CSQ M12.11.

4
3D Geometry
Name of the student: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Name of the student: ………………………………………………………………………………………..

Batch Name: ……………………………………….Date of Allotment: …………………………….........

Date of Submission: ………………...........................

Obtained Marks/Total Marks: …………………………………………………………………………….

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Shortest Distance between lines

Short Answer Type Questions - II (3 marks each)
x −1 y − 2 z − 3 x − 4 y −1
1. Show that the lines = = and = = z intersect. Also, find their point of
2 3 4 5 2
inter–section.
[NCERT Exemplar]

2. Prove that the line through A(0, –1, –1) and B(4, 5, 1) intersects the line through C(3, 9, 4) and
D(–4, 4, 4).
[NCERT Exemplar]

3. Find the shortest distance between the following lines:

( ) (
r = iˆ + ˆj − kˆ + s 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ )
r = ( iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ ) + t ( 4iˆ + 2 ˆj + 2kˆ )
[CBSE Term–2 SQP 2022]

4. Find the shortest distance between the following lines:

( ) ( ) ( )
r = 3iˆ + 5 ˆj + 7kˆ +  iˆ − 2 ˆj + kˆ and r = −iˆ − ˆj − kˆ +  7iˆ − 6 ˆj + kˆ .
[CBSE Board Term II O.D. Set–III 2021–22]

5. The vector form of equation of two lines, l1 and l2 are

(
l : r = 2iˆ − kˆ +  −2 ˆj + kˆ
1 )
(
l2 : r = iˆ + 3kˆ + 2kˆ +  iˆ − 2kˆ )
Show that l1 and l2 are skew lines.
[CBSE Practice Question, 2022]

CSQ M12.11.4 1
Long Answer Type Questions (5 marks each)
1. Find the shortest distance between the lines
( ) (
r = 3iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ +  iˆ + 2 ˆj + 2kˆ and r = 5iˆ − 2 ˆj +  3iˆ + 2 ˆj + 6kˆ )
If the lines intersect, then find their point of intersection.
[CBSE SQP 2020-21]

CSQ M12.11.4 2
 CSQ M12.11.4
3D Geometry
Name of the student: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Solutions

Shortest Distance between lines

Short Answer Type Questions - II (3 marks each)
1. Here, lines are
x −1 y − 2 z − 3 x − 4 y −1
= = and = =z
2 3 4 5 2
Then, x1 = 1, y1 = 2, z1 = 3 and a1 = 2, b1 = 3, c1 = 4
Also, x2 = 4, y2 = 1, z2 = 0 and a2 = 5, b2 = 2, c2 = 1
If two lines intersect, then the shortest distance between them should be zero.
We know, shortest distance between two lines
x2 − x1 y2 − y1 z2 − z1
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2
=
( b1c2 − b2c1 ) + ( c1a2 − c2a1 ) + ( a1b2 − a2b1 )
2 2 2

4 −1 1 − 2 0 − 3
2 3 4
5 2 1
=
( 3  1 − 2  4 ) + ( 4  5 − 1 2 ) + ( 2  2 − 5  3)
2 2 2

3 − 1 −3
2 3 4
5 2 1
=
25 + 324 + 121
3 ( 3 − 8 ) + 1( 2 − 20 ) − 3 ( 4 − 15 )
=
470
−15 − 18 + 33 0
= = =0
470 470
 Two lines are intersecting.
For finding point of intersection
x −1 y − 2 z − 3
Let, = = =
2 3 4
 x = 2 + 1,
y = 2 + 2,
z = 4 + 3
Since, the lines are intersecting, the point (x, y, z) must satisfy the second line.
CSQ M12.11.4 3
  Putting the values of (x, y, z) in second equation of line, we get
2 + 1 − 4 3 + 2 − 1 4 + 3
= =
5 2 1
2 − 3 3 + 1 4 + 3
 = =
5 2 1
2 − 3
 = 4 + 3
5
 18 = –18
  = –1
So,
x = 2(–1) + 1 = –1
y = 3(–1) + 2 = –1
z = 4(–1) + 3 = –1
Thus, the lines intersect at point (–1, –1, –1).

2. Equation of line passes through the points A(0, –1, –1) and B(4, 5, 1) is,
x − 0 y +1 z +1
= =
4 − 0 5 +1 1+1
x y +1 z +1
 = =
4 6 2
Now another equation of line passing through C(3, 9, 4) and D–(–4, 4, 4) is,
x −3 y −9 z −4
= =
−4 − 3 4 − 9 4 − 4
x −3 y −9 z −4
 = =
−7 −5 0
The lines will intersect. If shortest distance between them is zero.
x2 − x1 y2 − y1 z2 − z1
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2
Now, shortest distance =
( b1c2 − b2c1 ) + ( c1a2 − c2a1 ) + ( a1b2 − a2b1 )
2 2

3 − 0 9 +1 4 +1
4 6 2
−7 −5 0
=
( 0 + 10 ) + ( −14 − 0 ) + ( −20 + 42 )
2 2 2

3 10 5
4 6 2
− 7 −5 0
=
100 + 196 + 484
3 ( 0 + 10 ) − 10 ( 0 + 14 ) + 5 ( −20 + 42 ) 30 − 140 + 110
= = =0
780 780
Hence, the two lines intersect each other.

CSQ M12.11.4 4
3. Here, the lines are parallel. The shortest distance

=
( ) (
( a2 − a1 )  b 3kˆ  2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ
=
)
b 4 +1+1

iˆ ˆj kˆ
(3kˆ )  ( 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ ) = 0 0 3 = −3iˆ + 6 ˆj
2 1 1

3 5
Hence, the required shortest distance = units
6
[CBSE Marking Scheme Term–2 SQP 2022]
The given, equation of lines are
( ) (
r = iˆ + ˆj − kˆ + s 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ )
r = ( iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ ) + t ( 4iˆ + 2 ˆj + 2kˆ )
Since, the direction ratios of the two lines are proportional, so the two lines are parallel.
The shortest distance, between the parallel lines is given by
( a2 − a1 )  b
d=
b
Here
(
a1 = iˆ + ˆj − kˆ )
a2 = ( iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ )

b = 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ
 Distance between parallel lines

( ) ( ) (
 iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ − iˆ + ˆj − kˆ   2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ
=   )
2 +1 +1
2 2 2

=
( ) (
3kˆ  2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ )
6
iˆ ˆj kˆ
1
= 0 0 3
6
2 1 1

=
1
6
(
−3iˆ + 6 ˆj )
1 1
( −3) + ( 6 ) =
2 2
= 45
6 6
3 5
= units
6

CSQ M12.11.4 5
4. Given lines are:
(
r = 3iˆ + 5 ˆj + 7kˆ +  iˆ − 2 ˆj + kˆ )
and ( ) (
r = −iˆ − ˆj − kˆ +  7iˆ − 6iˆ + kˆ )
Let the given lines be r = a1 + b1 and r = a2 + b2 Shortest distance between two lines

( a2 − a1 ) .( b1  b2 )
d=
b1  b2

 ( ) (
a2 − a1 = −iˆ − ˆj − kˆ − 3iˆ + 5 ˆj + 7kˆ )
= −4iˆ − 6 ˆj − 8kˆ
iˆ ˆj kˆ
b1  b2 = 1 −2 1
7 −6 1

= iˆ ( −2 + 6 ) − ˆj (1 − 7 ) + kˆ ( −6 + 14 )
= 4iˆ + 6 ˆj + 8kˆ
 b1  b2 = 42 + 62 + 82

= 16 + 36 + 64
= 116

Therefore, d =
( −4iˆ − 6 ˆj − 8kˆ ).( 4iˆ + 6 ˆj + 8kˆ )
116

−16 − 36 − 64 −116
= = = 116 units
116 116
[CBSE Marking Scheme 2022]

5. On comparing the given lines with

r = a1 + b1 and r2 = a2 + b2, we get
a1 = 2iˆ − kˆ and b1 = −2iˆ + kˆ ( )
a2 = iˆ + 3 ˆj + 2kˆ and b2 = iˆ − 2kˆ ( )
Now, a2 − a1 = (1 − 2 ) iˆ + ( 3 − 0 ) ˆj + ( 2 − ( −1) ) kˆ
or, a2 − a1 = −iˆ + 3 ˆj + 3kˆ
iˆ ˆj kˆ
b1  b2 = 1 −2 1 = i ( 4 − 0 ) − j ( 0 − 1) + k ( 0 − ( −2 ) ) = 4iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ
1 0 −2

( ) ( )(
 ( a2 − a1 ) . b1  b2 = −iˆ + 3 ˆj + 3kˆ . 4iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ = –4 + 3 + 6 = 5 )
CSQ M12.11.4 6
 ( )
Since, ( a2 − a1 ) . b1  b2  0 , then lines are not intersecting.
Also, given lines are not parallel because
0 −2 1
 
1 0 −2
Since, the given lines are neither parallel nor intersecting, hence skew lines.

Long Answer Type Questions (5 marks each)

1. We have a = 3iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ
1

b1 = iˆ + 2 ˆj + 2kˆ
a2 = 5i − 2 j
b2 = 3iˆ + 2 ˆj + 6kˆ
a1 − a1 = 2iˆ − 4 ˆj + 4kˆ
iˆ ˆj kˆ
b1  b2 = 1 2 2
3 2 6

= iˆ (12 − 4 ) − ˆj ( 6 − 6 ) + kˆ ( 2 − 6 )
b1  b2 = 8iˆ + 0 ˆj − 4kˆ = 8iˆ − 4kˆ

( b  b ) .( a
1 2 2 )
− a1 = 16 − 16 = 0
 The lines are intersecting and the shortest distance between the lines is 0.
Now for point of intersection
(
3iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ +  iˆ + 2 ˆj + 2kˆ )
(
= 5iˆ − 2 ˆj +  3iˆ + 2 ˆj + 6kˆ )
 3 +  = 5 + 3 …(i)
2 + 2 = –2 + 2 …(ii)
–4 + 2 = 6 …(iv)
Solving (i) and (ii) we get  = –2 and  = –4
Substituting in equation of the line we get
(
r = 5iˆ − 2 ˆj + ( −2 ) 3iˆ + 2 ˆj − 6kˆ )
= −iˆ − 6 ˆj − 12kˆ
Point of intersection is (–1, –6, 12)
[CBSE SQP Marking Scheme 2020-21]

CSQ M12.11.4 7