Question 21 of 25intermediate🔧 ApplyShort Answer4 marks

Find the angle between the lines whose direction ratios are a,b,ca, b, c and b−c,c−a,a−bb-c, c-a, a-b.

Correct Answer

Let the direction ratios of the two lines be a1=a,b1=b,c1=ca_1 = a, b_1 = b, c_1 = c and a2=b−c,b2=c−a,c2=a−ba_2 = b-c, b_2 = c-a, c_2 = a-b.

The angle θ\theta between two lines with direction ratios a1,b1,c1a_1, b_1, c_1 and a2,b2,c2a_2, b_2, c_2 is given by the formula:

cos⁡θ=∣a1a2+b1b2+c1c2a12+b12+c12a22+b22+c22∣\cos \theta = \left| \frac{a_1 a_2 + b_1 b_2 + c_1 c_2}{\sqrt{a_1^2 + b_1^2 + c_1^2} \sqrt{a_2^2 + b_2^2 + c_2^2}} \right|

Step 1: Calculate the numerator. Substitute the direction ratios into the term a1a2+b1b2+c1c2a_1 a_2 + b_1 b_2 + c_1 c_2:

a(b−c)+b(c−a)+c(a−b)a(b-c) + b(c-a) + c(a-b)

Step 2: Simplify the expression.

=ab−ac+bc−ab+ac−bc= ab - ac + bc - ab + ac - bc =(ab−ab)+(bc−bc)+(ac−ac)= (ab - ab) + (bc - bc) + (ac - ac) =0= 0

Step 3: Determine the angle. Since the numerator is 0, we have:

cos⁡θ=∣0a12+b12+c12a22+b22+c22∣=0\cos \theta = \left| \frac{0}{\sqrt{a_1^2 + b_1^2 + c_1^2} \sqrt{a_2^2 + b_2^2 + c_2^2}} \right| = 0

As stated in the context, if a1a2+b1b2+c1c2=0a_1 a_2 + b_1 b_2 + c_1 c_2 = 0, the lines are perpendicular (θ=90∘\theta = 90^\circ).

Therefore, the angle between the lines is 90∘90^\circ.

Exercise: Miscellaneous Exercise on Chapter 11 | Q: 1 | (Page Page 14)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The solution uses the formula for the angle between two lines provided in the context. By calculating the dot product of the direction ratios, we find it equals zero. The context explicitly states that if a1a2+b1b2+c1c2=0a_1 a_2 + b_1 b_2 + c_1 c_2 = 0, the lines are perpendicular, meaning the angle is 90∘90^\circ.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify direction ratios as (a,b,c)(a, b, c) and (b−c,c−a,a−b)(b-c, c-a, a-b).

  2. Step 2: Apply the formula for cos⁡θ\cos \theta involving direction ratios.

  3. Step 3: Calculate the numerator a(b−c)+b(c−a)+c(a−b)a(b-c) + b(c-a) + c(a-b).

  4. Step 4: Simplify the numerator to 0.

  5. Step 5: Conclude cos⁡θ=0\cos \theta = 0, so θ=90∘\theta = 90^\circ.