If the shortest distance between the lines $\frac{x-1}{2}=\frac{y-2}{3}=\frac{z-3}{4}$ and $\frac{x}{1}=\frac{y}{\alpha}=\frac{z-5}{1}$ is $\frac{5}{\sqrt{6}}$, then the sum of all possible values of $\alpha$ is
Solution
<p>$$\begin{aligned}
& d=\left|\frac{(\vec{a}-\vec{b}) \cdot \vec{p}_1 \times \vec{p}_2}{\left|\vec{p}_1 \times \vec{p}_2\right|}\right|=\frac{5}{\sqrt{6}} \\
& \vec{a}-\vec{b}=\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}-2 \hat{k} \\
& \overrightarrow{p_1} \times \overrightarrow{p_2}=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
\hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\
2 & 3 & 4 \\
1 & \alpha & 1
\end{array}\right| \\
& \quad=\hat{i}(3-4 \alpha)-\hat{j}(-2)+\hat{k}(2 \alpha-3) \\
& (\vec{a}-\vec{b}) \cdot\left|\overrightarrow{p_1} \times \overrightarrow{p_2}\right|=3-4 \alpha+4-4 \alpha+6 \\
& =13-8 \alpha
\end{aligned}$$</p>
<p>$$\begin{aligned}
& \left|\frac{13-8 \alpha}{\sqrt{(3-4 \alpha)^2+4+(2 \alpha-3)^2}}\right|=\frac{5}{\sqrt{6}} \\
& \left|\frac{13-8 \alpha}{\sqrt{20 \alpha^2-36 \alpha+22}}\right|=\frac{5}{\sqrt{6}} \\
& =6(13-8 \alpha)^2=25\left(20 \alpha^2-36 \alpha+22\right) \\
& =116 \alpha^2+348 \alpha-464=0 \\
& \text { Sum of roots }=-3
\end{aligned}$$</p>
About this question
Subject: Mathematics · Chapter: Three Dimensional Geometry · Topic: Direction Cosines and Ratios
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