Shortest distance between two skew lines

A question is this type if and only if it asks to find the minimum distance between two non-intersecting lines using the formula |(b₁-b₂)·(d₁×d₂)|/|d₁×d₂|.

46 questions · Challenging +1.1

4.04i Shortest distance: between a point and a line
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CAIE Further Paper 1 2020 June Q5
12 marks Challenging +1.2
5 The lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations \(\mathbf { r } = 3 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k } )\) and \(\mathbf { r } = 3 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } - 6 \mathbf { k } + \mu ( 5 \mathbf { j } + 6 \mathbf { k } )\) respectively.
  1. Find the shortest distance between \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\).
    The plane \(\Pi\) contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and is parallel to the vector \(\mathbf { i } + \mathbf { k }\).
  2. Find the equation of \(\Pi\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
  3. Find the acute angle between \(l _ { 2 }\) and \(\Pi\).
CAIE Further Paper 1 2021 June Q6
12 marks Challenging +1.2
6 Let \(t\) be a positive constant.
The line \(l _ { 1 }\) passes through the point with position vector \(t \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j }\) and is parallel to the vector \(- 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j }\). The line \(l _ { 2 }\) passes through the point with position vector \(\mathbf { j } + t \mathbf { k }\) and is parallel to the vector \(- 2 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k }\). It is given that the shortest distance between the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) is \(\sqrt { \mathbf { 2 1 } }\).
  1. Find the value of \(t\).
    The plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and is parallel to \(l _ { 2 }\).
  2. Write down an equation of \(\Pi _ { 1 }\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { a } + \lambda \mathbf { b } + \mu \mathbf { c }\).
    The plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) has Cartesian equation \(5 x - 6 y + 7 z = 0\).
  3. Find the acute angle between \(l _ { 2 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\).
  4. Find the acute angle between \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\).
CAIE Further Paper 1 2022 June Q7
18 marks Challenging +1.2
7 The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are $$7 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } , \quad 11 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } , \quad 2 \mathbf { i } + 6 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } , \quad 2 \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } + \lambda \mathbf { k }$$ respectively.
  1. Given that the shortest distance between the line \(A B\) and the line \(C D\) is 3 , show that \(\lambda ^ { 2 } - 5 \lambda + 4 = 0\).
    Let \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) be the plane \(A B D\) when \(\lambda = 1\).
    Let \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) be the plane \(A B D\) when \(\lambda = 4\).
    1. Write down an equation of \(\Pi _ { 1 }\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { a } + \mathbf { s b } + \mathbf { t c }\).
    2. Find an equation of \(\Pi _ { 2 }\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
  2. Find the acute angle between \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\).
    If you use the following page to complete the answer to any question, the question number must be clearly shown.
CAIE Further Paper 1 2024 June Q5
10 marks Challenging +1.2
5 The lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( \mathbf { j } - 2 \mathbf { k } )\) and \(\mathbf { r } = - 3 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + \mu ( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } )\) respectively.
  1. Find the shortest distance between \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\).
    The plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and is parallel to \(l _ { 2 }\).
  2. Obtain an equation of \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) in the form \(p x + q y + r z = s\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7eb2abb1-68f4-4cc8-8314-f436906d6c4e-10_2715_40_144_2007}
  3. The point \(( 1,1,1 )\) lies on the plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\). It is given that the line of intersection of the planes \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) passes through the point ( \(0,0,2\) ) and is parallel to the vector \(\mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - 3 \mathbf { k }\). Obtain an equation of \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
CAIE Further Paper 1 2023 November Q4
9 marks Challenging +1.2
4 The lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations $$\mathbf { r } = - 2 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j } - 5 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( - 4 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 5 \mathbf { k } ) \quad \text { and } \quad \mathbf { r } = 2 \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } + \mu ( 2 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } )$$ respectively.
  1. Find the shortest distance between \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\).
    The plane \(\Pi\) contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and the point with position vector \(- \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j } - 4 \mathbf { k }\).
  2. Find an equation of \(\Pi\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
CAIE Further Paper 1 2020 Specimen Q6
14 marks Challenging +1.8
6 The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are $$2 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - 3 \mathbf { k } , \quad - 2 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } - 4 \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } + m \mathbf { k } ,$$ respectively, where \(m\) is an integer. It is given that the shortest distance between the line through \(A\) and \(B\) and the line through \(C\) and \(D\) is 3 .
  1. Show that the only possible value of \(m\) is 2 .
  2. Find the shortest distance of \(D\) from the line through \(A\) and \(C\).
  3. Show that the acute angle between the planes \(A C D\) and \(B C D\) is \(\cos ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 3 } } \right)\).
Edexcel F3 2021 October Q5
10 marks Standard +0.8
  1. The skew lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations
$$l _ { 1 } : \mathbf { r } = ( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - 5 \mathbf { k } ) + \lambda ( 5 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } )$$ and $$l _ { 2 } : \mathbf { r } = ( 2 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k } ) + \mu ( 8 \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } )$$ where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are scalar parameters.
  1. Determine a vector that is perpendicular to both \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\)
  2. Determine an equation of the plane parallel to \(l _ { 1 }\) that contains \(l _ { 2 }\)
    1. in the form \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { a } + s \mathbf { b } + t \mathbf { c }\)
    2. in the form r.n \(= p\)
  3. Determine the shortest distance between \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) Give your answer in simplest form.
Edexcel FP3 2013 June Q2
7 marks Standard +0.8
2. Two skew lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations $$\begin{aligned} & l _ { 1 } : \mathbf { r } = ( \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } ) + \lambda ( 4 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } ) \\ & l _ { 2 } : \mathbf { r } = ( 3 \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } ) + \mu ( - 4 \mathbf { i } + 6 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } ) \end{aligned}$$ respectively, where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are real parameters.
  1. Find a vector in the direction of the common perpendicular to \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\)
  2. Find the shortest distance between these two lines.
Edexcel FP3 2018 June Q6
13 marks Standard +0.8
6. The line \(l _ { 1 }\) has equation $$\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( 2 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } )$$ where \(\lambda\) is a scalar parameter. The line \(l _ { 2 }\) has equation $$\frac { x + 1 } { 1 } = \frac { y - 4 } { 1 } = \frac { z - 1 } { 3 }$$
  1. Prove that the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) are skew.
  2. Find the shortest distance between the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) The plane \(\Pi\) contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and intersects \(l _ { 2 }\) at the point \(( 3,8,13 )\).
  3. Find a cartesian equation for the plane \(\Pi\).
OCR FP3 Specimen Q5
9 marks Standard +0.8
5 The lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations $$\frac { x - 5 } { 1 } = \frac { y - 1 } { - 1 } = \frac { z - 5 } { - 2 } \quad \text { and } \quad \frac { x - 1 } { - 4 } = \frac { y - 11 } { - 14 } = \frac { z - 2 } { 2 } .$$
  1. Find the exact value of the shortest distance between \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\).
  2. Find an equation for the plane containing \(l _ { 1 }\) and parallel to \(l _ { 2 }\) in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
OCR MEI FP3 2006 June Q1
24 marks Challenging +1.2
1 Four points have coordinates \(\mathrm { A } ( - 2 , - 3,2 ) , \mathrm { B } ( - 3,1,5 ) , \mathrm { C } ( k , 5 , - 2 )\) and \(\mathrm { D } ( 0,9 , k )\).
  1. Find the vector product \(\overrightarrow { \mathrm { AB } } \times \overrightarrow { \mathrm { CD } }\).
  2. For the case when AB is parallel to CD ,
    (A) state the value of \(k\),
    (B) find the shortest distance between the parallel lines AB and CD ,
    (C) find, in the form \(a x + b y + c z + d = 0\), the equation of the plane containing AB and CD .
  3. When AB is not parallel to CD , find the shortest distance between the lines AB and CD , in terms of \(k\).
  4. Find the value of \(k\) for which the line AB intersects the line CD , and find the coordinates of the point of intersection in this case.
OCR MEI FP3 2010 June Q1
24 marks Challenging +1.2
1 Four points have coordinates $$\mathrm { A } ( 3,8,27 ) , \quad \mathrm { B } ( 5,9,25 ) , \quad \mathrm { C } ( 8,0,1 ) \quad \text { and } \quad \mathrm { D } ( 11 , p , p ) ,$$ where \(p\) is a constant.
  1. Find the perpendicular distance from C to the line AB .
  2. Find \(\overrightarrow { \mathrm { AB } } \times \overrightarrow { \mathrm { CD } }\) in terms of \(p\), and show that the shortest distance between the lines AB and CD is $$\frac { 21 | p - 5 | } { \sqrt { 17 p ^ { 2 } - 2 p + 26 } }$$
  3. Find, in terms of \(p\), the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD .
  4. State the value of \(p\) for which the lines AB and CD intersect, and find the coordinates of the point of intersection in this case. Option 2: Multi-variable calculus
OCR MEI FP3 2013 June Q1
24 marks Standard +0.8
1 Three points have coordinates \(\mathrm { A } ( 3,2,10 ) , \mathrm { B } ( 11,0 , - 3 ) , \mathrm { C } ( 5,18,0 )\), and \(L\) is the straight line through A with equation $$\frac { x - 3 } { - 1 } = \frac { y - 2 } { 4 } = \frac { z - 10 } { 1 }$$
  1. Find the shortest distance between the lines \(L\) and BC .
  2. Find the shortest distance from A to the line BC . A straight line passes through B and the point \(\mathrm { P } ( 5,18 , k )\), and intersects the line \(L\).
  3. Find \(k\), and the point of intersection of the lines BP and \(L\). The point D is on the line \(L\), and AD has length 12 .
  4. Find the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD .
OCR MEI FP3 2009 June Q1
24 marks Challenging +1.8
1 The point \(\mathrm { A } ( - 1,12,5 )\) lies on the plane \(P\) with equation \(8 x - 3 y + 10 z = 6\). The point \(\mathrm { B } ( 6 , - 2,9 )\) lies on the plane \(Q\) with equation \(3 x - 4 y - 2 z = 8\). The planes \(P\) and \(Q\) intersect in the line \(L\).
  1. Find an equation for the line \(L\).
  2. Find the shortest distance between \(L\) and the line AB . The lines \(M\) and \(N\) are both parallel to \(L\), with \(M\) passing through A and \(N\) passing through B .
  3. Find the distance between the parallel lines \(M\) and \(N\). The point C has coordinates \(( k , 0,2 )\), and the line AC intersects the line \(N\) at the point D .
  4. Find the value of \(k\), and the coordinates of D .
OCR FP3 2009 January Q3
6 marks Challenging +1.2
3 Two skew lines have equations $$\frac { x } { 2 } = \frac { y + 3 } { 1 } = \frac { z - 6 } { 3 } \quad \text { and } \quad \frac { x - 5 } { 3 } = \frac { y + 1 } { 1 } = \frac { z - 7 } { 5 } .$$
  1. Find the direction of the common perpendicular to the lines.
  2. Find the shortest distance between the lines.
OCR FP3 2013 January Q4
7 marks Standard +0.8
4 The lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) have equations $$\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 2 \\ 1 \end{array} \right) + \lambda \left( \begin{array} { r } 2 \\ 3 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right) \text { and } \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 3 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{array} \right) + \mu \left( \begin{array} { r } 4 \\ - 1 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)$$ respectively.
  1. Find the shortest distance between the lines.
  2. Find a cartesian equation of the plane which contains \(l _ { 1 }\) and which is parallel to \(l _ { 2 }\).
OCR FP3 2015 June Q6
7 marks Standard +0.8
6 Find the shortest distance between the lines with equations $$\frac { x - 1 } { 2 } = \frac { y + 2 } { 3 } = \frac { z - 5 } { - 1 } \quad \text { and } \quad \frac { x - 3 } { 4 } = \frac { y - 1 } { - 2 } = \frac { z + 1 } { 3 } .$$
OCR FP3 2016 June Q2
4 marks Standard +0.8
2 Find the shortest distance between the lines \(\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 2 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{array} \right) + \lambda \left( \begin{array} { c } 1 \\ 2 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { c } - 1 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{array} \right) + \mu \left( \begin{array} { l } 3 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\).
CAIE FP1 2008 June Q12 EITHER
Challenging +1.8
The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are \(7 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k }\), \(3 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } - 2 \mathbf { k }\), \(2 \mathbf { i } + 6 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k }\), \(2 \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } + \lambda \mathbf { k }\) respectively. It is given that the shortest distance between the line \(A B\) and the line \(C D\) is 3 .
  1. Show that \(\lambda ^ { 2 } - 5 \lambda + 4 = 0\).
  2. Find the acute angle between the planes through \(A , B , D\) corresponding to the values of \(\lambda\) satisfying the equation in part (i).
CAIE FP1 2012 June Q11 OR
Challenging +1.2
The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are $$2 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - 3 \mathbf { k } , \quad - 2 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } - 4 \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } + m \mathbf { k }$$ respectively, where \(m\) is an integer. It is given that the shortest distance between the line through \(A\) and \(B\) and the line through \(C\) and \(D\) is 3 . Show that the only possible value of \(m\) is 2 . Find the shortest distance of \(D\) from the line through \(A\) and \(C\). Show that the acute angle between the planes \(A C D\) and \(B C D\) is \(\cos ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } 3 } \right)\).
CAIE FP1 2012 June Q11 OR
Challenging +1.2
The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are $$2 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - 3 \mathbf { k } , \quad - 2 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } - 4 \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } , \quad \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } + m \mathbf { k } ,$$ respectively, where \(m\) is an integer. It is given that the shortest distance between the line through \(A\) and \(B\) and the line through \(C\) and \(D\) is 3 . Show that the only possible value of \(m\) is 2 . Find the shortest distance of \(D\) from the line through \(A\) and \(C\). Show that the acute angle between the planes \(A C D\) and \(B C D\) is \(\cos ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } 3 } \right)\).
CAIE FP1 2014 June Q11
11 marks Challenging +1.2
11 The line \(l _ { 1 }\) passes through the points \(A ( 2,3 , - 5 )\) and \(B ( 8,7 , - 13 )\). The line \(l _ { 2 }\) passes through the points \(C ( - 2,1,8 )\) and \(D ( 3 , - 1,4 )\). Find the shortest distance between the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\). The plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) passes through the points \(A , B\) and \(D\). The plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) passes though the points \(A , C\) and \(D\). Find the acute angle between \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\), giving your answer in degrees.
CAIE FP1 2017 June Q12 OR
Challenging +1.2
The position vectors of the points \(A , B , C , D\) are $$\mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } , \quad 3 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + 5 \mathbf { k } , \quad 3 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k } , \quad 5 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } + \alpha \mathbf { k } ,$$ respectively, where \(\alpha\) is a positive integer. It is given that the shortest distance between the line \(A B\) and the line \(C D\) is equal to \(2 \sqrt { } 2\).
  1. Show that the possible values of \(\alpha\) are 3 and 5 .
  2. Using \(\alpha = 3\), find the shortest distance of the point \(D\) from the line \(A C\), giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
  3. Using \(\alpha = 3\), find the acute angle between the planes \(A B C\) and \(A B D\), giving your answer in degrees.
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CAIE FP1 2019 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.8
7 The line \(l _ { 1 }\) passes through the points \(A ( - 3,1,4 )\) and \(B ( - 1,5,9 )\). The line \(l _ { 2 }\) passes through the points \(C ( - 2,6,5 )\) and \(D ( - 1,7,5 )\).
  1. Find the shortest distance between the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\).
  2. Find the acute angle between the line \(l _ { 2 }\) and the plane containing \(A , B\) and \(D\).
CAIE FP1 2006 November Q9
11 marks Challenging +1.8
9 With \(O\) as origin, the points \(A , B , C\) have position vectors $$\mathbf { i } , \quad \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } , \quad \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }$$ respectively. Find a vector equation of the common perpendicular of the lines \(A B\) and \(O C\). Show that the shortest distance between the lines \(A B\) and \(O C\) is \(\frac { 2 } { 5 } \sqrt { } 5\). Find, in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\), an equation for the plane containing \(A B\) and the common perpendicular of the lines \(A B\) and \(O C\).