Question

Let the values of $\lambda$ for which the shortest distance between the lines $\frac{x-1}{2} = \frac{y-2}{3} = \frac{z-3}{4}$ and $\frac{x-\lambda}{3} = \frac{y-4}{4} = \frac{z-5}{5}$ is $\frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}$ be $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$. Then the radius of the circle passing through the points $(0, 0), (\lambda_1, \lambda_2)$ and $(\lambda_2, \lambda_1)$ is

• A. 4
• B. 3
• C. \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}\)
• D. \(\frac{5\sqrt{2}}{2}\)

Hint:

- Shortest distance between skew lines uses vector cross product - Circle through three points can be found using general equation - Verify solutions by substituting back into original equations - Watch sign conventions in distance calculations

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Determine the minimum distance between two lines.

Provided lines:

\( L_1 : \vec{r_1} = (1, 2, 3) + t(2, 3, 4) \)
\( L_2 : \vec{r_2} = (\lambda, 4, 5) + s(3, 4, 5) \)

Formula for shortest distance:

\[ d = \frac{|(\vec{a_2} - \vec{a_1}) \cdot (\vec{b_1} \times \vec{b_2})|}{|\vec{b_1} \times \vec{b_2}|} \]

where

\[ \vec{a_1} = (1, 2, 3), \quad \vec{a_2} = (\lambda, 4, 5), \quad \vec{b_1} = (2, 3, 4), \quad \vec{b_2} = (3, 4, 5) \]

Calculate the cross product \( \vec{b_1} \times \vec{b_2} \):

\[ \vec{b_1} \times \vec{b_2} = (-1, 2, -1) \]

Substitute into the distance formula:

\[ d = \frac{|(\lambda - 1, 2, 2) \cdot (-1, 2, -1)|}{\sqrt{6}} = \frac{|1 - \lambda + 4 - 2|}{\sqrt{6}} = \frac{|3 - \lambda|}{\sqrt{6}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} \]

Solve for \( \lambda \):

\[ |3 - \lambda| = 1 \Rightarrow \lambda_1 = 2, \, \lambda_2 = 4 \]

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Step 2: Find the equation of the circle passing through (0,0), (2,4), and (4,2).

Using the general form of a circle's equation:

\[ x^2 + y^2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 \]

Substitute the coordinates of the given points:

\[ \begin{cases} c = 0 \\ 4 + 16 + 4g + 8f = 0 \\ 16 + 4 + 8g + 4f = 0 \end{cases} \]

The solution for the coefficients is:

\[ g = -\frac{5}{2}, \quad f = -\frac{5}{2}, \quad c = 0 \]

Calculate the radius:

\[ r = \sqrt{g^2 + f^2 - c} = \sqrt{\frac{25}{4} + \frac{25}{4}} = \frac{5\sqrt{2}}{2} \]

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Final Results:

• Shortest distance between the lines: \( \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} \)
• Values of \( \lambda \): \( \lambda_1 = 2, \, \lambda_2 = 4 \)
• Equation of the circle: \( x^2 + y^2 - 5x - 5y = 0 \)
• Radius of the circle: \( \frac{5\sqrt{2}}{2} \)