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Let L1L_1 and L2L_2 be two lines, represented as,

L1:r⃗=i^+j^+λ(2i^−j^+k^)L_1: \vec{r} = \hat{i} + \hat{j} + \lambda(2\hat{i} - \hat{j} + \hat{k}) and L2:r⃗=2i^+j^−k^+μ(4i^−2j^+2k^)L_2: \vec{r} = 2\hat{i} + \hat{j} - \hat{k} + \mu(4\hat{i} - 2\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}), where λ\lambda and μ\mu are scalars. Then which of the following are true?

(A) L1L_1 is perpendicular to L2L_2.

(B) L1L_1 is parallel to L2L_2.

(C) L1L_1 passes through the point (1, 1, 0)

(D) L2L_2 passes through the point (2, 1, -1)

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 2

Two lines in 3D space are given in vector form. A line equation r⃗=a⃗+λb⃗\vec{r} = \vec{a} + \lambda\vec{b} has position vector a⃗\vec{a} (a point on the line) and direction vector b⃗\vec{b}.


For Line L1L_1: r⃗=i^+j^+λ(2i^−j^+k^)\vec{r} = \hat{i} + \hat{j} + \lambda(2\hat{i} - \hat{j} + \hat{k})

Point on L1L_1 (when λ=0\lambda = 0): (1,1,0)(1, 1, 0)

Direction vector of L1L_1: d1⃗=(2,−1,1)\vec{d_1} = (2, -1, 1)

For Line L2L_2: r⃗=2i^+j^−k^+μ(4i^−2j^+2k^)\vec{r} = 2\hat{i} + \hat{j} - \hat{k} + \mu(4\hat{i} - 2\hat{j} + 2\hat{k})

Point on L2L_2 (when μ=0\mu = 0): (2,1,−1)(2, 1, -1)

Direction vector of L2L_2: d2⃗=(4,−2,2)\vec{d_2} = (4, -2, 2)


Checking Statement (C): Does L1L_1 pass through (1,1,0)(1, 1, 0)?

When λ=0\lambda = 0, the point is (1,1,0)(1, 1, 0).

Statement (C) is TRUE.


Checking Statement (D): Does L2L_2 pass through (2,1,−1)(2, 1, -1)?

When μ=0\mu = 0, the point is (2,1,−1)(2, 1, -1).

Statement (D) is TRUE.


Checking Statement (B): Are L1L_1 and L2L_2 parallel?

Two lines are parallel if their direction vectors are scalar multiples of each other.

Comparing d1⃗=(2,−1,1)\vec{d_1} = (2, -1, 1) and d2⃗=(4,−2,2)\vec{d_2} = (4, -2, 2):

d2⃗=2d1⃗\vec{d_2} = 2\vec{d_1}

(4,−2,2)=2(2,−1,1)(4, -2, 2) = 2(2, -1, 1)

The lines have the same direction.

Statement (B) is TRUE.


Checking Statement (A): Are L1L_1 and L2L_2 perpendicular?

Two lines are perpendicular if the dot product of their direction vectors equals zero.

d1⃗⋅d2⃗=(2)(4)+(−1)(−2)+(1)(2)\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2} = (2)(4) + (-1)(-2) + (1)(2)

=8+2+2= 8 + 2 + 2

=12= 12

Since 12≠012 \neq 0, the lines are not perpendicular.

Statement (A) is FALSE.


Statements (B), (C), and (D) are TRUE.

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