Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2007 / ia / Paper 1 / 5B / ii / b / Solution

Substitute the signed displacement $\lambda =p-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{c}$ into the Pythagorean theorem relation from part (a):A genuine circle requires $|p-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{c}|<a$. Equality gives a tangent plane and a single point, interpreted as radius zero; a larger distance gives no intersection. Under the stipulated circle intersection, the radicand is positive. Its centre is $\mathbf{c}+(p-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{c})\mathbf{n}$.