THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

Distance Formula For two points P(x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2,y2,z2)

PQ = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 + (𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )2

1. Direction ratio of line joining two points: If P1(x1, y1, z1) and P2(x2,y2,z2) are any two points on the line l,
then the Direction ratio of line l is
𝑎 = (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ), 𝑏 = (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ), 𝑐 = (𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ).

2. Direction cosine of line joining two points: If P1(x1, y1, z1) and P2(x2,y2,z2) are any two points on the line l,
then the Direction cosine of line l is
(𝑥2−𝑥1 ) (𝑦2−𝑦1 ) (𝑦2 −𝑦1 )
l= ,m= n=
√(𝑥2−𝑥1)2+(𝑦2 −𝑦1 )2 +(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )2 √(𝑥2−𝑥1)2+(𝑦2 −𝑦1 )2 +(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )2 √(𝑥2−𝑥1)2+(𝑦2 −𝑦1 )2+(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )2

Note: a) l2 + m2 + n2 = 1 [l = cos 𝛼, m = cos 𝛽, n = cos 𝛾]

b) l : m : n = a: b : c
c) Any (two vectors)or (two lines )or (one vector and one line) are parallel then their Dr are same.

d) Direction ratios and direction cosines of x-axis is (1,0,0) and y-axis is (0,1,0) and z-axis (0,0,1)

e) Distance of P(x, y, z) from X-axis is√𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ; Y- axis is √𝑥 2 + 𝑧 2 and Z- axis is √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

3. Equation of a line passing through a point A(x1, y1, z1) whose PV is 𝑎⃗ and parallel to vector 𝑏⃗⃗ is 𝑟⃗ = 𝑎⃗ +
𝜆 𝑏⃗⃗

or 𝑟⃗ = 𝑥1 𝑖̂ + 𝑦1 𝑗̂ + 𝑧1 𝑘̂ + 𝜆 (𝑎𝑖̂ + 𝑏𝑗̂ + 𝑐𝑘̂) (vector form)

where
𝑎⃗ = 𝑥1 𝑖̂ + 𝑦1 𝑗̂ + 𝑧1 𝑘̂ PV of point A
𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑖̂ + 𝑏𝑗̂ + 𝑐𝑘̂ vector parallel to the line
𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂ is PV of any point P(x, y, z) on line

𝑥−𝑥1 𝑦−𝑦1 𝑧−𝑧1

and 𝑎
= 𝑏
= 𝑐
(Cartesian form of equation of line)
Here (x1, y1, z1) be given point on the line
and a, b, c be the direction ratio (Dr) of the line
4. Equation of a line passing through two points A (x1, y1, z1) and B (x2, y2, z2) whose PV are 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗
respectively is
𝑟⃗ = 𝑎⃗ + 𝜆 (𝑏⃗⃗ − 𝑎⃗) vector form
𝑜𝑟
𝑥−𝑥1 𝑦−𝑦1 𝑧−𝑧1
𝑥2−𝑥1
= 𝑦2 −𝑦1
= 𝑧2 −𝑧1
Cartesian form
𝑎⃗ = 𝑥1 𝑖̂ + 𝑦1 𝑗̂ + 𝑧1 𝑘̂ is PV of point A on the line
𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑥2 𝑖̂ + 𝑦2 𝑗̂ + 𝑧2 𝑘̂ is PV of point B on the line
𝑥 −𝑥 𝑦 −𝑦 𝑧3 −𝑧1
Note :1. three points are colliner if 𝑥3−𝑥1 = 𝑦3 −𝑦1 = 𝑧2 −𝑧1
2 1 2 1

2. d.r. of x-axis is <1,0,0>, dr of y-axis is <0,1,0>, dr of z-axis is <0,0,1>

5. Converting equation of line in standard form (vector form)

𝑟⃗ = (2 -3t) 𝑖̂ - (2t-3) 𝑗̂ +2(3-5t) 𝑘̂ expend and rewrite in standard form as
𝑟⃗ = 2𝑖̂ +3𝑗̂ +6 𝑘̂ + t(−3𝑖̂ -2𝑗̂ -10 𝑘̂ ) [write seperate term contain constant]

6. Converting equation of line in standard form (Cartesian form )

–𝑥+3 2𝑦 𝑥−3 𝑦−0 𝑧−2
= ,z = 2 rewrite in standard form as = 3 =
2 3 −2 0
2
 (Note: coefficient of x, yand z must be +1)
7. Any point on the line given in vector form say 𝑟⃗ = 2𝑖̂ +5 𝑗̂ +3 𝑘̂ + 𝜆 (3𝑖̂ - 2𝑗̂ +4 𝑘̂ ) ,
Replace 𝑟⃗ as 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂ compare 𝑖̂ , 𝑗̂ and 𝑘̂ on both side we have
( x = 2+3 𝜆, y = 5 -2 𝜆, z = 3+4 𝜆) be any point on the line
𝑥−2 𝑦+4 𝑧−1
8. Any point on the line given in Cartesian form say 3
= 5
= 2
=𝜆
is (x = 3 𝜆 +2, y = 5 𝜆 - 4, z = 2 𝜆 +1) .
9. Let two equations of line are
𝑟⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 ; 𝑟⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑎1 + 𝜆 𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗2 or 𝑥−𝑥1 = 𝑦−𝑦1 = 𝑧−𝑧1 ; 𝑥−𝑥2 = 𝑦−𝑦2 = 𝑧−𝑧2
𝑎2 + 𝜇 𝑏 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2

a) Lines are perpendicular if 𝑏⃗⃗⃗⃗1 . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑏2 = 0 or 𝑎1 𝑎2 + 𝑏1 𝑏2 + 𝑐1 𝑐2 = 0
𝑏2 =  𝑏
b) lines are parrelel if ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 or 𝑎1 = 𝑏1 = 𝑐1
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 2 2 2
(𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑎1 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
2 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗).(𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
1 ×𝑏 2)
c) Shortest distance between two skew lines SD=| ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
|
|𝑏 1 ×𝑏 2 |

d) Lines are coplanar (ie intersect) if (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 × ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑎1 ). (𝑏
𝑎2 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑏2 ) = 0 or|𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑧2 −
𝑧1 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 |=0
e) shortest distance between two parallel lines 𝑟⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑎1 + 𝜆 𝑏⃗⃗ ; 𝑟⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑎2 + 𝜇 𝑏⃗⃗
𝑎1 + 𝜆 𝑏⃗⃗ and point (x2, y2, z2) whose PV is 𝑏⃗⃗
Or perpendicular distance between line 𝑟⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑎1 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
2 – ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗)× 𝑏)
Distance = | ⃗⃗|
|
|𝑏

( IMPORTANT QUESTIONS)
𝑥−5 𝑦+4 𝑧−6
1. Write the vector equation of a line given by = = .
3 7 2
2. Find the Cartesian equation of the line which passes through the point (-2,4,-5)and is parallel to
𝑥+3 4−𝑦 𝑧+8
the line = =
3 5 6
3. Find the equation of line passing through (1,3,4 )and
(a) parallel vector is 2 𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ (or dr of line is 2,3,4)
(b) another point (2,4,1)
𝑥+1 𝑦+2 𝑧+3
(c) Parallel to the line = = .
2 3 4
𝑥+4 𝑦−1 𝑧+3 𝑥+1 𝑦−4 𝑧−5
4. Find the angle between the lines = = and = =
3 5 4 1 1 2
𝑥+2 2𝑦−1 3−𝑧
5. Find the direction ratios of the line = =
1 3 5
6. Find the Cartesian equation of the line which passes through the point (-2,4,-5)and is parallel to
𝑥+3 4−𝑦 𝑧+8
the line 3 = 5 = 6
7. Find the equation of the line which passes through the point (5, -2, 4) and is parallel to the vector
2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂.
3−𝑥 𝑦+2 𝑧+2
8. If the equation of the line AB are = = , find the direction cosines of the line parallel to
3 −2 6
AB.
9. A line passes through point with position vector 2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ and is in the direction of 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂ .
Find the equation of the line in the vector and Cartesian forms.
𝑥−1 𝑦−2 𝑧−3 𝑥−1 𝑦−1 6−𝑧
10. Find the value of k for which the lines −3 = = and = = are perpendicular to each
2𝑘 2 3𝑘 1 5
other .
11. Find the co-ordinates of the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point (1,2,1) to the line
joining the points (1,4,6) and (5,4,4) .

THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY( IMPORTANT QUESTIONS)

a. Find the shortest distance between the lines l1 and l2 given by the following:
 𝑥−1 𝑦−2 𝑧−1 𝑥−2 2𝑦+1 2−3𝑧
(a) l1 : = = l2 : = =
1 −1 1 2 1 2

(b) 𝑟⃗ = (𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂) + λ(𝑖̂– 3𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟⃗=(4𝑖̂ + 2µ)𝑖̂ + (5 +3µ)𝑗̂ + (6 + µ)𝑘̂.
x 1 y  2 z  3 x  4 y 1
   z
b. Show that the lines 2 3 4 and 5 2 intersect. Find their
point of intersection.
𝑥+2 𝑦+1 𝑧−3
4. Find the points on the line 3
= 2
= 2
at a distance of 5 units from the point P(1,3,3).
x  2 y 1 z  3
 
5. Find the image of the point (1, –2, 1) in the line 3 1 2
Important questions( VECTORS )

1. Find a unit vector in the direction of 𝑎⃗ = (3î+4Ĵ-5𝑘̂ ).

2. Find a unit vector in the direction of 𝑎⃗ = (î+2Ĵ+3𝑘̂ ).
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗, where A (1, 2, 3) and B(4, 5, 6)are the given points.
3. Find a unit vector in the direction of𝐴𝐵
4. If 𝑎⃗ = (î+2Ĵ-3𝑘̂ ) and 𝑏⃗⃗= (2𝑖̂+3Ĵ+𝑘̂ ), find a unit vector in the direction of (𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗).
5. Find a vector in the direction of the vector 3î-Ĵ+4𝑘̂ , which has magnitude 6 units.
6. Find the position vector of the mid- point of the vector joining the points A (2î+3Ĵ+4𝑘̂ ) and B (4î+Ĵ-2𝑘̂ ).
7. Show that the points A ( 3î-4Ĵ-4 𝑘̂ ),B (2î-Ĵ+ 𝑘̂) & 𝐶 (î-3Ĵ-5 𝑘̂ ) form the vertices of a right angled triangle.
8. Find the value of p for which p ( î +Ĵ+ 𝑘̂ ) is a unit vector.
9. If| 𝑎⃗| = √3 and |𝑏⃗⃗|= 2 and 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗. 𝑏⃗⃗ =√6 .Find the angle between 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗.
10. Find the value of 𝜆 for which the vectors 𝑎⃗ = (3 î + Ĵ -2𝑘̂ ) and 𝑏⃗⃗= ( 𝑖̂+λĴ-3𝑘̂ ) are perpendicular to each other.
11. If â is a unit vector such that (𝑥⃗-â). (𝑥⃗+â )= 3, then find | 𝑥⃗ |.
12. Find a vector of magnitude of 3 units which is perpendicular to each of the vector 𝑎⃗ = 3î+ĵ -4𝑘̂ and
𝑏⃗⃗= (6𝑖̂+5Ĵ-2𝑘̂ ).
13. If 𝛼⃗ = (3 î - Ĵ ) and 𝛽⃗ = (2𝑖̂+Ĵ-3𝑘̂ ), then express in the form 𝛽⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝛽1 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝛽2 where ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝛽1 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝛼⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝛽2 is
perpendicular to 𝛼⃗ .
14. Let 𝑎⃗ = (î+4Ĵ+2𝑘̂ ) and 𝑏⃗⃗= (3î − 2Ĵ+7𝑘̂ )and 𝑐⃗ = (2 î – ĵ + 4 𝑘̂ ) .Find a vector 𝑑⃗ which is perpendicular to both
𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗ ∙ 𝑑⃗ = 18.
15. Find the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑1 = (3 î + Ĵ − 2𝑘̂ )𝑎𝑛𝑑 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑2 = ( î − 3Ĵ+4𝑘̂ ).
16. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ be three vectors such that 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗ = 0
⃗⃗ and |𝑎⃗| = 3 , |𝑏⃗⃗| = 5 , |𝑐⃗| = 7, find the angle between
𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗.
17. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ are three vectors such that |𝑎⃗| = 5 , |𝑏⃗⃗| = 4 , |𝑐⃗| =
3, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜, 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 |𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗| .
𝜃 1
18. If â and 𝑏̂ are unit vectors and 𝜃is the angle between them, prove that 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 =2 |â − 𝑏̂ | .
19. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ be three unit vectors such that 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗ = 0 ⃗⃗ then find the value of ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑐⃗ + 𝑐⃗ ∙ 𝑎⃗
(𝑎
).
20. If 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑐⃗⃗⃗ , show that 𝑎⃗ = ⃗0⃗ 𝑜𝑟 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑐⃗ or 𝑎⃗ ⊥ (𝑏⃗⃗ − 𝑐⃗ ) .
21. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ are three mutually perpendicular vectors of the same magnitude, prove that (𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑐) is equally
inclined to the vectors 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗ .
22. Find the area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are 𝑎⃗ = (î+2Ĵ+3𝑘̂ ) and 𝑏⃗⃗= (3𝑖̂-2Ĵ+𝑘̂).
23. Find the area of the triangle whose adjacent sides are 𝑎⃗ = (−2î-5𝑘̂ ) and 𝑏⃗⃗= ( 𝑖̂-2Ĵ- 𝑘̂ ).
24. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ are the position vectors of the vertices A, B, C of triangle ABC, show that the area of the triangle ABC
1
is | (𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗ + 𝑐⃗ × 𝑎⃗ )|.
2
25. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗ be three vectors such that 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗ = 0
⃗⃗ then prove that 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗ = 𝑐⃗ × 𝑎⃗