Question 15 Marks
Find the shortest distance between the lines $\vec{r}=(\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+3 \hat{k})+\lambda(\hat{i}-3 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k})$ and $\vec{r}=(4 \hat{i}+5 \hat{j}+6 \hat{k})+\mu(2 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+\hat{k})$
Answer
View full question & answer→$\vec{a}_1=\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+3 \hat{k}$
$\vec{b}_1=\hat{i}-3 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$
$\vec{a}_2=4 \hat{i}+5 \hat{j}+6 \hat{k}$
$\vec{b}_2=2 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$
$\vec{a}_2-\vec{a}_1=3 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+3 \hat{k} $
$\vec{b}_1 \times \vec{b}_2=\left|\begin{array}{ccc} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 1 & -3 & 2 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array}\right| \\ =-9 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+9 \hat{k} $
$\therefore\left|\vec{b}_1 \times \vec{b}_2\right|=\sqrt{(-9)^2+3^2+9^2}$
$=\sqrt{3^2} \sqrt{3^2+1+3^2}=3 \sqrt{19}$
Required shortest distance
$=\left|\frac{\left(a_2-a_1\right) \cdot\left(b_2-b_1\right)}{\left|b_1 \times b_2\right|}\right|$
$=\left|\frac{-9 \times 3+3 \times 3+9 \times 3}{3 \sqrt{19}}\right|$
$=\left|\frac{9}{3 \sqrt{19}}\right|=\frac{3}{\sqrt{19}} \text { units }$
$\vec{b}_1=\hat{i}-3 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$
$\vec{a}_2=4 \hat{i}+5 \hat{j}+6 \hat{k}$
$\vec{b}_2=2 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$
$\vec{a}_2-\vec{a}_1=3 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+3 \hat{k} $
$\vec{b}_1 \times \vec{b}_2=\left|\begin{array}{ccc} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 1 & -3 & 2 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array}\right| \\ =-9 \hat{i}+3 \hat{j}+9 \hat{k} $
$\therefore\left|\vec{b}_1 \times \vec{b}_2\right|=\sqrt{(-9)^2+3^2+9^2}$
$=\sqrt{3^2} \sqrt{3^2+1+3^2}=3 \sqrt{19}$
Required shortest distance
$=\left|\frac{\left(a_2-a_1\right) \cdot\left(b_2-b_1\right)}{\left|b_1 \times b_2\right|}\right|$
$=\left|\frac{-9 \times 3+3 \times 3+9 \times 3}{3 \sqrt{19}}\right|$
$=\left|\frac{9}{3 \sqrt{19}}\right|=\frac{3}{\sqrt{19}} \text { units }$

