Session-1

In 3D space, a line is determined unquiely in two ways as follows :-

1.A line passing through a given point and parallel to a given vector

2.A line passing through any two given points

Equation of line in various forms

When line passing through a given point and parallel to a given vector

1.Vector Form

The vector equation of a line which is passing through a given point A with

position vector is 𝒂 ⃗ is given by 𝒓

⃗ and parallel to a given vector 𝒃 ⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ where 𝒓
⃗ + 𝝀𝒃 ⃗ is

position vector of any arbitrary point P on the required line and λ is a variable parameter

⃗ is called the direction vector of the required line.

Here 𝒃

Fig-1
2.Cartesian Form

Form 1.

The Cartesian equation of a line which is passing through a fixed point A(x1,y1,z1) and D.Rs
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏
of its direction vector are a,b,c is 𝒂
= 𝒃
= 𝒄
. This is also called symmetric form.

Note

1. The above line will represent a line parallel to

(i)X-axis if b=c=0 and 𝒂≠0

(ii) Y-axis if c=𝒂=0 and b≠0

(iii) Z-axis if 𝒂=b=0 and c≠0

𝒙−𝟎 𝒚−𝟎 𝒛−𝟎 𝒙−𝟎 𝒚−𝟎 𝒛−𝟎
2.Equation of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are 𝟏
= 𝟎
= 𝟎
, 𝟎 = 𝟏
= 𝟎
and
𝒙−𝟎 𝒚−𝟎 𝒛−𝟎
𝟎
= 𝟎
= 𝟏
respectively.

Form2

The cartesian equation of a line which is passing through a fixed point A(x1,y1,z1) and D.cs of
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏
its direction vector are l,m,n is 𝒍
= 𝒎
= 𝒏

3.Parametric Form

The parametric equation of a line passing through a fixed point (x1,y1,z1) and D.Rs of its

direction vector are a,b,c are x=x1+λa , y=y1+λb , z=z1+λc where λ is a parameter.
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏
Note The parametric co-ordinates of any point on the line 𝒂
= 𝒃
= 𝒄
is

(x1+λa, y1+λb,z1+λc). For different values of λ , we will get different points.

When line passing through two given points

1.Vector Form

The vector equation of a line passing through points A(𝒂 ⃗ ) is 𝒓

⃗ ) and B(𝒃 ⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ −𝒂
⃗ + 𝝀(𝒃 ⃗)

⃗ = ⃗𝒃 + 𝝀(𝒃
Or 𝒓 ⃗ −𝒂
⃗)

2.Cartesian Form

The cartesian equation of a line passing through points A(x1,y1,z1) and B(x2,y2,z2) is
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏 𝒙−𝒙𝟐 𝒚−𝒚𝟐 𝒛−𝒛𝟐
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙𝟏
=𝒚 =𝒛 or 𝒙 =𝒚 =𝒛
𝟐 −𝒚𝟏 𝟐 −𝒛𝟏 𝟐 −𝒙𝟏 𝟐 −𝒚𝟏 𝟐 −𝒛𝟏
Collinearity of three points in space

Three points A(x1,y1,z1), B(x2,y2,z2) and C(x3,y3,z3) will be collinear in space if

1.Lines PQ and QR have the same D.Cs

2.Lines PQ and QR have proportional D.Rs

3.Point R lies on PQ i.e coordinates of R satisfy the equation of line PQ

Q.Find the equation of a line in vector and cartesian form which is passing through the
point (1,-2,2) and parallel to the line joining by (-1,2,1) and (1,2,2)

Q.If the points P(0,3,2),Q(1,2,-2) and R(4,-1,t) are collinear then t is equal to

(a) 14 (b)7 (c)-14 (d) -7

𝒙+𝟐 𝒚+𝟏 𝒛−𝟑
Q.Find the points on the line 𝟑
= 𝟐
= 𝟐
at a distance 3√𝟐 from the point (1,2,3)

Q.If the points P(1,2,3), Q(4,5,6) and R(7,8,9) are collinear then Q divides PR in the ratio :-

(a)2:1 (b) 1:2 (c)1:1 (d) 1:3

𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏
Q.If the line 𝒂
= 𝒃
= 𝒄
is parallel to z-axis then

(a) a=c=0 and b≠0

(b) a=b=0 and c≠0

(c) b=c=0 and a≠0

(d) a=b=c=0

Angle between two lines

1.Vector Form

L1: 𝒓 ⃗ 𝟏 + 𝝀𝟏 ⃗𝒃𝟏
⃗ =𝒂
L2: ⃗𝒓⃗⃗ = 𝒂
⃗⃗⃗ + 𝝀 ⃗⃗⃗
𝟐 𝟐 𝒃𝟐

Angle between L1 and L2 =Angle between vectors ⃗𝒃𝟏 and ⃗𝒃𝟐 i.e
⃗𝒃𝟏 ⃗𝒃𝟐
𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ( ⃗ ⃗ 𝟐|
)
|𝒃𝟏 ||𝒃

Condition of parallesim : ⃗𝒃𝟏 = 𝝀𝒃

⃗ 𝟐 for some scalar λ
Condition of Perpendicularity: ⃗𝒃𝟏 ⋅ ⃗𝒃𝟐 = 𝟎

2.Cartesian Form

L1: 𝒙−𝒙𝟏 = 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 = 𝒛−𝒛𝟏

𝒂 𝟏𝒃 𝒄 𝟏 𝟏
𝒚−𝒚𝟐
L2 : 𝒙−𝒙
𝒂 = 𝒃 = 𝒄
𝟐 𝒛−𝒛𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
̂ and 𝒂𝟐 𝒊̂ + 𝒃𝟐 𝑱̂ + 𝒄𝟐 𝒌
Angle between L1 and L2 = Angle between vectors 𝒂𝟏 𝒊̂ + 𝒃𝟏 𝒋̂ + 𝒄𝟏 𝒌 ̂
𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟏 𝒄𝟏
Condition of parallelism = =
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐

Condition of perpendicularity 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟏 𝒄𝟐 = 𝟎

Note.

1.The vector equation of a line passing through the point A(𝜶 ⃗⃗ ) and perpendicular to the
lines L1:𝒓
⃗ =𝒂 ⃗
⃗ 𝟏 + 𝝀𝟏 𝒃𝟏 and L2:𝒓
⃗ =𝒂 ⃗
⃗ 𝟐 + 𝝀𝟐 𝒃𝟐 is given by 𝒓
⃗ =𝜶
⃗⃗ + 𝝀(𝒂 ⃗ 𝟏×𝒂⃗ 𝟐 ).

2.The vector equation of a line passing through the point A(𝜶

⃗⃗ ) and parallel to the line

⃗ =𝒂
𝒓 ⃗ is given by 𝒓
⃗ + 𝝀𝒃 ⃗ =𝜶 ⃗.
⃗⃗ + 𝝁𝒃

Q.If the lines x=𝒂𝒚 + 𝒃 , z=cy+d and x=𝒂′ 𝒚 + 𝒃′ , z=dy+𝒅′ are perpendicular then 𝒂𝒂′ + 𝒄𝒄′ is

equal to (a)-1 (b)-2 (c)4 (d)-3

𝒙 𝒚 𝒛
Q.Find the cartesian equation of the line which is perpendicular to the lines 𝟐 = 𝟏 = 𝟑 and
𝒙−𝟑 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛+𝟓
= = and which passes through the point (1,2,3) and hence convert it to vector form.
−𝟏 𝟑 𝟓

Q.A line passes through (2,-1,3) and is perpendicular to the lines 𝒓 ̂) + 𝝀(𝟐𝒊̂ −
⃗ = (𝒊̂ + 𝑱̂ + 𝒌
̂) and 𝒓
𝟐𝑱̂ + 𝒌 ̂) + 𝝁(𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝒋̂ + 𝟐𝒌
⃗ = (𝟐𝒊̂ − 𝒋̂ − 𝟑𝒌 ̂. Obtain its vector equation.

𝟏−𝐱 𝟕𝐲−𝟏𝟒 𝐳−𝟑 𝟕−𝟕𝐱 𝐲−𝟓 𝟔−𝐳

Q.Find the value of 𝛌 so that the lines 𝟑
= 𝟐𝛌
= 𝟐
and 𝟑𝛌 = 𝟏
= 𝟓
are
perpendicular to each other.

Q.Find the equation of the line which passes through the point with position vector
𝟐𝒙−𝟏 𝟑𝒚+𝟓 𝟐−𝒛
̂) and which is at right angle to each of the line L1:
( −𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝑱̂ + 𝒌 = = and
𝟒 𝟐 𝟑
𝒙 𝒚 𝒛
L2:−𝟑 = 𝟐 = 𝟓 .

Q.Find the equation of the line passing through the point (1,2,3) and parallel to the line
𝟐𝒙−𝟑 𝟔−𝒚 𝟕𝒛−𝟑
𝟒
= 𝟑
= 𝟏𝟒
.
Q.Find the angle between lines
𝒙−𝟒 𝒚−𝟓 𝒛−𝟔 𝟑−𝒙 𝒚−𝟕 𝒛−𝟑
(i)L1: = = and L2: = =
𝟑 𝟎 𝟎 𝟐 𝟎 𝟎
𝟏
𝒙−𝟓 𝒚−𝟔 𝒛−
(ii)L1:x=5,y=4t+5,z=4t+3 and L2: = = 𝟐
𝟓 𝟎 𝟎

𝒙−𝟓 𝒚−𝟑 𝒛
(iii)L1: 𝟐
= 𝟐
= 𝟎 and L2:x=5,y=8 , z=6t

(iv)L1:2x=3y=-z and L2:6x=-y=-4z

Intersection of two lines in space

𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏 𝒙−𝒙𝟐 𝒚−𝒚𝟐 𝒛−𝒛𝟐
Let L1: 𝒂𝟏
= 𝒃𝟏
= 𝒄𝟏
----(1) and L2: 𝒂𝟐
= 𝒃𝟐
= 𝒄𝟐
----(2) be two given lines in space.

Now in order to find whether these lines intersect or not, we have to write the equations of

lines in parametric form as L1:x=x1+t𝒂𝟏 , y=y1+t𝒃𝟏 , z=z1+tc2 and L2:x=x2+s𝒂𝟐 ,y=y2+sb2,

z=z2+sc2 where t and s are two parameters . Now if these two lines are intersecting then
𝒙𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝟏 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒔𝒂𝟐
{𝒚𝟏 + 𝒕𝒃𝟏 = 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒔𝒃𝟐
𝒛𝟏 + 𝒕𝒄𝟏 = 𝒛𝟐 + 𝒔𝒄𝟐
For some particular value of t and s.in other words, If this system of equations in t and s

are consistent then lines will be intersecting and lines will be non-intersecting if this

system of equations are inconsistent I.e,

Solve any two of these three equations , if the values of s and t so obtained satisfy the

third remaining equation then lines will be intersecting otherwise non-intersecting.

For finding the point of intersection, put the value of t or s in parametric form of L1 or L2

respectively.
𝒙−𝟏 𝒚+𝟏 𝒛−𝟏 𝒙+𝟐 𝒚−𝟏 𝒛+𝟏
Q.Show that the lines 𝟑
= 𝟐
= 𝟓
and 𝟒 = 𝟑
= −𝟐
do not intersect.
𝒙−𝟏 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛−𝟑 𝒙−𝟒 𝒚−𝟏
Q.Show that the lines 𝟐
= 𝟑
= 𝟒
and 𝟓 = 𝟐
= 𝒛 intersect. Find the point of
intersection.
̂) + 𝒕(𝒊̂ − 𝑱̂ + 𝒌
⃗ = (𝒊̂ + 𝑱̂ + 𝒌
Q.Show that the lines 𝒓 ̂) and 𝒓 ̂) + 𝒔(𝟒𝑱̂ − 𝟏𝟔𝒌
⃗ = (𝟑𝒊̂ − 𝒌 ̂)

intersect and find the position vector of their point of intersection

 𝒙+𝟏 𝒚+𝟑 𝒛+𝟓 𝒙−𝟐 𝒚−𝟒 𝒛−𝟔
Q.Show that the lines 𝟑
= 𝟓
= 𝟕
and 𝟏 = 𝟑
= 𝟓
intersect and find their point of
intersection.

Distance of a point from a line

By distance of a point from a line , we mean the perpendicular or shorest distance of the
point from the line.

1.Cartesian Form
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏
Let P(x0,y0,z0) be a given point and L: = = be a given line. Let’s draw a
𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
perpendicular PN from P on N then N will lie on line L. So co-ordinates of N will be of the
form (x1+t𝒂,y1+tb,z1+tc) for some parameter t. Now DRs of line PN are

⟨𝒙𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂 − 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒕𝒃 − 𝒚𝟎 , 𝒛𝟏 + 𝒕𝒄 − 𝒛𝟎 ⟩ and DRs of given line are ⟨𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄⟩. Since PN⊥L so
𝒂(𝒙𝟎 −𝒙𝟏 )+𝒃(𝒚𝟎 −𝒚𝑰 )+𝒄(𝒛𝟎 −𝒛𝟏 )
𝒂(𝒙𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂 − 𝒙𝟎 ) + 𝒃(𝒚𝟏 + 𝒕𝒃 − 𝒚𝟎 ) + 𝒄(𝒛𝟏 + 𝒕𝒄 − 𝒛𝟎 ) = 𝟎 or, 𝒕 = [ ].
𝒂𝟐 +𝒃𝟐 +𝒄𝟐
Now put the value of t in co-ordinates of N to get N and required perpendicular
distance=Distance between P and N.

2.Vector Form

Let P(𝜶
⃗⃗ ) be a given point and L:𝒓
⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ be the given line. Let’s draw a perpendicular PN
⃗ + 𝒕𝒃
on the line L then N will lie on L. So position vector of N can be taken as 𝒂 ⃗ for some
⃗ + 𝒕𝒃
⃗ and PN⊥L so PN⊥ 𝒃
parameter t. Since the given line is parallel to vector 𝒃 ⃗ or

(𝒂 ⃗
⃗⃗ )⋅𝒃
⃗ −𝜶
⃗ −𝜶
⃗ + 𝒕𝒃
(𝒂 ⃗ = 𝟎 or t=−
⃗⃗ ) ⋅ 𝒃 𝟐 . Now to get position vector of N, put the value of t in
⃗|
|𝒃

⃗ . Now required perpendicular distance= distance between P and N.

⃗ + 𝒕𝒃
𝒂

Remark

To find the image P’ of P about the given line L, find the co-orfdinates of N and then use mid
point formula as N is the mid point of line PP’.
 𝒙−𝟔 𝒚−𝟕 𝒛−𝟕
Q.Find the distance of the point (1,2,3) from the line 𝟐
= 𝟐
= −𝟑
.

̂) to the line
Q.Find the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point (𝟐𝒊̂ − 𝒋̂ + 𝟓𝒌
̂) + 𝒕(𝟏𝟎𝒊̂ − 𝟒𝒋̂ − 𝟏𝟏𝒌
⃗𝒓 = (𝟏𝟏𝒊̂ − 𝟐𝑱̂ + 𝟖𝒌 ̂) and find also the length of the perpendicular.
𝒙 𝒚−𝟏 𝒛−𝟐
Q.Find the image of the point (1,6,3) in the line 𝟏 = 𝟐
= 𝟑
. Also write the equation of the
line joining the given point and its image . Also find the length of the segment joining the
given point and its image.
𝒙+𝟐 𝒚−𝟏 𝒛
Q.The base of a triangle is 5 unts long and has the equation = = . Find the area of
𝟐 𝟏 𝟒
the triangle if its remaining vertex is (1,-1,2).
𝒙−𝟔 𝒚−𝟕 𝒛−𝟕
Q.If the length of the perpendicular drawn from (1,2,3) to the line 𝟑
= 𝟐
= −𝟐
is k then k
then k is divisible by :- (a)6 (b)5 (c)8 (d)7

Q.A line passing through the point (1,1,1) form a triangle of area √𝒃 with the lines x=y=z and
𝒚 𝒛
x= 𝟐 = 𝟑. If the point of intersection of the line with the second line be (2,4,6) then find b2.

𝒙 𝒚−𝟏 𝒛+𝟏 𝟑
Q.If the length of the perpendicular from the point (𝜷, 𝟎, 𝜷) , 𝜷 ≠ 𝟎 to the 𝟏 = 𝟎
= −𝟏
is √𝟐
then 𝜷 is equal to :- (a)2 (b)-1 (c)-2 (d)1
𝒙+𝟑 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛
Q.The length of the perpendicular from the point (2,-1,4) on the straight line = = is
𝟏𝟎 −𝟕 𝟏
𝟓
then 𝝀 equals to :- (a)4 (b)9 (c)3 (d)2
√𝝀
𝒙+𝟏 𝒚−𝟑 𝒛
Q.If (f,g,h) is the image of the point (1,2,-3) in the line 𝟐
= −𝟐
= −𝟏 then f+g-h is equal to:-

(a)3 (b)0 (c)4 (d)5

Q.If the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point (1,0,3) on a line passing through
𝟓 𝟕 𝟏𝟕
(a,7,1) is ( , , ) then a is equal to ---------
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

𝒙+𝟏
Q.If the length of the perpendicular drawn from the point P(b,4,2), b>0 on the line 𝟐
=
𝒚−𝟑 𝒛−𝟏
𝟑
= −𝟏
is 2√𝟔 and Q(𝜶𝟏 , 𝜶𝟐 , 𝜶𝟑 ) is the image of P in this line then find b+∑𝟑𝒊=𝟏 𝜶𝒊 .

Q.The distance of the point A(𝒂 ⃗ = ⃗𝒃 + 𝒕𝒄

⃗ ) from the line 𝒓 ⃗ is equal to
⃗ −𝒂
|(𝒃 ⃗ )×𝒄
⃗| ⃗ −𝒂
|(𝒃 ⃗ )⋅𝒄
⃗| ⃗ −𝒃)⋅𝒄
(𝒂 ⃗⃗
(a) (b) ⃗ −𝒂
(c)|(𝒃 ⃗ ) + ( |𝒄|𝟐 ) 𝒄⃗ | (d) none of these
⃗|
|𝒄 |𝒄
⃗| ⃗

Distance between two lines

1.Distance between two Parallel lines

(a)Cartesian Form
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏 𝒙−𝒙𝟐 𝒚−𝒚𝟐 𝒛−𝒛𝟐 𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
Let L1: 𝒂𝟏
= 𝒃𝟏
= 𝒄𝟏
and L2:𝒂𝟐
= 𝒃𝟐
= 𝒄𝟐
where 𝒂𝟏 = 𝒃𝟏 = 𝒄𝟏 = 𝝀(𝝀 ≠ 𝟎) be two
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
parallel lines in space. Now clearly Distance between L1 and L2=Distance of the point

(x1,y1,z1) from L2= Distance of the point (x2,y2,z2) from L1 .

(b)Vector Form

Perpendicular or shorest distance between two parallel lines L1:𝒓

⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ and
⃗ 𝟏 + 𝒕𝒃
⃗
L2:𝒓
⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ is |(𝒂⃗𝟐−𝒂⃗𝟏 )×𝒃|
⃗ 𝟐 + 𝒔𝒃 ⃗ |𝒃|

Skew lines

In 3d space, two lines are said to be skew lines if they are non-parallel and non-

intersecting. Cearly two skew lines can not lie in the same plane.
 Line of shortest distance

2.Distance between two skew lines

(a)Cartesian Form
𝒙−𝒙𝟏 𝒚−𝒚𝟏 𝒛−𝒛𝟏 𝒙−𝒙𝟐 𝒚−𝒚𝟐 𝒛−𝒛𝟐
Let L1 :𝒂𝟏
= 𝒃𝟏
= 𝒄𝟏
and L2: 𝒂𝟐
= 𝒃𝟐
= 𝒄𝟐
be two skew lines in space.The
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙𝟏 𝒚𝟐 −𝒚𝟏 𝒛𝟐 −𝒛𝟏
| 𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟏 𝒄𝟏 |
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐
perpendicular or shorest distance between L1 and L2 = 𝟏
[(𝒃𝟏 𝒄𝟐 −𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟏 )𝟐 +(𝒄𝟏 𝒂𝟐 −𝒄𝟐 𝒂𝟏 )𝟐 +(𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟐 −𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝒊 )𝟐 ]𝟐

Note
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒛𝒛 − 𝒛𝟏
If above lines L1 and L2 are intersecting or coplanar then | 𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟏 𝒄𝟏 | = 𝟎
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐
(b)Vector Form

Let L1:𝒓
⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ 𝟏 and L2:𝒓
⃗ 𝟏 + 𝒕𝒃 ⃗ =𝒂 ⃗ 𝟐 be two skew lines in space then shortest distance
⃗ 𝟐 + 𝒔𝒃
⃗ 𝟏 )⋅(𝒃
⃗ 𝟐 −𝒂
|(𝒂 ⃗ 𝟏 ×𝒃
⃗ 𝟐 )|
between them is ⃗ ⃗
|𝒃𝟏 ×𝒃𝟐 |

Note

If above two lines L1 and L2 will be intersecting or coplanar if (𝒂 ⃗ 𝟏 × ⃗𝒃𝟐 ) = 𝟎

⃗ 𝟏 ) ⋅ (𝒃
⃗ 𝟐−𝒂
Line of shortest distance

Take M≡(𝒙𝟏 + 𝝀𝒂𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 + 𝝀𝒃𝟏 , 𝒛𝟏 + 𝝀𝒄𝟏 ) and L≡(𝒙𝟐 + 𝝁𝒂𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐 + 𝝁𝒃𝟐 , 𝒛𝟐 + 𝝁𝒄𝟐 ) for some

parameters λ and μ. Now DRs of line LM are ⟨𝒙, +𝝀𝒂𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝝁𝒂𝟐 , 𝒚, +𝝀𝒃𝟏 − 𝒚𝟐 − 𝝁𝒃𝟐 , 𝒛𝟏 +
𝝀𝒄𝟏 − 𝒛𝟐 − 𝝁𝒄𝟐 ⟩ =⟨𝒂𝟎 , 𝒃𝟎 , 𝒄𝟎 ⟩ (say). Since LM is perpendicular to both L1 and L2 so 𝒂𝟎 𝒂𝟏 +
𝒃𝟎 𝒃𝟏 + 𝒄𝟎 𝒄𝟏 = 𝟎----(1) and 𝒂𝟎 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟎 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟎 𝒄𝟐 = 𝟎 ----(2). Now solving equations (1) and
(2) , we will obtain the value of λ and μ . After putting the value of λ and μ in the co-ordinates of
L and M . Now write the equation of line LM which is the equation of line of shorest distance.

̂) and
Q.Find the shorest distance between the lines L1:⃗⃗𝒓 = (𝟒𝒊̂ − 𝑱̂) + 𝝀(𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝑱̂ − 𝟑𝒌
̂) + 𝝁(𝟐𝒍̂ + 𝟒𝑱̂ − 𝟓𝒌
⃗ = (𝒊̂ − 𝑱̂ + 𝟐𝒌
L2 : 𝒓 ̂ ).

𝒙−𝟏 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛−𝟑 𝒙−⋅𝟐 𝒚−𝟒 𝒛−𝟓

Q.Find the shorest distance between the lines 𝑳𝟏 : 𝟓
=
𝟑
=
𝟒
and 𝑳𝟐 : 𝟑 =
𝟒
=
𝟓

Q.Find the shorest distance and the vector equation of line of shorest distance between the lines
̂) + 𝝀(𝟑𝒊̂ − 𝑱̂ + 𝒌
⃗ = (𝟑𝒊̂ + 𝟖𝑱̂ + 𝟑𝒌
given by 𝑳𝟏 : 𝒓 ̂) and 𝑳𝟐 : 𝒓 ̂)𝝁(−𝟑𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝑱̂ +
⃗ = (−𝟑𝒊̂ − 𝟕𝑱̂ + 𝟔𝒌
̂)
𝟒𝒌
̂) + 𝝀(𝟐𝒊̂ + 𝑱̂ + 𝟐𝒌
Q.Find the shorest distance between lines L1:⃗⃗𝒓 = (𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝒋̂ + 𝒌 ̂) and L2: 𝒓
⃗ =
̂) + 𝝁(𝟐𝒋̂ + 𝑱̂ + 𝟐𝒌
(𝟐𝑰̂ − 𝑱̂ − 𝒌 ̂)

Q.Find the equation of a line which passes through the point (1,1,1) and intersects the lines
𝒙−𝟏 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛−𝟑 𝒙+𝟐 𝒚−𝟑 𝒛+𝟏
𝟐
=
𝟑
=
𝟒
and 𝟏 =
𝟐
=
𝟒
𝒕
Q.if the straight lines x=-1+s, y=3-λs, z=1+λs and x=𝟐 , y=1+t, z=2-t with parameters s and t
respectively, are coplanar then find λ.
Q,Find the equation of the line drawn through the point (1,0,2) to meet at right angles the line
𝒙+𝟏 𝒚−𝟐 𝒛+𝟏
𝟑
= −𝟐 = −𝟏 .
𝒙 𝒚 𝒛
Q.Find the equation of line through (1,2,-1) and perpendicular to each of the lines 𝟏 = 𝟎 = −𝟏
𝒙 𝒚 𝒛
and 𝟑 = 𝟒 = 𝟓