3D Geometry - 6
Introduction
Q.2. What are direction cosines of a line which is equally inclined to axes ?Ans: If
,
,
are angles, if line is equally inclined
=
= 
l2 + m2 + n2
cos2
+ cos2
+ cos2
= 1
3 cos2
= 1
cos
= ±
= cos
= cos
d.c's arw (
,
,
) or (-
, -
, -
)Q.3. Find direction cosines of line which is
to lines with d.r (1, -2, -2) & (0, 2, 1)Ans: Let l, m, n be d.c's line 1 to given line, d.c's are proportional to d.r's
d.c'r of lines are (
, - 2
, - 2
) & (0, 2µ, µ)Since line is
to given linesl
+ (- 2m
) + (- 2n
) = 0
l - 2m - 2n = 0& 0 + 2mµ + nµ = 0
2m + n = 0By cross multiplication,

l = 2R, m = - R & n = 2R
l2 + m2 + n2 = 1
4R2 + R2 + 4R2 = 1
9R2 = 1 

Q.4. Prove that line x = ay + b, z = cy + d & x = a'y + b', z = c'y + d' are
if aa' + cc' + 1 = 0Ans: Ist line is x = ay + b, z = cy + d
= y,
= y
=
=
................................ (i)and IInd line
................................................. (ii)These lines are
ifaa' + |x| + cc' = 0
aa' + cc' + 1 = 0Dumb Question: For what value of k, lines
&
intersect?Ans:
= 
and
= µSince these lines have point of intersection in common. then
(2
+ 1, 3
- 1, 4
+ 1) = (µ + 3, 2µ + k, µ)or 2
+ 1 = µ + 3 ....... (i), 3
- 1 = 2µ + k ....... (ii) & 4
+ 1 = µ ....... (iii)on solving (i) & (iii), we get
= - 3/2 & µ = - 5Substituting in (ii)
-
- 1 = - 10 + k
k = 
Q.6. Show that points
and
are equidistant from plane
.(
) + 9 = 0Ans:
.(
) = - 9length of
from (
)
So, length of
is equal.Q.7. Find the point in which the plane;
= (
-
) + m(
+
+
) + n(
+
-
) is cut by line through point 2
+ 3
& parallel to
.Ans: eq. of line through point 2
+ 3
& || to 
= (2
+ 3
) + 

Since line cuts plane
For one point,
(2
+ 3
) + 
=
-
+ m(
+
+
) + n(
+
-
)Equating coeff. of
,
&
on both side, we getm + n = 1, m - n = 4, - m + n =

m =
, n =
&
= - 4
P.V. of required point is: 2
+ 3
- 4
Q.8. Show that line of intersection of planes
.(
) = 0 &
.(
) = 0 is equally inclined to
&
.Ans: Note: Line of intersection of two planes will be
to normals to the planes. Hence it is || to vector
Now,

&

So, line is equally inclined to
& 
Q.9. Projection of line segment on 3 axes 4, 5 & 13 respectively. Find length & direction cosines of line segment.
Ans:

= (x2 - x1)
+ (y2 - y1)
+ (z2 - z1)
Projection of
on x-axis=
.
= (x2 - x1) = 4Projection of
on y-axis=
.
= (y2 - y1) = 5Projection of
on z-axis=
.
= (z2 - z1) = 13
Length of AB = 


d.r's =
,
& 
Q.10. Find locus of mid point of chords of sphere r2 - 2
.
+ k = 0 if chords being drawn || to vector
.Ans: r2 - 2
.
+ k = 0 is sphere of centre
chord AB ||
.

locus of M is (
-
).
= 0
.
=
.
represents a plane.Dumb Question: Why
is same as
?Ans: Since
||
. So, if
is
. So, it will also
to
.Medium Type
Q.1. If a variable plane forms a tetrahedron of constant volume 27k3 with coordinate planes, find locus of centroid of tetrahedron.
Ans: sLet variable plane cuts coordinate axes at A(a, 0, 0), B(0, b, 0), C(0, 0, c)

Then, eq. of plane will be
= 1Let P
,
,
) be centroid of terahedron OABC,then,
=
,
=
,
= 
[Dumb Question: How this centroid tetrahedron OABC comes
=
,
=
,
=
?Ans: Centroid of tetrahedrold

where (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3) & (x4, y4, z4) are coordinate of tetrahedron.]
Volume of tetrahedron =
(Area of
AOB).OC27k3 =
(
ab)c = 
27k3 = 

Required locus of P(
,
,
) is
Q.2. Find vector eq. of straight line passing through intersection of plane

,
,
are non coplanar vectors.Ans: At points of intersection of two planes.

Since
,
,
are non coplanar, then-
1 + µ1 - µ2 = 0, 1 +
1 -
2 - µ2 = 0, µ1 - 1 +
2 = 0