Question
If the lines $\text{x}=5,\frac{\text{y}}{3-\alpha}=\frac{\text{z}}{-2}$ and $\text{x}=\alpha,\frac{\text{y}}{-1}=\frac{\text{z}}{2-\alpha}$ are coplanar, find the values of $\alpha.$

Answer

The lines $\frac{\text{x}-\text{x}_1}{\text{a}_1}=\frac{\text{y}-\text{y}_1}{\text{b}_1}=\frac{\text{z}-\text{z}_1}{\text{c}_1}$ and $\frac{\text{x}-\text{x}_2}{\text{a}_2}=\frac{\text{y}-\text{y}_2}{\text{b}_2}=\frac{\text{z}-\text{z}_2}{\text{c}_2}$ are coplanar if
$\begin{vmatrix}\text{x}_2-\text{x}_1&\text{y}_2-\text{y}_1&\text{z}_2-\text{z}_1\\\text{a}_1&\text{b}_1&\text{c}_1\\\text{a}_2&\text{b}_2&\text{c}_2\end{vmatrix}=0$
The given lines $\frac{\text{x}-5}{0}=\frac{\text{y}}{3-\alpha}=\frac{\text{z}}{-2}$ and $\frac{\text{x}-\alpha}{0}=\frac{\text{y}}{-1}=\frac{\text{z}}{2-\alpha}$ are coplanar.
$\therefore\ \begin{vmatrix} \alpha-5&0-0&0-0\\0&3-\alpha&-2\\0&-1&2-\alpha\end{vmatrix}=0$
$\Rightarrow\begin{vmatrix} \alpha-5&0-0&0-0\\0&3-\alpha&-2\\0&-1&2-\alpha\end{vmatrix}=0$
$\Rightarrow(\alpha-5)\Big[(3-\alpha)\times(2-\alpha)-2\Big]-0+0=0$
$\Rightarrow(\alpha-5)(\alpha-1)(\alpha-4)=0$
$\Rightarrow\alpha-1=0\text{ or }\alpha-4=0\text{ or }\alpha-5=0$
$\Rightarrow\alpha=1\text{ or }\alpha=4\text{ or }\alpha=5$
Thus, the values of $\alpha$ are 1, 4 and 5.

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