Solutions to the Homework Problems

1. Find the direction cosines of the line which is

equally inclined to the axes.

Solution:

Let the direction cosines of a line are , , where

= =

That means, = =

Let,

= = =

We know,

+ + =1

 3 =1

 =±
√

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 1
 1
∴ = = =±
√3

2. Show that the line joining the two points (0, 1, 2)

and (3, 4, 6) is parallel to the line joining the two
points (−4, 3, −6) and (5, 12, 6).
Solution:
We have, (0, 1, 2) (3, 4, 6)
=3
=3 (−4, 3, −6) (5, 12, 6)
=4
=9
=9
= 12
For the first line,

=
√

=
√

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 2
 =
√

For the second line,

=
√

=
√

=
√

Now we have,
+ +

= × + × + ×
√ √ √ √ √ √

=1

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 3
3. Show that the three lines whose direction cosines
are proportional to 2, 1, 1 ; 4, √3 − 1, −√3 − 1 and
4, −√3 − 1, √3 − 1 respectively are inclined to each
other at an angle .

Solution:

Given,

=2

=1

=1

=4

= √3 − 1

= −√3 − 1

=4

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 4
 = −√3 − 1

= √3 − 1

For the first line,

√
=

√
=

√
=

For the second line,

√
=

√ √
=

√ √
=−

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 5
For the third line,

√
=

√ √
=−

√ √
=

Now, the angle between first line and second line is

= + +

√ √ √ √ √
 = × + × +
√ √ √
× −

 = cos

 =

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 6
The angle between first line and third line is,

= + +

√ √ √ √ √
 = × + × − +
√ √ √
×

 = cos

 =

∴ The three lines are inclined to each other at an angle

.

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 7
4. Find the distance of the point (−2, 3, 4) from the
line through the point (−1, 3, 2) whose direction
cosines are proportional to 12, 3, −4.

Solution:

Now,

= (−2 + 1) + (3 − 3) + (4 − 2)

 = √5

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 8
Since the direction cosines are proportional to

12, 3, −4 of the line ⃗.

That is, the direction ratios of the line ⃗ are

= 12

=3

= −4

Now the direction cosines of the line ⃗ are

=−

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 9
Direction ratios of the line ⃗ are

= −1

=0

=2

Now,

The Projection of ⃗= =| + + |

= (−1) × + 2× −

= −

From the right-angled triangle CED we can write

= +

 = −

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 10
  = √5 −

√
 = unit.

5. The coordinates of the two points and are

(2, 3, −6) and (3, −4, 5) respectively. Find the angle

between the two lines ⃗ and ⃗ , where is the

origin.

Solution:

(2, 3, −6)

(3, −4, 5)

(0,0,0)

We have,

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 11
 = − =2−0=2

= − =3−0=3

= − = −6 − 0 = −6

= − =3−0=3

= − = −4 − 0 = −4

= − =5−0=5

Now,

For the first line,

= =

= =

= =−

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 12
For the second line,

√
= =

√
= =−

√
= =

We know that the angle between two lines is

= + +

√ √ √
 = × + × − + − ×

√
 = cos −

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 13
6. Find the distance of the point (−1, 2, 5) from the
line through the point (3, 4, 5) whose direction ratios
are 2, −3, 6.

Solution:

Now,

= (−1 − 3) + (2 − 4) + (5 − 5)

 = 2√5

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 14
Given that, the direction ratios of the line ⃗ are

=2

= −3

=6

Now the direction cosines of the line ⃗ are

=−

Direction ratios of the line ⃗ are

= −4

= −2

=0

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 15
Now,

The Projection of ⃗= =| + + |

= (−4) × + (−2) × −

= −

From the right-angled triangle CED we can write

= +

 = −

 = 2√5 −

√
 = unit.

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 16
7. Verify that the two lines are perpendicular to each
other where the direction cosines of the two lines are
proportional to 6,3, −1 and −2,4,0 respectively.

Solution:
We have,
=6
=3
= −1
= −2
=4
=0
For the first line,

=
√

=
√

=
√

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 17
For the second line,

=
√

=
√

=
√

Now we have,
+ +

= × + × + ×
√ √ √ √ √ √

=0

So, we can conclude that the two lines are

perpendicular to each other.

Hence, the given statement is true.

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 18
8. Find the equation of the plane passing through the
points (0, −1, 2), (2,3, −1) and (−1,0,0).

Solution:
We can write

+1 −2
2 4 −3 = 0
−1 1 −2
 5 −7 −6 +5=0
This is the required equation of the plane.

9. Find the equation of the plane passing through the

point (2,3, −1) and parallel to two lines having

direction cosines ,− ,− and − , − , − .

Solution:
We can write

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 19
 −2 −3 +1
− − =0
− − −

 14 + 9 − 16 − 71 = 0
This is the required equation of the plane.

10. Find the point of intersection (if exists) between

two lines represented by = = and

= = .

Solution:

Let, = = =

and = = =

So, we get

= 4 + 1, = 5 + 2, =6 +3 --------------(1)

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 20
 = 2 + 2, = 8 + 8, =7 +7 --------------(2)

Now equating (1) and (2), we get

4 +1=2 +2

5 +2=8 +8

6 +3=7 +7

which implies that

4 −2 −1=0

5 −8 −6=0

6 −7 −4=0

However, we don’t get suitable values of and so

that the above system is satisfied. Hence, the given 3D
straight lines have no point of intersection.

Dr. A. K. M. Nazimuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of MPS, East West University Page 21