Join WhatsApp Icon JEE WhatsApp Group
Question 88

An angle between the lines whose direction cosines are given by the equations, $$l + 3m + 5n = 0$$ and $$5lm - 2mn + 6nl = 0$$, is:

Let the required lines have direction cosines $$l,\;m,\;n$$. These quantities satisfy both the given relations

$$l + 3m + 5n = 0 \qquad\text{and}\qquad 5lm - 2mn + 6nl = 0.$$

From the linear relation we have

$$l = -\,(3m + 5n).$$

We now substitute this value of $$l$$ into the quadratic equation:

$$5lm - 2mn + 6nl = 0.$$

First we compute each term one by one.

We have $$5lm = 5\bigl(-\,(3m + 5n)\bigr)m = 5\bigl(-3m^2 - 5mn\bigr) = -15m^2 - 25mn.$$

The middle term is already simple:

$$-2mn = -2mn.$$

The last term is

$$6nl = 6n\bigl(-\,(3m + 5n)\bigr) = -18mn - 30n^2.$$

Adding all three expressions and setting the sum equal to zero we get

$$(-15m^2 - 25mn) + (-2mn) + (-18mn - 30n^2) = 0.$$

Simplifying the coefficients of like terms:

$$-15m^2 \;-\;(25 + 2 + 18)mn \;-\;30n^2 = 0,$$

$$-15m^2 - 45mn - 30n^2 = 0.$$

Dividing throughout by $$-15$$ we obtain

$$m^2 + 3mn + 2n^2 = 0.$$

This quadratic in two variables factorises neatly:

$$m^2 + 3mn + 2n^2 = (m + n)(m + 2n) = 0.$$

Hence either

$$m + n = 0 \quad\text{or}\quad m + 2n = 0.$$

We now find the corresponding sets of direction ratios $$\bigl(l,\;m,\;n\bigr).$$

Case 1. If $$m + n = 0,$$ then $$n = -m.$$ Using $$l = -\,(3m + 5n)$$ we get

$$l = -\bigl(3m + 5(-m)\bigr) = -\bigl(3m - 5m\bigr) = -(-2m) = 2m.$$

Thus a suitable set of direction ratios is

$$l : m : n = 2m : m : -m = 2 : 1 : -1.$$

We denote the corresponding vector by

$$\vec v_1 = (2,\;1,\;-1).$$

Case 2. If $$m + 2n = 0,$$ then $$m = -2n.$$ Again, from $$l = -\,(3m + 5n)$$ we find

$$l = -\bigl(3(-2n) + 5n\bigr) = -\bigl(-6n + 5n\bigr) = -(-n) = n.$$

Hence a set of direction ratios is

$$l : m : n = n : -2n : n = 1 : -2 : 1.$$

The corresponding vector is

$$\vec v_2 = (1,\;-2,\;1).$$

We now calculate the angle between the two lines whose direction ratios are given by $$\vec v_1$$ and $$\vec v_2$$. For two vectors $$\vec a = (a_1,a_2,a_3)$$ and $$\vec b = (b_1,b_2,b_3)$$, the cosine of the angle $$\theta$$ between them is defined by the formula

$$\cos\theta = \dfrac{a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + a_3b_3} {\sqrt{a_1^2 + a_2^2 + a_3^2}\;\sqrt{b_1^2 + b_2^2 + b_3^2}}.$$

Applying this to $$\vec v_1 = (2,1,-1)$$ and $$\vec v_2 = (1,-2,1)$$ we have

$$a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + a_3b_3 = (2)(1) + (1)(-2) + (-1)(1) = 2 - 2 - 1 = -1.$$

The magnitudes of the vectors are

$$|\vec v_1| = \sqrt{2^2 + 1^2 + (-1)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 1 + 1} = \sqrt{6},$$

$$|\vec v_2| = \sqrt{1^2 + (-2)^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{1 + 4 + 1} = \sqrt{6}.$$

Substituting into the cosine formula we get

$$\cos\theta = \dfrac{-1}{\sqrt{6}\,\sqrt{6}} = -\dfrac{1}{6}.$$

The expression $$\cos\theta = -\dfrac{1}{6}$$ corresponds to an obtuse angle. However, by convention the angle between two lines is taken to be the acute angle, whose cosine is the absolute value of the above result. Therefore

$$\cos\alpha = \left|\cos\theta\right| = \dfrac{1}{6}, \qquad 0^\circ \le \alpha \le 90^\circ.$$

Consequently

$$\alpha = \cos^{-1}\!\left(\dfrac{1}{6}\right).$$

Among the listed choices this corresponds to Option B.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B.

Get AI Help

Create a FREE account and get:

  • Free JEE Mains Previous Papers PDF
  • Take JEE Mains paper tests

JEE Quant Questions | JEE Quantitative Ability

JEE DILR Questions | LRDI Questions For JEE

JEE Verbal Ability Questions | VARC Questions For JEE

Free JEE Topicwise Questions

JEE Rotational MotionJEE Units & MeasurementsJEE Atomic StructureJEE GravitationJEE Periodic Table & PeriodicityJEE StatisticsJEE Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsJEE Magnetism & Magnetic MaterialsJEE Sequences & SeriesJEE MatricesJEE Alternating CurrentsJEE Carboxylic AcidsJEE Permutations & CombinationsJEE Work, Energy & PowerJEE Electromagnetic InductionJEE Electronic DevicesJEE d and f-Block ElementsJEE Chemical KineticsJEE Heat TransferJEE Three Dimensional GeometryJEE Magnetic Effects of CurrentJEE Hydrocarbons - AromaticJEE Electromagnetic WavesJEE Aldehydes & KetonesJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkanesJEE Applications of DerivativesJEE EquilibriumJEE Indefinite IntegrationJEE Chemical ThermodynamicsJEE ElectrochemistryJEE ProbabilityJEE BiomoleculesJEE Continuity & DifferentiabilityJEE Kinetic Theory of GasesJEE Vector AlgebraJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkynesJEE Differential EquationsJEE Current & ResistanceJEE Straight LinesJEE WavesJEE Redox ReactionsJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkenesJEE DeterminantsJEE SolutionsJEE Ray OpticsJEE Dual Nature of Matter & RadiationJEE Chemical Bonding & Molecular StructureJEE Complex NumbersJEE Sets, Relations & FunctionsJEE Electric Charges & FieldsJEE Laws of MotionJEE Fluid MechanicsJEE Basic Concepts in ChemistryJEE Trigonometric FunctionsJEE LimitsJEE Laws of ThermodynamicsJEE Kinematics - 2D MotionJEE p-Block Elements (Groups 13-18)JEE Simple Harmonic MotionJEE Electric Potential & CapacitanceJEE Coordination CompoundsJEE JEE 2D GeometryJEE CirclesJEE Definite IntegrationJEE EMF & Circuit AnalysisJEE Surface TensionJEE Atoms & NucleiJEE Laboratory Experiments - XIJEE Number SystemJEE Basic Principles of Organic ChemistryJEE Wave OpticsJEE Quadratic EquationsJEE Alcohols, Phenols & EthersJEE Organic Compounds with HalogensJEE DifferentiationJEE Conic SectionsJEE Nitrogen-Containing CompoundsJEE ElasticityJEE Practical Organic ChemistryJEE Kinematics - 1D MotionJEE Purification & CharacterisationJEE Binomial Theorem
Ask AI