Question
Show that the lines $\vec{\text{r}}=(2\hat{\text{i}}-3\hat{\text{k}})+\lambda(\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}+3\hat{\text{k}})$ and $\vec{\text{r}}=(2\hat{\text{i}}+6\hat{\text{j}}+3\hat{\text{k}})+\mu(2\hat{\text{i}}+3\hat{\text{j}}+4\hat{\text{k}})$ are coplanar. Also, find the equation of the plane containing them.

Answer

We know that the lines $\vec{\text{r}}=\vec{\text{a}}_1+\lambda\vec{\text{b}}_1$ and $\vec{\text{r}}=\vec{\text{a}}_2+\mu\vec{\text{b}}_2$ are coplanar if
$\vec{\text{a}}_1\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=\vec{\text{a}}_2\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)$ and the equation of the plane containing them is
$\vec{\text{r}}\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=\vec{\text{a}}_1\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)$
Here,
$\vec{\text{a}}_1=0\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{b}}_1=\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}+3\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{a}}_2=2\hat{\text{i}}+6\hat{\text{j}}+3\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{b}}_2=2\hat{\text{i}}+3\hat{\text{j}}+4\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2=\begin{vmatrix}\hat{\text{i}}&\hat{\text{j}}&\hat{\text{k}}\\1&2&3\\2&3&4\end{vmatrix}$
$=-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{a}}_1\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=(0\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}})\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})$
$=0+4+3=7$
$\vec{\text{a}}_2\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=(2\hat{\text{i}}+6\hat{\text{j}}+3\hat{\text{k}})\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})$
$=-2+12-3=7$
Clearly, $\vec{\text{a}}_1\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=\vec{\text{a}}_2\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)$
Hence, the given lines are coplanar.
The equation of the plane containing the given lines is
$\vec{\text{r}}\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)=\vec{\text{a}}_1\cdot(\vec{\text{b}}_1\times\vec{\text{b}}_2)$
$\Rightarrow\vec{\text{r}}\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})=(0\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}})\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})$
$\Rightarrow\vec{\text{r}}\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})=7$
$\Rightarrow\vec{\text{r}}\cdot(-\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}})+7=0$

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