Remesh’s Maths Coaching

11. THREE-DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

Direction cosines and Direction ratios of a line.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑟 be a vector making angles 𝛼, 𝛽 and 𝛾 with the positive directions of the 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 axis
Let 𝑂𝑃
respectively. Then the angles are known as direction angles.
The cosine of the direction angles is known as direction cosines. It is denoted by 𝑙, 𝑚 and 𝑛.
i.e., 𝑙 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼, 𝑚 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 and 𝑛 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛾.
Note1:
Let 𝑟 = 𝑎𝑖̂ + 𝑏𝑗̂ + 𝑐𝑘̂ be a vector making angles 𝛼, 𝛽 and 𝛾 with the positive directions of the 𝑥, 𝑦
and 𝑧 axis respectively. Let 𝑖̂, 𝑗̂ and 𝑘̂ be the unit vectors along the 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 axis.

Angle between the 𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and 𝑟 is

𝑟. 𝑖̂ (𝑎𝑖̂ + 𝑏𝑗̂ + 𝑐𝑘̂). 𝑖̂ 𝑎( 𝑖̂. 𝑖̂) 𝑎(1) 𝑎
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 = = = = =
|𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟|
𝑟. 𝑗̂ 𝑏 𝑟. 𝑗̂ 𝑐
|||𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 = = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛾 = =
|𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟|
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
𝑙 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 = , 𝑚 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 = , 𝑛 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛾 = , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 |𝑟| = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2
|𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟|

Note1:

2
𝑎2
2
𝑏2 𝑐2
2
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 |𝑟|2
𝑙 +𝑚 +𝑛 = 2+ 2+ 2 = = 2=1
|𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟| |𝑟|2 |𝑟|

𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝒍𝟐 + 𝒎𝟐 + 𝒏𝟐 = 𝟏 …………… (1)
𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜶 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜸 = 𝟏 ……… (2)

Note2:
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜶 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜷 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜸 = 𝟐
𝑳𝑯𝑺 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜶 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜷 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜸

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= 𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜶 + 𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 + 𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜸

= 𝟑 − (𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜶 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜸) = 𝟑 − 𝟏 = 𝟐 = 𝑹𝑯𝑺
Note3:
Dr’s of :
𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 1, 0, 0
𝑦 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 0, 1, 0
𝑧 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 0, 0, 1
Dc’s of :
𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 1, 0, 0
𝑦 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 0, 1, 0
𝑧 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 0, 0, 1

Direction ratios and Direction cosines of a line joining two points:

Let 𝑃(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) and 𝑄(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 ) be any two points. Then the
direction ratios of the line joining the points P and Q are
〈𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 , 𝒛𝟐 − 𝒛𝟏 〉 and the direction cosines of P and
Q are:
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚 𝟏 𝒛𝟐 − 𝒛𝟏
𝒍= ; 𝒎= ; 𝒏= .
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |
|𝑷𝑸 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |
|𝑷𝑸 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |
|𝑷𝑸

Note4:

If three points A, B and C are collinear, then

𝐷𝑟 ′ 𝑠 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷𝑟 ′ 𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝐶

Straight lines

Equation of a straight line passing through a given point and parallel to a given vector.

𝐴𝑃 and 𝑏⃗ are parallel, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴𝑃 = 𝜆 𝑏⃗

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⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝜆 𝑏⃗ ⟹ 𝑟 − 𝑎 = 𝜆 𝑏⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ − 𝑂𝐴
𝑂𝑃
⃗ + 𝝀 ⃗𝒃 is the vector equation.
⃗ =𝒂
⟹𝒓

Cartesian Equation:
̂, 𝒂
⃗ = 𝒙𝒊̂ + 𝒚𝒋̂ + 𝒛𝒌
𝒓 ̂ , ⃗⃗⃗𝒃 = 𝒂𝒊̂ + 𝒃𝒋̂ + 𝒄𝒌
⃗ = 𝒙𝟏 𝒊̂ + 𝒚𝟏 𝒋̂ + 𝒛𝟏 𝒌 ̂

Cartesian equation is

𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
= = =𝜆
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
𝒙 − 𝒙 𝟏 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒛 − 𝒛 𝟏
⟹ = =
𝒂 𝒃 𝒄

Examples:

1. Find the vector and Cartesian equation of a straight lines passing through (5, 2, −4) and which is
parallel to the vector 3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 8𝑘̂ .

Vector Equation:
𝑎 = 5𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 8𝑘̂
⃗ =𝒂
𝒓 ⃗
⃗ +𝝀𝒃
̂ ) + 𝝀 (𝟑𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝒋̂ − 𝟖𝒌
⃗ = (𝟓𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝒋̂ − 𝟒𝒌
𝒓 ̂)

Cartesian Equation:
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) = (5, 2, −4)
< 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 > = < 3, 2, 8 >
𝑥 − 5 𝑦 − 2 𝑧 − (−4) 𝒙 − 𝟓 𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒛 + 𝟒
= = = = =
3 2 −8 𝟑 𝟐 −𝟖

2. Find the vector equation corresponding to the cartesian equation

𝑥+3 𝑦−1 2−𝑧 𝑥 − (−3) 𝑦 − 1 −(𝑧 − 2)
= = ⟹ = =
2 3 1 2 3 1
𝑥 − (−3) 𝑦 − 1 𝑧 − 2
⟹ = =
2 3 −1
𝑎 = −3𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂
⃗ + 𝝀 ⃗𝒃
⃗ =𝒂
VE is 𝒓
̂ ) + 𝝀 (𝟐𝒊̂ + 𝟑𝒋̂ − 𝒌
⃗ = (−𝟑𝒊̂ + 𝒋̂ + 𝟐𝒌
𝒓 ̂)

3. Find the cartesian equation corresponding to the vector equation

𝑟 = (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ − 2𝑘̂ ) + 𝜆 (𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂)
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) = (2, 3, −2)
< 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 > = < 1, 2, 3 >
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𝑥 − 2 𝑦 − 3 𝑧 − (−2) 𝑥−2 𝑦−3 𝑧+2

= = ⟹ = =
1 2 3 1 2 3

4. Find the Cartesian equation of the line which passes through the point (−2, 4, −5) and parallel to
𝑥+3 𝑦−4 𝑧+8
the line given by = = .
3 5 6
𝑥−𝑥1 𝑦−𝑦1 𝑧−𝑧1
Equation is = = ………. (1)
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) = (−2, 4, −5)

If two lines are parallel, dr’s are same.
< 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 > = < 3, 5, 6 >
(1) becomes:
𝑥 − (−2) 𝑦 − 4 𝑧 − (−5)
= =
3 5 6
𝑥+2 𝑦−4 𝑧+5
= =
3 5 6

Equation of a line passing through two given points

Let 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ be the position vectors of two points 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) and 𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 ) respectively.
Let 𝑟 be the position vector of a general point 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑃 and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 are parallel, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑃 = 𝜆 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 = 𝜆(𝑂𝐵 𝑂𝐴)

𝑟 − 𝑎 = 𝜆(𝑏⃗ − 𝑎)

⃗ =𝒂
𝒓 ⃗ −𝒂
⃗ + 𝝀(𝒃 ⃗ ) is the vector equation.

Cartesian Equation:

𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂, 𝑎 = 𝑥1 𝑖̂ + 𝑦1 𝑗̂ + 𝑧1 𝑘̂ , ⃗⃗𝑏 = 𝑥2 𝑖̂ + 𝑦2 𝑗̂ + 𝑧2 𝑘̂

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Cartesian equation is

𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
= = =𝜆
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑧2 − 𝑧1
𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒛 − 𝒛𝟏
⟹ = =
𝒙 𝟐 − 𝒙 𝟏 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒛 𝟐 − 𝒛 𝟏

5. Find the vector and cartesian equation of a line passes through the origin and (5, −2, 3).
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) = (0, 0, 0)
(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 ) = (5, −2, 3)

Cartesian equation is
𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
= =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑧2 − 𝑧1
𝑥−0 𝑦−0 𝑧−0 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
= = ⟹ = = .
5 − 0 −2 − 0 3 − 0 5 −2 3

Vector equation is:

𝑎 = 0𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 0𝑘̂ = ⃗0 , 𝑏⃗ = 5𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂
𝑟 = 𝑎 + 𝜆(𝑏⃗ − 𝑎)

𝑟 = ⃗0 + 𝜆[5𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂ − ⃗0] = 𝜆(5𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂)

6. Find the vector and cartesian equation of the line passing through (−1, 0 , 2) and (3, 4 ,6).

Cartesian equation is
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) = (−1, 0, 2)
(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 ) = (3, 4, 6)
𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
= =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑧2 − 𝑧1
𝑥 − (−1) 𝑦 − 0 𝑧 − 2 𝑥+1 𝑦 𝑧−2
= = ⟹ = = .
3 − (−1) 4 − 0 6 − 2 4 4 4

Vector equation is:

𝑎 = −𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂
𝑟 = 𝑎 + 𝜆(𝑏⃗ − 𝑎)
𝑟 = (−𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂) + 𝜆[3𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂ − (−𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂)]
𝑟 = (−𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂) + 𝜆(3𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂ + 𝑖̂ − 2𝑘̂)
𝑟 = (−𝑖̂ + 2𝑘̂) + 𝜆(4𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂)

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Angle between the lines

Vector Equation:
Angle between the lines 𝑟 = 𝑎1 + 𝜆𝑏⃗1 and 𝑟 = 𝑎2 + 𝜇𝑏⃗2 is
𝑏⃗1 . 𝑏⃗2
𝜃 = cos −1 (| |).
|𝑏⃗1 ||𝑏⃗2 |

Cartesian Equation:

Let 𝑏⃗1 = 𝑎1 𝑖̂ + 𝑏1 𝑗̂ + 𝑐1 𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗2 = 𝑎2 𝑖̂ + 𝑏2 𝑗̂ + 𝑐2 𝑘̂

𝑏⃗1 . 𝑏⃗2 = 𝑎1 𝑎2 + 𝑏1 𝑏2 + 𝑐1 𝑐2
|𝑏⃗1 | = 𝑎12 + 𝑏12 + 𝑐12 𝑎𝑛𝑑 |𝑏⃗2 | = 𝑎22 + 𝑏22 + 𝑐22

𝑏⃗1 . 𝑏⃗2 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟏 𝒄𝟐
𝜃 = cos −1 (| |) = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 || ||
|𝑏⃗1 ||𝑏⃗2 | 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
√𝒂 + 𝒃𝟏 + 𝒄𝟏 √𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐𝟐
( 𝟏 )

Note1: If two lines are parallel,

𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟏 𝒄𝟏
= =
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐

Note2: If two lines are perpendicular,

𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟏 𝒄𝟐 = 𝟎

Examples:
1. Find the angle between the pair of lines given by
𝑟 = 3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂ + 𝜆(𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂) and

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𝑟 = 5𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 𝜇(3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂)

𝑏⃗1 = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂, 𝑏⃗2 = 3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂
𝑏⃗1 . 𝑏⃗2 = (1)(3) + (2)(2) + (2)(6) = 3 + 4 + 12 = 19
|𝑏⃗1 | = √1 + 4 + 4 = 3

|𝑏⃗2 | = √9 + 4 + 36 = 7
19 19
𝜃 = cos −1 (| |) = cos −1 ( )
3×7 21

2. Find the angle between the pair of lines given by

𝑥+3 𝑦−1 𝑧+3
= =
3 5 4
𝑥+1 𝑦−4 𝑧−5
= =
1 1 2
The equations can be rearranged as:
𝑥 − (−3) 𝑦 − 1 𝑧 − (−3)
= =
3 5 4
𝑥 − (−1) 𝑦 − 4 𝑧 − 5
= =
1 1 2
The direction ratios of the lines are:
𝑎1 = 3, 𝑏1 = 5, 𝑏2 = 4
𝑎2 = 1, 𝑏2 = 1, 𝑐2 = 2
𝑎1 𝑎2 + 𝑏1 𝑏2 + 𝑐1 𝑐2
θ = cos−1 |( )|
√𝑎12 + 𝑏12 + 𝑐12 √𝑎22 + 𝑏22 + 𝑐22
(3)(1) + (5)(1) + (4)(2)
= cos −1 (|( )|)
√32 + 52 + 42 √12 + 12 + 22
3+5+8 16
= cos −1 (| |) = cos −1 ( )
√9 + 25 + 16√1 + 1 + 4 √50√6
16 16
= cos −1 ( ) = cos−1 ( )
√300 10√3
8 8 √3 8√3
= cos −1 ( ) = cos−1 ( × ) = cos −1 ( )
5√3 5√3 √3 15

Skew lines and shortest distance between two skew lines

The lines which are neither intersecting nor parallel is known as skew-lines.
Suppose a line is perpendicular to two skew lines, then the line is known as line of shortest distance
and the line segment between them is known as the shortest distance between the skew lines.

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Vector Equation:
Let 𝑟 = 𝑎1 + 𝜆𝑏⃗1 and 𝑟 = 𝑎2 + 𝜇𝑏⃗2 then the shortest distance between the lines is
(𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 ). (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 )
𝑑=| |
|𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 |

Cartesian Equation:

𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑙1 : = =
𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1
𝑥 − 𝑥2 𝑦 − 𝑦2 𝑧 − 𝑧2
𝑙2 : = =
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐3
Shortest distance between the lines,
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑧2 − 𝑧1
| 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 |
| 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 |
𝑑=
|√(𝑏1 𝑐2 − 𝑏2 𝑐1 )2 + (𝑐1 𝑎2 − 𝑐2 𝑎1 )2 + (𝑎1 𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏1 )2 |

Examples:

1. Find the shortest distance between the lines

𝑟 = (𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂) + 𝜆 (𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂) and
𝑟 = (2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂) + 𝜇 (2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂ )

𝑎1 = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗1 = 𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
𝑎2 = 2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗2 = 2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂

𝑖̂ ⃗
𝑗̂ 𝑘
⃗𝑏1 × 𝑏⃗2 = |1 −1 1| = 𝑖̂(−2 − 1) − 𝑗̂(2 − 2) + 𝑘̂ (1 − −2) = −3𝑖̂ + 3𝑘̂
2 1 2

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 Remesh’s Maths Coaching

|𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 | = √9 + 9 = √9 × 2 = 3√2

𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = (2 − 1)𝑖̂ + (−1 − 2)𝑗̂ + (−1 − 1)𝑘̂ = 𝑖̂ − 3𝑗̂ − 2𝑘̂
(𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 ). (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 ) = (−3)(1) + (0)(−3) + (3)(−2) = −3 − 6 = −9

(𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 ). (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 ) −9 3

∴ 𝑑=| |=| |= 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
|𝑏⃗1 × 𝑏⃗2 | 3√2 √2

2. Find the shortest distance between the skew lines:

𝑥+1 𝑦+1 𝑧+1
= =
7 −6 1
𝑥−3 𝑦−5 𝑧−7
= =
1 −2 1
Rearranging the lines, we have,
𝑥 − (−1) 𝑦 − (−1) 𝑧 − (−1)
= =
7 −6 1
𝑥−3 𝑦−5 𝑧−7
= =
1 −2 1

Shortest distance between the lines,

3 − −1 5 − −1 7 − −1
| 7 −6 1 |
| 1 −2 1 |
𝑑=
|√(−6 − −2)2 + (1 − 7)2 + (−14 − −6)2 |

4 6 8
|7 −6 1|
| 1 −2 1 | 4(−6 + 2) − 6(7 − 1) + 8(−14 + 6)
= =| |
|√(−4)2 + (−6)2 + (−8)2 | √(−4)2 + (−6)2 + (−8)2

4(−4) − 6(6) + 8(−8) −16 − 36 − 64 116

=| |=| |=| |
√16 + 36 + 64 √116 √116

= √4 × 29 = 2√29 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

Distance between parallel lines

Let 𝑟 = 𝑎1 + 𝜆𝑏⃗ and 𝑟 = 𝑎2 + 𝜇𝑏⃗ be any two parallel

lines. Then the distance between the lines is
⃗ × (𝒂
|𝒃 ⃗ 𝟐−𝒂⃗ 𝟏 )|
𝒅= .
⃗|
|𝒃

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 Remesh’s Maths Coaching

Let 𝑎1 and 𝑎2 be the position vectors of the points S and T. Draw TP.
Since the lines are parallel, they are coplanar.
Distance between the parallel lines = |𝑇𝑃|.
𝑆𝑇 and 𝑏⃗. Then
Let 𝜃 be the angle between ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑏⃗ × ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑆𝑇 = |𝑏⃗ ||𝑆𝑇
⃗⃗⃗⃗ |𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃(𝑛̂)

⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑆𝑇 = 𝑎2 − 𝑎1
𝑏⃗ × (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 ) = |𝑏⃗ |𝑃𝑇(𝑛̂) | ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑆𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑃𝑇
|𝑏⃗ × (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 )| = |𝑏⃗ | 𝑃𝑇
⃗ × (𝒂
|𝒃 ⃗ 𝟐−𝒂⃗ 𝟏 )|
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | =
∴ 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠, 𝒅 = |𝑷𝑻
⃗ |
|𝒃
E.g.: Find the distance between the lines
𝑟 = (𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂) + 𝜆 (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂) and
𝑟 = (3𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ − 5𝑘̂ ) + 𝜇 (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂)
Ans:
𝑎1 = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂ , 𝑏⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 6𝑘̂
𝑎2 = 3𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ − 5𝑘̂
̂ + 𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂
𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 2𝑖

𝑖̂ 𝑗̂ 𝑘⃗
𝑏⃗ × (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 ) = |2 3 6|
2 1 −1
= 𝑖̂(−3 − 6) − 𝑗̂(−2 − 12) + 𝑘̂ (2 − 6)
= −9𝑖̂ + 14𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂
|𝑏⃗ × (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 )| = √81 + 196 + 16 = √293

|𝑏⃗| = √4 + 9 + 36 = 7

|𝑏⃗ × (𝑎2 − 𝑎1 )| √293

∴ 𝑑= = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
|𝑏⃗| 7

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