Question:

Show that line \( AB \) passing through points \( A(0, 4, 1), B(2, 3, -1) \) and the line \( CD \) passing through points \( C(4, 5, 0), D(2, 6, 2) \) are parallel. Also, find distance between them.

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Parallel lines have direction ratios \( a, b, c \) and \( ka, kb, kc \).
Distance can also be found using the projection method: \( \sqrt{|\vec{CP}|^2 - (\text{proj}_{\vec{b}}\vec{CP})^2} \).
Updated On: Sep 10, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Concept:
• Direction Ratios (DRs): DRs of line through \( (x_1, y_1, z_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2, z_2) \) are \( (x_2-x_1, y_2-y_1, z_2-z_1) \).
• Parallel Lines: Two lines are parallel if their DRs are proportional.
• Distance between parallel lines: \( d = \frac{|\vec{CP} \times \vec{d}|}{|\vec{d}|} \), where \( P \) is on line \( AB \), \( C \) is on line \( CD \), and \( \vec{d} \) is the direction vector.

Step 1:
Determine the direction ratios of both lines
For line \( AB \): \( DRs = (2 - 0, 3 - 4, -1 - 1) = (2, -1, -2) \).
For line \( CD \): \( DRs = (2 - 4, 6 - 5, 2 - 0) = (-2, 1, 2) \). Comparing the DRs: \[ \frac{2}{-2} = \frac{-1}{1} = \frac{-2}{2} = -1 \] Since the DRs are proportional, the lines \( AB \) and \( CD \) are parallel.

Step 2:
Set up vector quantities for distance calculation
Let point \( P = A(0, 4, 1) \) on line \( AB \).
Let point \( C = (4, 5, 0) \) on line \( CD \).
Vector \( \vec{CP} = (0 - 4)\hat{i} + (4 - 5)\hat{j} + (1 - 0)\hat{k} = -4\hat{i} - \hat{j} + \hat{k} \).
Direction vector of line \( CD \), \( \vec{b} = -2\hat{i} + \hat{j} + 2\hat{k} \).

Step 3:
Calculate the distance
Cross product \( \vec{CP} \times \vec{b} \): \[ \vec{CP} \times \vec{b} = \begin{vmatrix} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ -4 & -1 & 1 \\ -2 & 1 & 2 \end{vmatrix} = \hat{i}(-2 - 1) - \hat{j}(-8 + 2) + \hat{k}(-4 - 2) = -3\hat{i} + 6\hat{j} - 6\hat{k} \] Magnitude \( |\vec{CP} \times \vec{b}| = \sqrt{(-3)^2 + 6^2 + (-6)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 36 + 36} = \sqrt{81} = 9 \).
Magnitude \( |\vec{b}| = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + 1^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{4 + 1 + 4} = 3 \). \[ \text{Distance} = \frac{|\vec{CP} \times \vec{b}|}{|\vec{b}|} = \frac{9}{3} = 3 \text{ units} \]
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