Final answer:
The equation of the sphere centered at (2, -9, 1) with radius 2 is (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² + (z - 1)² = 4. The intersection of this sphere with the plane z=2 is a circle with the equation (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² = 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation of a sphere with center (h, k, l) and radius r is given by (x - h)² + (y - k)² + (z - l)² = r². For a sphere centered at (2, -9, 1) with radius 2, the equation is (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² + (z - 1)² = 2² or (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² + (z - 1)² = 4.
To find the equation of the intersection of this sphere with the plane z = 2, substitute z = 2 into the sphere's equation to get (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² + (2 - 1)² = 4. Simplifying this gives us (x - 2)² + (y + 9)² = 3, which is the equation of a circle in the xy-plane with center (2, -9) and radius √3.