Answers>Further Mathematics>A Level>Article

Find the shortest distance between the lines r = (1, 5, 6) + y(-2, -1, 0) and r = (1, 7, -3) + z(2, 0, 4)

Vector joining the two lines = (1, 5, 6) - (1, 7, -3) = (0, -2, 9)Normal vector to the two lines = (-2, -1, 0) x (2, 0, 4) = (-4, 8, 2) = 2(-2, 4, 1)Hence, using the dot product, shortest distance = (0, -2, 9) "dot" (-2, 4, 1) / sqrt(2² + 4² + 1²) = -8 + 9 / sqrt(4 + 16 + 1) = 1/sqrt(21)

Answered by Abhinav H. • Further Mathematics tutor

3000 Views

Find the shortest distance between the lines r = (1, 5, 6) + y(-2, -1, 0) and r = (1, 7, -3) + z(2, 0, 4)

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

Solve the second order differential equation d^2y/dx^2 - 4dy/dx + 5y = 15cos(x), given that when x = 0, y = 1 and when x = 0, dy/dx = 0

What is De Moivre's theorem?

Find the general solution to f''(x)+ 3f'(x)+ 2f(x)=0

The curve C has parametric equations x=cos(t)+1/2*sin(2t) and y =-(1+sin(t)) for 0<=t<=2π. Find a Cartesian equation for C. Find the volume of the solid of revolution of C about the y-axis.