation is:
\vec{p}(t) = \frac{2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{416}} \langle 0,4,20 \rangle + \frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{323232}} \langle -416, -76, 380 \rangle
Here's the link to my Desmos graph:

User 020

My initials are: SAV
So, my equation of my plane is

19x-y+22z=0

My normal vector is

\vec{n} = \langle 19, -1, 22\rangle

Then I found

\vec{u} = \langle 1,19,0\rangle

Then I took the cross product of the two vectors and got

\vec{v} = \langle -418,22,362\rangle

Then, to make them unit vectors I found the magnitudes of vectors u and v. Therefore, my parameterization of my circle is:

\vec{c}(t) = \frac{2cos(t)}{\sqrt{362}}\langle 1, 19, 0 \rangle+\frac{2\sin (t)}{\sqrt{306252}}\langle -418, 22, 362 \rangle

Here is the link to my graph:

User 007

My initials are ZSO.
This is my equation:

\vec p(t)= \left(\frac {2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{136}}\right)\langle 4,11,7\rangle +\left(\frac{2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{234732}}\right)\langle -298,-122,362\rangle .
User 012

My letters are (A, A, Z) \to \langle 1, 1, 26\rangle.

My equation is:

\vec{p}(t) = \left(\frac{2}{\sqrt{2}}\langle 1, 1, 0 \rangle\cos t\right) + \left(\frac{2\langle -26, 26, 2 \rangle\sin t}{\sqrt{26^{2} + 26^{2} + 2^{2}}}\right).
User 003

My letters were NIL (14,-9,12).

My equation ended up being

\vec p(t) = \frac{\cos t}{\sqrt{277}} \langle 9,14,0 \rangle + \frac{\sin t}{\sqrt{116617}} \langle -168,108,277 \rangle.

This is my desmos link :smiley:

User 009

My initials are JWC (10, 23, 3), giving me an initial equation of (10x - 23y + 3z = 0). This gave me a vector of (10, -23, 3).
After some looking through the textbook and notes, I got a u vector of (0, 3, 23), with a magnitude of \sqrt{538}. The cross product from my initial vector and the u vector was (-538, -230, 30), with a magnitude of \sqrt{343,244}. Finally, I derived my final equation:

\vec{𝑝}(𝑡)=\frac{2\cos\left(t\right)}{\sqrt{538}}\left(0,3,23\right)+\frac{2\sin\left(t\right)}{\sqrt{343244}}\left(-538,-230,30\right)

Here is the link to my Desmos page!

User 038

My Initials are DMH, so I used the equation

4x - 13y + 8z = 0

The parametrization of my circle is

\vec p(t) = \frac {2\cos(t)}{\sqrt{223}} \langle 0, -8, -13\rangle + \frac {2\sin(t)}{\sqrt{53457}} \langle 223, 52, -32\rangle

and this is the link to my graph in Desmos: Desmos Link.
:slight_smile:

User 032

My initials are ALR
c(t)=

\frac{2\cos t}{\sqrt{468}}\left(0,18,12\right)+\frac{2\sin t}{\sqrt{219492}}\left(-468,-12,18\right)
User 035

My initials are AES: (1, 5, 19)

My equation is:

c(t)=2\cos(t)\left(\frac{(-19,95,26)}{\sqrt{10062}}\right)+2\sin(t)\left(\frac{(-19,95,26)}{\sqrt{10062}}\right)

Desmos link:

User 041

My initials are JDW (10, 4, 23), which gives me an initial equation of:

(10x-4y+23z=0)

The parameterization of my circle is:

\frac{2\cos t}{\sqrt{29}}\langle -2,-5,0\rangle + \frac{2\sin t}{\sqrt{18705}}\langle 115,-46,-58\rangle

Here's the link to the graph in Desmos!

User 021

My initials are ASW: (1,19,23)

My equation is:

p(t)=\frac{2\cos (t)}{\sqrt{362}}\langle 19,-1,0\rangle + \frac{2\sin (t)}{\sqrt{322542}}\langle 23,437,-362\rangle
User 046

My Name: CAS (3,1,19)

My Equation:

p(t) = \left\langle\frac{2}{\sqrt{10}}\cos(t)-\frac{114}{\sqrt{3710}}\sin(t),\; \frac{6}{\sqrt{10}}\cos(t)+\frac{38}{\sqrt{3710}}\sin(t),\; \frac{38}{\sqrt{3710}}\sin(t)\right\rangle
mark

@User 047 Can you include a link to a 3D graph of your circle in the plane?

User 037
User 024

Initials: AJH (1,-10,8)

p(t)=\frac{2\cos (t)}{\sqrt{101}}\langle 10,1,0\rangle + \frac{2\sin (t)}{\sqrt{16265}}\langle 8,-80,-99\rangle
User 027

My initials are TCS, which corresponds to values (20, 3, 19).

The equation for my circle looks like this:

\vec p(t)=\frac{2\cos (t)}{\sqrt{171}}\langle 1,13,1\rangle+\frac{2\sin (t)}{\sqrt{131670}}\langle 250,1,-263\rangle

Here is the link to my Desmos graph: Circular Motion in 3D - Tyler Smith