CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)

TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC VECTORS (LINES) 2023/JC1

Chapter Opener
We’ve all marveled at the incredibly life-like computer generated images in the movies. What most
of us don’t realise is that the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and the wonders of Lord of the Rings –
particularly the star turn of Gollum – wouldn’t have been possible without vector geometry and math.
But how are these amazing images made? Computer
graphics and computer vision are huge subjects. The first
step in creating a computer generated movie is to create the
characters in the story and the world they live in. Each of
these objects is modelled as a surface, made up of connected
flat polygons that are usually triangles, with the vertices of
each triangle stored in computer memory.
Now that the surface of our object is a wire mesh of
triangles, we are ready to colour each of its components.
Here it’s important to realistically capture the lighting of the First objects are modelled as wire skeletons made up
scene we’re modelling, and this is done using a process from simple polygons such as triangles.
called ray tracing. Starting from our viewpoint, we trace
rays backwards towards the object and let them reflect off it.
If the ray from our eye reflects off the facet (one of our wire
mesh triangles) and intersects a light source, we shade that
facet in a bright colour so that it appears lit up the light
source. If the reflected ray does not meet the light source,
we shade the facet in a darker colour.
To trace a ray back to a particular facet, we need to describe
the surface mathematically, and solve geometric equations
Trace a ray from your viewpoint to a facet.
involving the straight lines described by the ray and the
Does it reflect off and intersect a light source ? plane described by that facet. This is done using vectors.
In the next two chapters, we would be introduced to the mathematical representation of lines and
planes.
(Source : https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue42/features/lasenby/index)

Mastery Learning Objectives: At the end of the chapter, I should be able to :

 For a line in three-dimensional space :
 formulate a vector equation of the line given a point on the line and a direction vector or
given two points on the line.
 convert a vector equation of the line to a cartesian equation, and vice versa.
 For a point and a line :
 determine whether the point lies on the line.
 find the position vector of the foot of the perpendicular from the point to the line.
 find the perpendicular or shortest distance from the point to the line.
 find the position vector of the reflection of a given point about a given line.
 For two lines :
 determine and describe the relationship between two lines in three-dimensional space :
coplanar (i.e. parallel or intersecting), or skew.
 find the position vector of the point of intersection between two intersecting lines.
 find the angle between both lines.
Pre-requisites:
 Basic Trigonometry
 Vectors (Basic) Page | 45
 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

9 Equation of a Line in Three-Dimensional Space

9.1 Vector Equation of a Line

Exploratory Activity – Understanding Vector Equations of Lines

Let l be the line passing through two points, P and Q, as shown in the diagram below:

P
G m
Q
F E
p
l

O

Suppose the position vector of P is p and the vector PQ  m
(a) Express the position vector of Q in terms of p and m.
  
OQ  OP  PQ  p  m
 
(b) It is given that the point E lies on the line PQ produced such that PE = 3 PQ, the point F is
the midpoint of the line segment PQ and the point G lies on QP produced such that PG: PQ
= 2:1.
(i) Mark E, F and G on the diagram above
(ii) Express the position vectors of E, F and G in terms of p and m respectively.
  
OE  OP  PE  p  3m
    
OF  OP  PF  p  12 m
    
OG  OP  PG  p  2m
 
(c) Based on parts (a) and (b), what can you conclude about the position vector of any point R
lying on the line l ?

OR  p   m for some scalar value   
 
Case 1: A line with known direction passing through a fixed point

Consider a line in space passing through a fixed point A , with position vector a , and parallel
to a given non-zero displacement vector m, usually named direction vector (refer to Section
1.7, Vectors (Basic)).
R

O

Let R be a general point on the line with position vector r , then r  a  AR .
 
Since we have AR / / m , AR   m for some    , thus for the general point R on the line,
r  a  m,    .
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CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Online Resource: https://tube.geogebra.org/material/simple/id/256909

A vector equation of a line which passes through a fixed point A with position vector a, and
is in the direction m is given by
r  a  m,   
where r is the position vector of a general point on the line,
m is a direction vector of the line.

 Remarks: 1. A line is infinitely long.

2. Each value of  corresponds to a unique point on the line. Conversely, each
point on the line has a unique value of  .
3. There is more than one way to represent the same line r  a   m ,    .
For example, if another fixed point B with position vector b also lies on the
line and n is another vector that is parallel to the line (i.e. parallel to m ),
another possible vector equation of the line is r  b   n,    .

Case 2: A line passing through two fixed points

Suppose a line passing through two points A and B with position vectors a and b respectively.
If R is any point on the line passing through A and B with position vector r.
   B
We have OR  OA  AR
   R
OR  OA   AB
  
 
A
 OA   OB  OA
r = a +  b  a ,   
O

A vector equation of a line which passes through two fixed points A and B with position
vectors a and b is given by
r  a   b  a ,   
where r is the position vector of a general point on the line and b  a is a direction vector of
the line.

Pause and Think:

1. If a line passes through the origin and is parallel to the direction m, what can you say
about the vector equation of the line? Ans: r   m ,   
2. It is given that point R lies on the line which passes through a fixed point A with position
vector a, and is in the direction m.
Is r always parallel to m? Ans: In general, r is not parallel to m unless A, O and R are
collinear.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

9.2 Cartesian Equation of a Line

Consider a vector equation of a line given by r  a   m,    .

 x  a1   m1   x   a1   m1 
Let r   y  , a   a2  and m   m2  , then
         .
 y    a2     m2 
z a  m   z a  m 
   3  3    3  3

x  a1   m1
We call y  a2   m2 , a set of parametric equations for the line.
z  a3   m3

In this manner, the vector equation of a line can be seen as a set of parametric functions for x, y
and z in terms of the parameter  . (The topic of parametric equations would be covered in later
graphing and calculus modules.)
Given a set of parametric equations related to the vector equation of a line
x  a1   m1 , y  a2   m2 , z  a3   m3 ,    , we can make  the subject.

x  a1 y  a2 z  a3
  
m1 m2 m3

Cartesian equation of the line passing through a fixed point with coordinates ( a1 , a2 , a3 )
 m1 
with direction vector  m2  , where m1  0, m2  0, m3  0 is
m 
 3
x  a1 y  a2 z  a3
  .
m1 m2 m3

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Worked Example 22: Find an equation of the line passing through the points  3,  4, 7  and
 5,  4, 6 in vector form and cartesian form.
Solution:

 5  3 2
     
m   4    4    0 
      
 6   7   1 
 3 2
   
Vector equation: r   4     0  ,   
    1 
 7   

 x  x  3  2
Let r   y  , then      
 y    4     0  ,    .
   z  7   1 
z      
 x   3  2 
So we have  y    4 
 z  7 
   
x 3

 x  3  2  2

 y   4
 z 7    7 z

x3
Cartesian equation:  7  z; y  4
2

 Remark: If m1  0 , m2  0 or m3  0 , the Cartesian equation of the line would be written

differently. For example, if m3  0 while m1  0 and m2  0 , then
x  a1 y  a2
 ; z  a3 .
m1 m2

x5
Worked Example 23: A line has cartesian equation  1  y  2 z  4 . Find a vector equation of
3
the line.
Solution: x 5
Let  1  y  2z  4  ,    .
3
x 5
Then    x  5  3
3
1 y    y  1 
1
2 z  4    z  2  
2
 5 3
Hence r   1     1 ,   
   1 
 2   2
Page | 49
 
5  6 
   
r   1    '  2  ,  '   .
    1 
 2   
 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

 Self-Practice:
2  3
1. Convert the vector equation of a line r   3     4  ,    to a cartesian equation.
 1  5
   

2. Convert the vector equation of a line r  i  j    i  5k  ,    to a cartesian equation.

x 1 y
3. Convert the cartesian equation of a line   z  4 to a vector equation.
2 3

1 x 2 y 1
4. Convert the cartesian equation of a line  ; z  4 to a vector equation.
3 5
5. Write down a vector equation and cartesian equation for the line through the point A with
position vector a  i  3 j  2k and is parallel to the vector m  5i  4 j  k .

Answers:
x  2 y  3 z 1 z
1.   2. x 1  ; y  1
3 4 5 5
1 2 1  3 
       
3. r   0     3 ,    4. r   12     5 2  ,   
   1     0
4   4  
 1 5
    x 1 y  3
5. r   3     4  ,    ;   z  2
    1  5 4
 2  

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

10 Calculations Involving a Point and a Line

10.1 Determining whether a Point Lies on a Line

Suppose we want to check if a point P , with position vector p , lies on the line,
l : r  a   m ,    . The following approaches can be used:

Step 1: Assume that point P lies on the line, then p  a   m for some  value.

Step 2: Comparing each of the x, y and z components, form three equations and solve for  .

Step 3: If  obtained from each equation is the same (i.e consistent), then P lies on the line.

Worked Example 24: Determine whether the point  1, 3, 3 lies on the line in Worked Example 23:.

Solution:
To check whether  1,3, 3 lies on the required line, whose vector equation is
5  6
   
r   1    '  2  ,  '  
   1
 2   

 1   5   6 
Let  3    1    '  2  ,  '  
 3    2   1 
     

1  5  6  '  (1)

3  1  2 '  (2)
3  2   '  (3)

Since  '  1 consistently solves all three equations, the point  1, 3,  3 lies on the line.

Alternative Method:

Check whether the x, y and z coordinates of the required point  1,3, 3 satisfies the required line’s
x 5
cartesian equation,  1 y  2z  4 .
3
When x  1, y  3, z  3 ,

x  5 1  5
  2
3 3
1  y  1  3  2
2 z  4  2(3)  4  2
x 5
Hence, the point  1, 3,  3 satisfies the cartesian equation  1  y  2z  4 ,
3
and as such this point lies on the line.
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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

10.2 Finding Foot of Perpendicular from a Point to a Line

Given a line l :r  a   m ,    and a point P that is not on the line, we want to find F, which
is the foot of the perpendicular from P to l .

m
F


Step 1: Since F lies on l , OF  a  m for some    .
   
Step 2: Find PF (in terms of parameter  ), where PF  OF  OP .
  
Step 3: Since PF  l  PF  m  PF  m  0 . Solve equation for  .

Step 4: Substitute the value of  into OF  a  m to find the position vector of F.

Worked Example 25:

(i) Find the coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular from the point P 1,1, 1 to the line
1 1
   
r   2    2,    .
 3 1
    Note to lecturer:
(ii) Deduce the shortest distance from P to the line. Emphasis the need
(iii) Find the position vector of the image of P in the line. to sketch diagram.

Solution:
(i) Let F be the foot-of-perpendicular from P to the line.
P
1 1
  
(Step 1) Since F lies on the line, OF   2     2  for some    .
3 1
   
l
F
1 1  1    
    
(Step 2) PF  OF  OP   2     2    1    1  2 
 3  1   1   4    P
       
   1
(Step 3) Since PF  l ,  1  2    2   0
 4    1
   
  2  4  4    0
  1
1 1 0

(Step 4) Hence OF   2   1 2    0  .
 3 1  2
     
Coordinates of F is  0,0,2  .

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

(ii) Shortest distance from P to line is PF = perpendicular distance from P to line is PF

 0   1   1
      
 PF   0    1    1  11
 2   1  3 
     
(iii) Let P ' be the image of P in the line.
The foot of perpendicular F from P to line l, is the mid-point of P and its image P ' in the line.
 1  
By midpoint theorem,
2

OF  OP  OP '  P

  

OP '  2OF  OP
F l
 0  1   1
      m
 2 0    1    1 
 2   1 5 P
     

 Remark: The shortest distance from a point to a line is also the perpendicular distance from the
point to the line.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

10.3 Finding the Perpendicular/Shortest Distance from a Point to a Line

Consider a vector equation of the line, l :r  a   m ,    and a point P that is not on the
line, we want to find the perpendicular distance, h , from P to l .

Method : Using Cross Product

A
m

 .
Referring to Section 8.4.3, Vectors (Basic), h  AP  m

Method : Using Foot of Perpendicular

h
m
F

Referring to Worked Example 25:, we can find the foot of the perpendicular F from P to l .

Then h  PF . This method is used when we already have the foot of the perpendicular.

Method : Using Length of Projection

h
A m

 
Step 1: Find length of projection of AP on m, d  AP m.
 2 
 .
2
Step 2: Using Pythagoras Theorem, h  AP2  d 2  AP  AP  m

This method is usually used when we already have the length of projection d .

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Worked Example 26: The three points A , B and P have position vectors i  2 j  3k ,
2 i  4 j  4k and i  j  k . Find the perpendicular distance from P to the
line passing through A and B.

Solution:
P Problem Solving Tip: Heuristic: sketch a diagram.

A F B

 2  1 1  1  1  0 


      

     
AB   4    2    2  & AP   1    2    1 
 4  3 1  1   3   4 
           

Using Method : Using Cross Product

1
  1  
PF  AP  2
6  
1
  1 1    4   2  
 0  1
1     1  
  1  2     0 1    4   1  
6     6   
 4
   1   0  2     1  1 
 
7
1  
 4
6  
1
1
  49  16  1
6
 11

Using Method : Using Length of Projection

Let F be foot of perpendicular from P to lAB.

 0 1
  1   6
AF   1    2   6
 4  6  1  6
   
AP  02  (1)2  (4)2  17
 PF  17  6  11

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

11 Calculations Involving Two Lines

11.1 Relationship between Two Distinct Lines in Three-Dimensional Space

In 3-Dimensional space, two straight lines may be:
(i) Coplanar (lying on the same plane), which means the lines are either parallel or
intersecting lines.
(ii) Non Coplanar, which means the lines are non-parallel and non-intersecting, called
skew lines.

Pause and think: The diagram depicts a cuboid with vertices A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.

Write down the relationship (parallel / intersecting / skew)

between the following pairs of lines :

 AC and CD. intersecting

 AE and DH. parallel

 AE and CD. skew

 AF and BE. intersecting

 DG and BE. parallel

 AD and GF. skew

 AH and CF. intersecting

 AH and BE. skew

 Remark: If two distinct lines are intersecting or parallel, then they are coplanar
(i.e. they lie on a common plane).

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CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
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TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Consider two distinct lines with vector equations,

l1 :r  a1  m1 ,    and l2 :r  a 2   m 2 ,    .

l1
A2
A1 l2

A Schema to decide relationship between two lines.

Step : Check whether l1 and l2 are parallel.

i.e. Is there some value k   for which m1= km2 ?

Yes No
m1= km2 for some k   m1≠ km2 for any k  
 PARALLEL LINES  NOT parallel lines

Step : Solve the 2 vector equations simultaneously,

i.e. a1 + m1 = a2 + m2
to find the values of  and .

 Remark: In 3-D space, the above vector equation is a

system of 3 linear equations in 2 unknowns.

Method : Use G.C. Application PlySmlt2

Method : Use any 2 of the 3 equations, solve them for 
and . Determine if the pair of values of  and 
obtained also satisfies the 3rd, unused equation.

3rd equation satisfied 3rd equation not satisfied

i.e. pair of values of  and  i.e. no pair of values of  and  which
consistently solves all 3 equations would consistently solve all 3 equations.
 INTERSECTING LINES  SKEW LINES

If both lines intersect, it could be of interest to find

the common point of intersection, say P.

If  = o and  = o is the unique solution, then the

position vector of P is given by
= a1 + om1 = a2 + om2.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Worked Example 27: For each of the following pairs of lines, test whether they are parallel,
intersecting or skew. If they intersect, find the position vector of the point of
intersection.
1 1 1 2
          
(a) l1 : r   2     2  , and l2 : r   3     4  ,    .
 3 1  4 2
       
Solution:
2 1
Since  4   2  2  , the two lines are parallel to each other.
 
2 1
   

1 1 0 1

       
(b) l1 : r   2     2  ,    and l2 : r   1     3  ,    .
 3 1 5  4
       
Solution:
1 1
Since  2   k  3  for any k, the two lines are not parallel.
  
1  4
   
Assuming that the two lines intersect,
1   0        1  (1)
2  2  1  3  2  3  1  (2)
3    5  4    4  2  (3)

Analytical Method:
(1)  (3): 3 = 3   = 1
Using (1):  = 11= 2
Using (2) to check: L.H.S. = 2(2)  3(1) = 1
R.H.S. = 1 = L.H.S.
G.C. Method

Since  = 2 and  = 1 satisfies all three equations, the two lines intersect.
1  1   1 
Position vector of the point of intersection is  2   ( 2)  2  =  2  .
 
 3 1  1 
     

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CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

1 1 0 1

       
(c) l1 : r   2     2  ,    and l2 : r   1     3  ,    .
 3 1  2 4
       
Solution:

1 1
Since  2   k  3  for any k, the two lines are not parallel.
1  4
   
Assuming that the two lines intersect,
1   0        1  (1)
2  2  1  3   2   3    1  (2)
3    2  4     4   1  (3)

Analytical Method:

(1)  (3): 3 = 0   = 0
Using (1):  = 1
Using (2) to check: L.H.S. = 2(1) = 2
R.H.S. = 1 ≠ L.H.S.
G.C. Method:

Since there is no pair of values for  and  that will satisfy all three equations, no point
of intersection exists between the two lines (i.e. they do not intersect).

The two lines are skew.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

11.2 Angle between Two Lines

Consider two lines with vector equation l1 : r  a1   m1 ,    and l2 :r  a2   m 2 ,    .

The angle  between the two lines is taken to be the acute angle between them. This angle
could be determined by firstly finding the angle  between the respective direction vectors
m1 and m2 used for the lines.

For details on finding the angle  between two vectors, refer to Section 7.4.1, Vectors (Basic).
 m m 
m1  m 2  m1 m 2 cos     cos 1  1 2 
m m 
 1 2 
Case  l1

If the angle  between m1 and m2 is acute,

then the angle  between both lines is also  . θ=

l2

Case  l1

If the angle  between m1 and m2 is obtuse,

then the angle  between both lines is    .
l2
θ

Online Resource: https://tube.geogebra.org/material/simple/id/282293

 Remarks: 1. The acute angle between both lines l1 and l2 can also be directly found by using

m1  m 2
  cos 1 .
m1 m 2
2. The two lines need not be intersecting for the angle to be determined.
3. To find the acute angle between two skew lines, we do a parallel shift of one line
until the two lines intersect. The acute angle between the two skew lines is defined
to be the acute angle between the two intersecting lines.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Worked Example 28: Find the acute angle between the two lines:
 4  1   1  3
       
l1 : r   3     2  ,    and l2 : r   0     2  ,   
1 1  1  6
       
Solution: Let the angle between the lines’ respective direction vectors be  .
 1   3   1   3
       
 2    2    2   2  cos
 1   6 1  
      6
1  6  7  cos 
 1 
  cos 1    93.34345...
7 6
  93.3 1d.p  or 1.63 rad (3 s.f), which is obtuse. Page | 60

Therefore the acute angle between the two lines is   1.62915  1.51 rad .
 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Method 2:

m1  m 2
The acute angle  cos 1
m1 m 2

 1   3 
   
 2    2 
 1  6
 cos 1    
 1   3 
   
 2   2 
 1  6
   
1
 cos 1
7 6
 1 
 cos 1  
7 6
 1.5124
 1.51

 Self-Practice:
Given two lines l1 : r   i  2j  3k     i  2j  5k  ,    and
l2 :r   2i  j  7k     i  5j  6k  ,    ,
find
(i) the point of intersection between them,
(ii) the acute angle between the them.

Answers:
(i)  3, 6, 13 (ii) 18.1 1 d.p  or 0.315 rad  3 s.f 

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

Worked Example 29: (Self-Directed Learning)

With respect to an origin O, the points A and C have position vectors 3i + 11j + 11k and 2i – j + 10k
respectively. The point B is such that OABC is a parallelogram.
(i) Write down the position vector of B.
(ii) Find the size of the angle OAB, giving your answer to the nearest degree.
(iii) Find a vector equation of the line AB.
The point D has position vector – i + 13j – 9k.
(iv) Verify that D is on the line AB.
(v) Find the position vector of the point on the line AB that is closest to O.

Solution: C B
 
(i) Since OC = AB and OC//AB, OC  AB .
  
By triangle law of addition, OB  OA  AB
 
 OA  OC O A
3  2   5
      By convention, points are
  11   1   10 
 11  10   21 labeled in anti-clockwise order.
     

(ii) Let the angle between OAB be  .

   
AO  AB  AO AB cos OAB ˆ

C B
 3   2  3
2
     
  ˆ
 11   1   1 cos OAB
11
 11  10  11
 10 
     
 
ˆ
105  251 105 cos OAB O A

ˆ  cos 1  105 
OAB  
 251 105 
ˆ  130  to nearest degree 
OAB

 
(iii) Equation of line AB: r  OA   AB

3  2
   
r   11     1 ,   
    10 
 11   

 1   3  2
     
(iv)  13    11    1 
 9   11  10 
     
1  3  2  (1)
13  11    (2)
9  11 10  (3)
Solving   2 ,  D lies on the line AB.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
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TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

(v) Let F be the foot of the perpendicular from O to the line AB, also the point on AB closest to O.

Since F lies on the line AB,

3  2   3  2 
      
OF   11     1    11    for some    O
 11   10   11  10 
     

Since OF perpendicular to line AB,

 3  2   2  F A B
   
 11      1   0
11  10   10 
   
6  4  11    110  100  0
  1
 3  2  1   1 
  
 OF   11   1    12 
11  10  1   1 
   

Worked Example 30: [2019/J1H2CA1/1] (Self-Directed Learning)

 1  4
    x7 13  z
The line l1 has equation r   3     4  ,    and the line l2 has equation 5 y  .
5  9  3 4
   
(i) Show that the point  3, 1, 4  lies on the line l1 .
(ii) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of l1 and l2 .
(iii) Find the foot of the perpendicular from the point  3, 1, 4  to the line l .
2

(iv) Find an equation of the line which is a reflection of the line l in the line l .
1 2

Solution:
(i)
 3   1  4
     
 1    3     4     1
 4   5   9 
     

(ii)
x7 13  z
5 y  
3 4
x7
 x  7  3 
3
5 y    y 5 
13  z
 z  13  4 
4

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)
 7   3
   
l2 : r   5     1  ,   
 13   4 
   
 1  4   7  3 
   
 3  4    5   
 5  9   13  4  
   
4  3  6
4    2
9  4  8
From GC,   0,   2 .
Therefore l1 and l2 intersect.
The point of intersection is  1,3,5  .

(iii)
Let the foot of the perpendicular be F. Let the point  3, 1, 4  be A
 7   3
   
f   5     1  ,for some   
 13   4 
   

 7   3   3   10  3 
        
AF   5     1    1    6   
 13   4   4   17  4  
       
 10  3   3 
   
 6      1   0
 17  4    4 
   
30  9  6    68  16   0
104

26
 4

 7    
3 5
     
f   5   4  1    1 
 13   4   3 
     
Therefore, the foot of perpendicular F is  5,1, 3 .

A  3, 1, 4 
(iv)

 1,3, 5  F  5,1, 3

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)
 
OA  OA' 
 OF
2
  
OA'  2OF  OA
5  3
   
 2  1    1 
 3   4 
   
7
 
 3 
 2 
 
 7   1  8 
     
The direction vector of the line of reflection =  3    3    0 
 2   5   7 
     
 1  8 
   
l : r   3   s 0 , s   .
 5   7 
   

Worked Example 31: [2009/YJC/I/9] (Self-Directed Learning)

The lines l1 and l 2 have equations

 0  1  1   2
       
r =  3      2  and r =  0    4 
1  1   2   2
       
respectively, where  and  are real parameters.

(a) Show that the lines l1 and l 2 are distinct parallel lines.
(b) The points A and B have coordinates (0, 3, 1) and (1, 0, 2) respectively. The point P is a
point on the line l1 such that the angle APB is a right angle.
(i) Find the coordinates of the point P.
(ii) Hence, find the shortest distance between the lines l1 and l 2 .

Solution:
(a)
 1
l1 passes through A(0, 3, 1) and is parallel to m1   2  .
  
 1
 2 
l 2 passes through B(1, 0, 2) and is parallel to m2   4  .
  2 
 

Since m2  2m1 . l1 and l 2 are parallel.

 

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2023 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS (9758)
TOPIC: VECTORS (LINES)

  1 
Since AB   3   km1 ,for any k   , the line through A and B is not parallel to l1 and l 2 .
1 
 
l1 and l 2 are distinct parallel lines.

  
  
(b) Since P lies on l1 , ie. OP   3  2  , for some .
 1  
 
(i)

   1   1 
      
BP   3  2    0    3  2  .
 1     2   1 
     
1

 
If APB is a right angle, BP  2   0 .
1
 
   1  1
   
 3  2     2   0
  1   1 
   
4
(  1)  2(3  2 )  (  1)  0   
3
 4  4
   
 3  3  4

  4   1  1  4 1 7
OP  3  2     1  . Hence the coordinates of P is  , ,  .
  3   3  3  3 3 3
 4  7 7
 1   
 3  3

(ii)
Shortest distance between l1 and l 2
 4  1
 1   
 3   3

  4  1 1
= BP  3  2      .
 3   3  3
 4  1
 1   
 3   3

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