Q6 of 136 Page 28

that the line joining the origin to the point (2, 1, 1) is perpendicular to the line determined by the points (3,5,–1) and (4, 3, –1).

The direction ratios of a line can be found by subtracting the corresponding coordinates of two points through which the line passes i.e. (subtract x coordinates, subtract y coordinates, subtract z coordinates), this is the direction ratio of the line. There can be no direction ratio of a line passing through only one point, there should be at least two points.

The direction ratios of a line joining the origin to the point (2,1,1) are (2–0,1–0,1–0) = (2,1,1)


The direction ratios of a line joining the points (3,5,–1) and (4,3,–1) are (4–3,3–5,–1–{–1}) = (1,–2,0)


By using the dot product we can find the angle between the two lines,




cos θ =


cos θ = 0


θ =


Therefore, the lines are mutually perpendicular.


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