MCQ
Let $\lambda$ be an interger. If the shortest distance between the lines $x -\lambda=2 y -1=-2 z$ and $x = y +2 \lambda= z -\lambda$ is $\frac{\sqrt{7}}{2 \sqrt{2}},$ then the value of
$|\lambda|$ is ...... .
  • A
    $8$
  • B
    $4$
  • C
    $5$
  • $1$

Answer

Correct option: D.
$1$
d
$\frac{x-\lambda}{1}=\frac{y-\frac{1}{2}}{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{z-0}{-\frac{1}{2}}$

$\frac{x-0}{1}=\frac{y+2 \lambda}{1}=\frac{z-\lambda}{1}$

Shortest distance $=\frac{\left( a _{2}- a _{1}\right) \cdot\left( b _{1} \times b _{2}\right)}{\left| b _{1} \times b _{2}\right|}$

$b _{1} \times b _{2}=\left|\begin{array}{ccc} i & j & k \\ 1 & \frac{1}{2} & -\frac{1}{2} \\ 1 & 1 & 1\end{array}\right|$

$=\hat{ i }\left(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}\right)-\hat{ j }\left(1+\frac{1}{2}\right)+\hat{ k }\left(1-\frac{1}{2}\right)$

$=\hat{ i }-\frac{3}{2} \hat{ j }+\frac{\hat{ k }}{2}=\frac{2 \hat{ i }-3 \hat{ j }+\hat{ k }}{2}$

$\frac{b_{1} \times b_{2}}{\left|b_{1} \times b_{2}\right|}=\frac{2 \hat{i}-3 \hat{j}+\hat{k}}{\sqrt{14}}$

$\frac{\left(a_{2}-a_{1}\right) \cdot\left(b_{1} \times b_{2}\right)}{\left|b_{1} \times b_{2}\right|}=\left(-\lambda \hat{i}+\left(-2 \lambda+\frac{1}{2}\right)+\lambda \hat{k}\right)$

$\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\left(\frac{2 \hat{i}-3 \hat{j}+\hat{k}}{\sqrt{14}}\right)$

$=\left|\frac{-2 \lambda+6 \lambda-\frac{3}{2}+\lambda}{\sqrt{14}}\right|=\frac{\sqrt{7}}{2 \sqrt{2}}$

$\left|5 \lambda-\frac{3}{2}\right|=\frac{7}{2}$

$5 \lambda=\frac{3}{2} \pm \frac{7}{2}$

$5 \lambda=5,-2$

$\lambda=1,-\frac{2}{5}$

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