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)

AH

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Simplify (2x^3+8x^2+17x+18)/(x+2)


How to multiply and divide by complex numbers


A curve has polar equation r = 1 + cos THETA for 0 <= THETA <= 2Pi. Find the area of the region enclosed by the curve


How to solve a standard first order differential equation?