CBSE Class 12-science Answered
r1 = (1,2,-4) + ? (2,3,6) and r = (3,3,-5) + ?(-2,3,3).
The point P with position vector p = (1,2,-4) lies on r1.
The point Q with position vector q = (3,3,-5) lies on r2
The cross product of the two direction vectors, (2,3,6) and (-2,3,3) gives a common normal to both planes.
Working this out gives the vector (-9,-18,12).
So a unit normal vector to both planes is given by 1/sqrt(61) (-3,-6,4).
The equation of P(1) is 1/sqrt(13) (3, 0, 2) . r = 1/sqrt(61) (-3,-6,4) . (1,2,-4) = -31/sqrt(61).
The equation of P(2) is 1/sqrt(13) (3, 0, 2) . r = 1/sqrt(61) (-3,-6,4). (3,3,-5) = -47/sqrt(61).
So the shortest distance between the 2 skew lines is | -31/sqrt(61)) + 47/sqrt(61) | = 16/sqrt(61) units.