Pure formula based

Geometry Level 4

Find the distance of the point ( 1 , 1 , 1 ) (1,1,1) from x + y + z = 1 x+y+z=1 measured perpendicular to line x 2 = y 3 = z 6 \frac{x}{2}=\frac{y}{3}=\frac{z}{6} .


The answer is 2.745.

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1 solution

Utsav Banerjee
May 19, 2015

The equation of the straight line perpendicular to the given line x 2 = y 3 = z 6 \frac{x}{2}=\frac{y}{3}=\frac{z}{6} and passing through the point P ( 1 , 1 , 1 ) P(1,1,1) is:

x 1 a = y 1 b = z 1 c \frac{x-1}{a}=\frac{y-1}{b}=\frac{z-1}{c}

where, 2 a + 3 b + 6 c = 0 2a+3b+6c=0 . Clearly, ( a , b , c ) = ( 3 , 2 , 2 ) (a,b,c)=(3,2,-2) is a solution.

Let x 1 3 = y 1 2 = z 1 2 = t \frac{x-1}{3}=\frac{y-1}{2}=\frac{z-1}{-2}=t

Then, any point on this line can be written as ( 1 + 3 t , 1 + 2 t , 1 2 t ) (1+3t,1+2t,1-2t) . Let this line intersect the plane x + y + z = 1 x+y+z=1 at Q ( 1 + 3 t , 1 + 2 t , 1 2 t ) Q(1+3t,1+2t,1-2t) . Then,

( 1 + 3 t ) + ( 1 + 2 t ) + ( 1 2 t ) = 1 t = 2 3 (1+3t)+(1+2t)+(1-2t)=1 \Rightarrow t=-\frac{2}{3}

So, the point of intersection is Q ( 1 , 1 3 , 7 3 ) Q(-1,-\frac{1}{3},\frac{7}{3}) , and the required distance is:

P Q = ( 2 ) 2 + ( 4 3 ) 2 + ( 4 3 ) 2 = 68 9 PQ=\sqrt{{(2)}^{2}+{(\frac{4}{3})}^{2}+{(-\frac{4}{3})}^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{68}{9}}

P Q = 2 17 3 2.749 \Rightarrow PQ=\frac{2\sqrt{17}}{3} \approx \boxed{2.749}

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