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skew lines for vectors...

Skew lines are defined as two lines in three-dimensional space that do not intersect and are not parallel, meaning they do not lie on the same plane. The document provides a mathematical representation of skew lines and includes an example problem to determine if given lines are skew, parallel, or intersecting. The conclusion of the example is that the lines in question are intersecting.

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karthikbollu
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7 views

skew lines for vectors...

Skew lines are defined as two lines in three-dimensional space that do not intersect and are not parallel, meaning they do not lie on the same plane. The document provides a mathematical representation of skew lines and includes an example problem to determine if given lines are skew, parallel, or intersecting. The conclusion of the example is that the lines in question are intersecting.

Uploaded by

karthikbollu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Skew Lines

Definition of Skew Lines


Two lines in three-dimensional space are said to be skew lines if they:

1. Do not intersect.

2. Are not parallel.

In simpler terms, skew lines are lines that do not lie on the same plane and never meet.
Unlike parallel lines, they are non-coplanar.

Mathematical Representation
Let the equations of two lines be given as:

Line 1: ⃗r1 = ⃗a1 + t⃗b1 , t ∈ R,


Line 2: ⃗r2 = ⃗a2 + s⃗b2 , s ∈ R,

where:

• ⃗a1 and ⃗a2 are position vectors of points on the respective lines.

• ⃗b1 and ⃗b2 are direction vectors of the respective lines.

• t and s are parameters.

The lines are skew if:

1. They do not satisfy the condition for intersection: ⃗r1 = ⃗r2 for some t and s.

2. Their direction vectors are not proportional: ⃗b1 ̸= k⃗b2 for any scalar k.

Example Problem
Problem: Determine if the following lines are skew, parallel, or intersecting:
x−1 y+1 z
Line 1: = = ,
2 −1 3
x−3 y−2 z+1
Line 2: = = .
1 2 −1

1
Solution
First, express the lines in parametric form:
   
1 2
Line 1: ⃗r1 = −1 + t −1 ,
   t ∈ R,
0 3
   
3 1
Line 2: ⃗r2 = 2 + s 2  ,
   s ∈ R.
−1 −1

Step 1: Check for parallelism


The direction vectors are:    
2 1
⃗b1 = −1 , ⃗b2 =  2  .
3 −1
Since ⃗b1 ̸= k⃗b2 for any scalar k, the lines are not parallel.
Step 2: Check for intersection
Equating ⃗r1 and ⃗r2 :    
1 + 2t 3+s
−1 − t =  2 + 2s  .
3t −1 − s
This gives three equations:

1 + 2t = 3 + s,
−1 − t = 2 + 2s,
3t = −1 − s.

Solve the first equation for s:

s = 1 + 2t − 3 = 2t − 2.

Substitute s = 2t − 2 into the second equation:

−1 − t = 2 + 2(2t − 2),

−1 − t = 2 + 4t − 4,
−1 − t = −2 + 4t,
3t = 1.
Solve for t:
1
t= .
3
1
Substitute t = 3
into the third equation:
( )
1
3 = −1 − s,
3
1 = −1 − s,

2
s = −2.
The solution gives consistent values for t and s. Thus, the lines intersect at:
     5 
( ) 1 2
1   1    34 
⃗r = ⃗r1 = −1 + −1 = − 3 .
3 3
0 3 1

Conclusion: The lines are intersecting.

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