Answer:
The number of region in which N non-parallel lines can divide a plane is equal to N×( N + 1 )/2 + 1.
Explanation:
The attached figures show the maximum number of regions a line can divide a plane. One line can divide a plane into two regions, two non-parallel lines can divide a plane into 4 regions and three non-parallel lines can divide into 7 regions and so on.
When the nth line is added to a cluster of (n-1) lines then the maximum number of extra regions formed is equal to n.
Then the recurrence relation for the number of different regions formed when n mutually intersecting planes are
L(2) – L(1) = 2 … (i)
L(3) – L(2) = 3 … (ii)
L(4) – L(3) = 4 … (iii)
. . .
. . .
L(n) – L(n-1) = n ; … (n)
Adding all the above equation we get,
L(n) – L(1) = 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + …… + n ;
L(n) = L(1) + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + …… + n ;
L(n) = 2 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + …… + n ;
L(n) = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + …… + n + 1 ;
L(n) = n ( n + 1 ) / 2 + 1 ;
Therefore, the number of region in which N non-parallel lines can divide a plane is equal to
N × ( N + 1 )/2 + 1.