Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2001 / Paper 1 / 1 / d / Solution

Use the normal vector $\mathbf{N}=(-8,-3,-9)$ found from the edge vectors, rather than the normal vector to the origin-based linear span in part (b). The required plane satisfies $\mathbf{N}\cdot (\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{a})=0$. Since $\mathbf{N}\cdot \mathbf{a}=5$,After dividing by $|\mathbf{N}|=\sqrt{154}$, its equation has a unit normal. Its perpendicular distance from the origin is thus $\boxed{5/\sqrt{154}}$.