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2007 Paper 1 Q7
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

  1. The line \(L_1\) has vector equation $\displaystyle {\bf r} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 2 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} \hphantom{-} 2 \\ \hphantom{-} 2 \\ -3 \end{pmatrix} $. The line \(L_2\) has vector equation $\displaystyle {\bf r} = \begin{pmatrix} \hphantom{-} 4 \\ -2 \\ \hphantom{-} 9 \end{pmatrix} + \mu \begin{pmatrix} \hphantom{-} 1 \\ \hphantom{-} 2 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix} . $ Show that the distance \(D\) between a point on \(L_1\) and a point on \(L_2\) can be expressed in the form \[ D^2 = \left(3\mu -4 \lambda-5 \right)^2 + \left( \lambda -1 \right)^2 + 36\,. \] Hence determine the minimum distance between these two lines and find the coordinates of the points on the two lines that are the minimum distance apart.
  2. The line \(L_3\) has vector equation ${\bf r} = \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 3 \\ 5 \end{pmatrix} + \alpha \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} . $ The line \(L_4\) has vector equation $ {\bf r} = \begin{pmatrix} \hphantom{-} 3 \\ \hphantom{-} 3 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix} + \beta \begin{pmatrix} \, 4k\\ 1-k \\ \!\!\! -3k \end{pmatrix} . $ Determine the minimum distance between these two lines, explaining geometrically the two different cases that arise according to the value of \(k\).