Q204 / 270 · NDA 2025 (Phase 2) · Mathematics
For the following two (02) items:
Suppose $S$ is the sphere with the smallest radius that passes through the points $A(1, 0, 0)$, $B(0, 1, 0)$ and $C(0, 0, 1)$.
On which one of the following planes does the centre of $S$ lie?
Suppose $S$ is the sphere with the smallest radius that passes through the points $A(1, 0, 0)$, $B(0, 1, 0)$ and $C(0, 0, 1)$.
On which one of the following planes does the centre of $S$ lie?
- Correct answerA$x + y + z - 1 = 0$
- B$x + y + z + 1 = 0$
- C$3x + 3y + 3z - 1 = 0$
- D$3x + 3y + 3z + 1 = 0$
Solution
The sphere $S$ passes through the points $A(1, 0, 0)$, $B(0, 1, 0)$, and $C(0, 0, 1)$.
The equation of the plane containing these three points is given by the intercept form:
$\dfrac{x}{1} + \dfrac{y}{1} + \dfrac{z}{1} = 1 \Rightarrow x + y + z - 1 = 0$
Any sphere passing through $A, B$, and $C$ will intersect this plane in a circle, which is the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$.
For the sphere to have the smallest possible radius, this circumcircle must be a great circle of the sphere. This means the centre of the sphere must lie exactly on the plane containing the points $A, B$, and $C$.
Thus, the centre of the sphere $S$ lies on the plane $x + y + z - 1 = 0$.
Alternatively, $\triangle ABC$ is an equilateral triangle. Its circumcentre is the same as its centroid, which is $\left(\dfrac{1+0+0}{3}, \dfrac{0+1+0}{3}, \dfrac{0+0+1}{3}\right) = \left(\dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}\right)$.
Substituting $\left(\dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}\right)$ into the given options, only $x + y + z - 1 = 0$ is satisfied.
Answer: $x + y + z - 1 = 0$
The equation of the plane containing these three points is given by the intercept form:
$\dfrac{x}{1} + \dfrac{y}{1} + \dfrac{z}{1} = 1 \Rightarrow x + y + z - 1 = 0$
Any sphere passing through $A, B$, and $C$ will intersect this plane in a circle, which is the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$.
For the sphere to have the smallest possible radius, this circumcircle must be a great circle of the sphere. This means the centre of the sphere must lie exactly on the plane containing the points $A, B$, and $C$.
Thus, the centre of the sphere $S$ lies on the plane $x + y + z - 1 = 0$.
Alternatively, $\triangle ABC$ is an equilateral triangle. Its circumcentre is the same as its centroid, which is $\left(\dfrac{1+0+0}{3}, \dfrac{0+1+0}{3}, \dfrac{0+0+1}{3}\right) = \left(\dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}\right)$.
Substituting $\left(\dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}, \dfrac{1}{3}\right)$ into the given options, only $x + y + z - 1 = 0$ is satisfied.
Answer: $x + y + z - 1 = 0$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.