Question 15 Marks
Show that the lines $\frac{x-1}{3}=\frac{y+1}{2}=\frac{z-1}{5}$ and $\frac{x-2}{2}=\frac{y-1}{3}=\frac{z+1}{-2}$ intersect and find their point of intersection.
Answer
View full question & answer→Given Cartesian equations of lines
$L_1=\frac{x-1}{3}=\frac{y+1}{2}=\frac{z-1}{5}$
Line $L_1$ is passing through point $(1, -1, 1)$ and has direction ratios $(3, 2, 5)$ Thus$,$ vector equation of line $L_1$ is
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(\hat{ i }-\hat{ j }+\hat{ k })+\lambda(3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k })$
And
$L _2: \frac{ x -2}{2}=\frac{ y -1}{3}=\frac{z+1}{-2}$
Line $L_2$ passing through point $(2, -1, 1)$ and has direction ratios $(2, 3, -2)$ Thus$,$ vector equation of line $L_2$ is
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(2 \hat{ i }+\hat{ j }-\hat{ k })+\mu(2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k })$
Now$,$ to calculate distance between the lines$,$
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(\hat{\imath}-\hat{ j }+\hat{ k })+\lambda(3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k })$
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(2 \hat{ i }+\hat{ j }-\hat{ k })+\mu(2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k })$
Here$,$ we have
$\overrightarrow{a_1}=1-j+\hat{k}$
$\overrightarrow{b_1}=3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k }$
$\overrightarrow{a_2}=2 \hat{\imath}+\hat{\jmath}-\hat{k}$
$\overrightarrow{b_2}=2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k }$
Thus$,$
$\overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}\hat{\imath} \hat{\jmath} \hat{ k } \\ 3 2 5 \\ 2 3 -2\end{array}\right|$
$=\hat{i}(-4-15)-\hat{j}(-6-10)+\hat{k}(9-4)$
$\Rightarrow \overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}=-19 \hat{ i }+16 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k }$
$\Rightarrow\left|\overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}\right|=\sqrt{(-19)^2+16^2+5^2}$
$=\sqrt{361+256+25}$
$=\sqrt{642}$
$\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}=(2-1) \hat{i}+(1+1) \hat{\jmath}+(-1-1) \hat{k}$
$\therefore \overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}=1+2 \hat{\jmath}-2 \hat{k}$
Now$,$
$\left(\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right) \cdot\left(\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}\right)=(-19 \hat{i}+16 \hat{\jmath}+5 \hat{k}) \cdot(\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}-2 \hat{k})$
$=((-19) \times 1)+(16 \times 2)+(5 \times(-2))$
$=-19+32-10$
$=3$
Thus$,$ the shortest distance between the given lines is
$d=\left|\frac{\left(\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right) \cdot\left(\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}\right)}{\left|\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right|}\right|$
$\Rightarrow d=\left|\frac{3}{\sqrt{642}}\right|$
$\left.\therefore d=\frac{3}{\sqrt{642}} \right\rvert\,$
As $d \neq 0$
Hence$,$ given lines do not intersect each other.
$L_1=\frac{x-1}{3}=\frac{y+1}{2}=\frac{z-1}{5}$
Line $L_1$ is passing through point $(1, -1, 1)$ and has direction ratios $(3, 2, 5)$ Thus$,$ vector equation of line $L_1$ is
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(\hat{ i }-\hat{ j }+\hat{ k })+\lambda(3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k })$
And
$L _2: \frac{ x -2}{2}=\frac{ y -1}{3}=\frac{z+1}{-2}$
Line $L_2$ passing through point $(2, -1, 1)$ and has direction ratios $(2, 3, -2)$ Thus$,$ vector equation of line $L_2$ is
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(2 \hat{ i }+\hat{ j }-\hat{ k })+\mu(2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k })$
Now$,$ to calculate distance between the lines$,$
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(\hat{\imath}-\hat{ j }+\hat{ k })+\lambda(3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k })$
$\overrightarrow{ r }=(2 \hat{ i }+\hat{ j }-\hat{ k })+\mu(2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k })$
Here$,$ we have
$\overrightarrow{a_1}=1-j+\hat{k}$
$\overrightarrow{b_1}=3 \hat{ i }+2 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k }$
$\overrightarrow{a_2}=2 \hat{\imath}+\hat{\jmath}-\hat{k}$
$\overrightarrow{b_2}=2 \hat{ i }+3 \hat{ j }-2 \hat{ k }$
Thus$,$
$\overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}\hat{\imath} \hat{\jmath} \hat{ k } \\ 3 2 5 \\ 2 3 -2\end{array}\right|$
$=\hat{i}(-4-15)-\hat{j}(-6-10)+\hat{k}(9-4)$
$\Rightarrow \overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}=-19 \hat{ i }+16 \hat{ j }+5 \hat{ k }$
$\Rightarrow\left|\overrightarrow{ b _1} \times \overrightarrow{ b _2}\right|=\sqrt{(-19)^2+16^2+5^2}$
$=\sqrt{361+256+25}$
$=\sqrt{642}$
$\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}=(2-1) \hat{i}+(1+1) \hat{\jmath}+(-1-1) \hat{k}$
$\therefore \overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}=1+2 \hat{\jmath}-2 \hat{k}$
Now$,$
$\left(\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right) \cdot\left(\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}\right)=(-19 \hat{i}+16 \hat{\jmath}+5 \hat{k}) \cdot(\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}-2 \hat{k})$
$=((-19) \times 1)+(16 \times 2)+(5 \times(-2))$
$=-19+32-10$
$=3$
Thus$,$ the shortest distance between the given lines is
$d=\left|\frac{\left(\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right) \cdot\left(\overrightarrow{a_2}-\overrightarrow{a_1}\right)}{\left|\overrightarrow{b_1} \times \overrightarrow{b_2}\right|}\right|$
$\Rightarrow d=\left|\frac{3}{\sqrt{642}}\right|$
$\left.\therefore d=\frac{3}{\sqrt{642}} \right\rvert\,$
As $d \neq 0$
Hence$,$ given lines do not intersect each other.

