Solution
Related Formula
Equation of a line through (x₁, y₁, z₁) with direction ratios (a, b, c): (x-x₁)/(a) = (y-y₁)/(b) = (z-z₁)/(c) Condition for Perpendicular Lines: a₁ a₂ + b₁ b₂ + c₁ c₂ = 0Core Logic
Let R be the foot of the perpendicular drawn from point P(1,0,3) to the line joining A(4,7,1) and B(3,5,3). Since Q(α,β,γ) is the reflection (image) of P across the line, point R serves as the midpoint of the line segment PQ.
Step 1: Find the Equation of the Line AB
The direction ratios of the line AB are:
d = (3 - 4, 5 - 7, 3 - 1) = (-1, -2, 2) ≡ (1, 2, -2)Using point B(3,5,3), the symmetric equation of the line AB is:
(x - 3)/(1) = (y - 5)/(2) = (z - 3)/(-2) = λAny general point R on this line can be written in terms of parameter λ:
R ≡ (λ + 3, 2λ + 5, -2λ + 3)Step 2: Find the Foot of the Perpendicular R
The direction ratios of the line segment PR are:
PR = (λ + 3 - 1, 2λ + 5 - 0, -2λ + 3 - 3) = (λ + 2, 2λ + 5, -2λ)Since PR is perpendicular to the line AB, the dot product of their direction vectors must equal zero:
1(λ + 2) + 2(2λ + 5) - 2(-2λ) = 0 λ + 2 + 4λ + 10 + 4λ = 0 λ = -(4)/(3)Step 3: Coordinates of Foot of Perpendicular
Substitute λ = -(4)/(3) into the general coordinates of R:
R ≡ (-(4)/(3) + 3, 2(-(4)/(3)) + 5, -2(-(4)/(3)) + 3) R ≡ ((5)/(3), (7)/(3), (17)/(3))Step 4: Solve for the Image Coordinates and Sum
Since R is the midpoint of PQ, where P = (1, 0, 3) and Q = (α, β, γ):
- (α + 1)/(2) = (5)/(3) α = (10)/(3) - 1 = (7)/(3)
- (β + 0)/(2) = (7)/(3) β = (14)/(3)
- (γ + 3)/(2) = (17)/(3) γ = (34)/(3) - 3 = (25)/(3)
Now, let us calculate the sum:
Pattern Recognition
Standard Midpoint reflection: The image coordinates are given directly by ximage = 2 xfoot - xₚₒᵢₙₜ, yimage = 2 yfoot - yₚₒᵢₙₜ, and zimage = 2 zfoot - zₚₒᵢₙₜ. Finding the parameter λ by using the perpendicular vector dot-product rule is the fastest and most robust method.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry