Find the length and the equations of the line of shortest distance between the lines given by:
and 
Given : Cartesian equations of lines
Formulae :
1. Condition for perpendicularity :
If line L1 has direction ratios (a1, a2, a3) and that of line L2 are (b1, b2, b3) then lines L1 and L2 will be perpendicular to each other if
2. Distance formula :
Distance between two points A≡(a1, a2, a3) and B≡(b1, b2, b3) is given by,
3. Equation of line :
Equation of line passing through points A≡(x1, y1, z1) and B≡(x2, y2, z2) is given by,
Answer :
Given equations of lines
Direction ratios of L1 and L2 are (3, -1, 1) and (-3, 2, 4) respectively.
Let, general point on line L1 is P≡(x1, y1, z1)
x1 = 3s+6 , y1 = -s+7 , z1 = s+4
and let, general point on line L2 is Q≡(x2, y2, z2)
x2 = -3t , y2 = 2t – 9 , z2 = 4t + 2
Direction ratios of 
are ((-3t - 3s - 6), (2t + s – 16), (4t – s – 2))
PQ will be the shortest distance if it perpendicular to both the given lines
Therefore, by the condition of perpendicularity,
3(-3t - 3s - 6) - 1(2t + s – 16) + 1(4t – s – 2) = 0 and
-3(-3t - 3s - 6) + 2(2t + s – 16) + 4(4t – s – 2) = 0
⇒ -9t - 9s - 18 - 2t – s + 16 + 4t – s – 2 = 0 and
9t + 9s + 18 + 4t + 2s – 32 + 16t – 4s – 8 = 0
⇒ -7t – 11s = 4 and
29t + 7s = -22
Solving above two equations, we get,
t = 1 and s = -1
therefore,
P ≡ (3, 8, 3) and Q ≡ (-3, -7, 6)
Now, distance between points P and Q is
Therefore, the shortest distance between two given lines is
Now, equation of line passing through points P and Q is,
Therefore, equation of line of shortest distance between two given lines is
