Porisma

Worked solution

Find a line intersection and its acute angle

Given l1:r=(1,2,3)+λ(1,2,5)l_1:\mathbf r=(1,2,3)+\lambda(1,2,5) and l2:r=(2,1,7)+μ(1,5,6)l_2:\mathbf r=(2,1,7)+\mu(1,5,6), with λ,μ real, find (i) their point of intersection and (ii) their acute angle.

CJC · Lecture · Self-Practice 8

(i) Solve all three coordinates for the intersection

The printed answer is (3,6,13). To obtain it, equate 1+λ=2+μ1+\lambda=2+\mu, 2+2λ=1+5μ2+2\lambda=1+5\mu, 3+5λ=7+6μ3+5\lambda=7+6\mu. The first gives λ=1+μ; substituting into the second gives 4+2μ=1+5μ4+2\mu=1+5\mu, so μ=1 and λ=2. Check the third: 3+5(2)=7+6(1)=133+5(2)=7+6(1)=13. The common point is (1,2,3)+2(1,2,5)=(3,6,13)(1,2,3)+2(1,2,5)=(3,6,13).

How did this part go?

(ii) Use the absolute dot product of the directions

The dot product is (1,2,5)⋅(1,5,6)=1+10+30=41(1,2,5)\cdot(1,5,6)=1+10+30=41, with magnitudes 30\sqrt{30} and 62\sqrt{62}. Thus α=cos⁡−1(41/1860)=18.1∘\alpha=\cos^{-1}(41/\sqrt{1860})=18.1^\circ to 1 decimal place, or 0.315 rad to 3 significant figures, matching both printed answers. These derivations supplement the source answer list.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

Verify the third intersection equation even after solving the first two. Keep degree and radian rounding separate.

Read the hint