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Three Dimensional Geometry appeared 62 times across 3 years — 7.2% of Mathematics. This question is from Intersection of Lines in 3D Space.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 15 29 18 62

Let the line passing through the points (-1, 2, 1) and \parallel to the line (x - 1)/(2) = (y + 1)/(3) = (z)/(4) intersect the line (x + 2)/(3) = (y - 3)/(2) = (z - 4)/(1) at the point P. Then the distance of P from the point Q(4, -5, 1) is :

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

The line passing through a and \parallel to direction vector v = l i + m j + n k is written in symmetric form as:

(x - xₐ)/(l) = (y - yₐ)/(m) = (z - zₐ)/(n)
Core Logic

Formulate the equation of the line passing through (-1, 2, 1) with direction vector components (2, 3, 4):

L₁: (x + 1)/(2) = (y - 2)/(3) = (z - 1)/(4) = λ (1)

Intersection of Lines in 3D Space
Intersection of Lines in 3D Space

Any generic point on this line can be written as:

P = (2λ - 1, 3λ + 2, 4λ + 1)

The second given line equation is:

L₂: (x + 2)/(3) = (y - 3)/(2) = (z - 4)/(1) = μ (2)

Any generic point on line L₂ is:

P' = (3μ - 2, 2μ + 3, μ + 4)
Step 1: Compute the Point of Intersection

At the point of intersection P, equate the coordinates from both lines:

2λ - 1 = 3μ - 2 2λ - 3μ = -1 (3) 3λ + 2 = 2μ + 3 3λ - 2μ = 1 (4) 4λ + 1 = μ + 4 4λ - μ = 3 (5)

Solving equations (3) and (4) simultaneously gives:

λ = 1, μ = 1

Verify these values using equation (5):

4(1) - 1 = 3 (Satisfied)

Thus, substituting λ = 1 gives the coordinates of point P:

P = (2(1) - 1, 3(1) + 2, 4(1) + 1) = (1, 5, 5)
Step 2: Calculate Euclidean Distance PQ

Find the distance between P(1, 5, 5) and Q(4, -5, 1) using the 3D distance formula:

PQ = √((4 - 1)² + (-5 - 5)² + (1 - 5)²) PQ = √(3² + (-10)² + (-4)²) = √(9 + 100 + 16) PQ = √(125) = 5√(5)
Pattern Recognition

When finding the intersection point of two 3D lines, always use the third coordinate equation to verify the parameter values obtained from the first two equations to ensure consistency.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry

Reference Study Guides

More Three Dimensional Geometry Previous-Year Questions — Page 6

Q73 jee_main_2025_08_april_evening Area of Triangle Formed by Intersecting Lines
Let the area of the triangle formed by the lines x + 2 = y - 1 = z, (x - 3)/(5) = (y)/(-1) = (z - 1)/(1) and x-3 = y - 33 = z - 21 be A. Then A² is equal to
Numerical Answer. Answer: 56 to 56

Solution

Related Formula
Area A = (1)/(2) | AB × AC|
Core Logic

Determine the three intersection vertex positions for the matching coordinate line segments, then calculate vector cross expansions to determine face boundaries.

Step 1: Locate Intersection Vertices

Solving line pairs intersection matrices:

  • L₁ L₂ A(-2, 1, 0)
  • L₂ L₃ B(3, 0, 1)
  • L₃ L₁ C(0, 3, 2)
Step 2: Construct Vectors Cross Matrix

Using vertex values to form component arrays:

AB = -5 i + j - k, AC = -3 i + 3 j + k AB × AC = vmatrix i & j & k -5 & 1 & -1 -3 & 3 & 1 vmatrix = 4 i + 8 j - 12 k
Step 3: Final Area Squared Derivation
A = (1)/(2)√(16 + 64 + 144) = (1)/(2)√(224) = √(56)

A² = 56

{{SOL_IMG_73}}

Pattern Recognition

Finding the area of a triangle formed by intersecting lines involves grouping directional cross vectors once coordinates are solved.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry

Q56 jee_main_2025_29_jan_evening Line and Plane Intersections
Let a straight line L pass through the point P(2, -1, 3) and be perpendicular to the lines (x - 1)/(2) = (y + 1)/(1) = (z - 3)/(-2) and \frac{x - 3}{1} = \frac{y - 2}{3} = \frac{z + 2}{4}. If the line L intersects the yz-plane at the point Q, then the distance between the points P and Q is:
  • A. 2
  • B. √(10)
  • C. 3
  • D. 2√(3)

Solution

Related Formula

The direction vector of a line perpendicular to two vectors u and v is obtained via the cross product:

n = u × v
Core Logic

Extract direction vectors of the given lines:

u = 2 i + j - 2 k v = i + 3 j + 4 k

Compute the cross product:

n = vmatrix i & j & k 2 & 1 & -2 1 & 3 & 4 vmatrix = i(4 - (-6)) - j(8 - (-2)) + k(6 - 1) = 10 i - 10 j + 5 k = 5(2 i - 2 j + k)
Step 1: Write Line Equation and Intersect with Plane

Equation of line L through P(2, -1, 3) with direction (2, -2, 1):

(x - 2)/(2) = (y + 1)/(-2) = (z - 3)/(1) = λ

Any random point on this line is Q(2λ + 2, -2λ - 1, λ + 3). For intersection with the yz-plane, set x = 0:

2λ + 2 = 0 λ = -1
Step 2: Find Distance

Substituting λ = -1 into the coordinate matrix of Q gives: Q(0, 1, 2)

Calculate distance d(P, Q):

d = √((2 - 0)² + (-1 - 1)² + (3 - 2)²) = √(4 + 4 + 1) = 3
Pattern Recognition

Perpendicularity to two lines always indicates using the cross-product to lock down the direction ratios. Intersection with the yz-plane simply forces x = 0 immediately.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry

Q63 jee_main_2025_29_jan_evening Shortest Distance and Intersection of Lines
Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from the point (1,2,2) on the line L: x - 11 = y + 1-1 = z - 22. Let the line r = (- i + j -2 k) + λ ( i - j + k), λ in R, intersect the line L at Q. Then 2(PQ)² is equal to:
  • A. 27
  • B. 25
  • C. 29
  • D. 19

Solution

Related Formula

Dot product of vector projection matching orthogonal axes equals zero:

AP · d = 0
Core Logic

Let the target source coordinates tracking point match A(1, 2, 2). General parameter points on line L are defined by parameter μ:

P(μ + 1, -μ - 1, 2μ + 2)

Shortest Distance and Intersection of Lines diagram for Q63 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
Shortest Distance and Intersection of Lines diagram for Q63 - JEE Main 2025 Evening

AP = μ i - (μ + 3) j + 2μ k

Line direction vector d = i - j + 2 k.

Step 1: Isolate Foot and Intersection Positions
(μ)· 1 - (-μ - 3)· 1 + (2μ)· 2 = 0 6μ + 3 = 0 μ = -(1)/(2)

Substituting back yields coordinate positions for foot P:

P((1)/(2), -(1)/(2), 1)

Equating general vectors between standard linear constraints tracks intersection point Q at μ = -2: Q(-1, 1, -2)

Step 2: Distance Formulation

Compute length of line segment squared:

PQ² = ((1)/(2) - (-1))² + (-(1)/(2) - 1)² + (1 - (-2))² = (9)/(4) + (9)/(4) + 9 = (54)/(4) 2(PQ)² = 2 ((54)/(4)) = 27
Pattern Recognition

Always separate foot evaluations from line-intersection parameter updates to ensure you do not mix up variables tracking linear metrics.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry

Q jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning Distance Formula and Properties of Triangles
Let A(x,y,z) be a point in xy-plane, which is equidistant from three points (0, 3, 2), (2, 0, 3) and (0, 0, 1). Let B = (1, 4, -1) and C = (2, 0, -2). Then among the statements (S1) : Δ ABC is an isosceles right angled triangle and (S2): the area of Δ ABC is 9√(2)2.
  • A. both are true
  • B. only (S1) is true
  • C. only (S2) is true
  • D. both are false

Solution

Related Formula

3D Cartesian distance formula:

d = √((x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)² + (z₂-z₁)²)
Core Logic

Since A(x,y,z) lies in the xy-plane, its z-coordinate must be zero (z = 0). Let the reference targets be P(0,3,2), Q(2,0,3), and R(0,0,1).

Setting AP² = AR²:

x² + (y-3)² + (0-2)² = x² + y² + (0-1)² y = 2
Step 1: Locating Coordinate Dimensions

Setting AQ² = AR² with y=2:

(x-2)² + 2² + 3² = x² + 2² + 1² x = 3

Thus, A is precisely located at (3,2,0).

Step 2: Triangle Side and Area Assessment

Calculate the lengths between A(3,2,0), B(1,4,-1), and C(2,0,-2): AB = √((3-1)² + (2-4)² + (0+1)²) = 3 AC = √((3-2)² + (2-0)² + (0+2)²) = 3 BC = √((1-2)² + (4-0)² + (-1+2)²) = √(18)

Since AB = AC = 3 and AB² + AC² = BC², it forms an isosceles right-angled triangle. Thus, (S1) is true.

Area = (1)/(2) × 3 × 3 = (9)/(2)

Therefore, (S2) is false.

Pattern Recognition

Planar locations instantly zero out specific coordinate dimensions (z=0 for xy-planes), simplifying system matrices down rapidly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Three Dimensional Geometry

Q jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning Image of a Point in a Line
If the image of the point (4, 4, 3) in the line (x - 1)/(2) = (y - 2)/(1) = (z - 1)/(3) is (α, β, γ), then α + β + γ is equal to
  • A. 9
  • B. 12
  • C. 8
  • D. 7

Solution

Related Formula

Perpendicularity condition for vectors:

u · v = 0
Core Logic

Let Q be the projection point on the given line parameterized by λ: Q(2λ + 1, λ + 2, 3λ + 1).

The vector PQ from P(4,4,3) is:

Image of a Point in a Line diagram for Q62 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Image of a Point in a Line diagram for Q62 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
PQ = (2λ - 3) i + (λ - 2) j + (3λ - 2) k.

Step 1: Solving for Projected Intersection Points

Since PQ is perpendicular to the line's direction vector (2, 1, 3):

2(2λ - 3) + 1(λ - 2) + 3(3λ - 2) = 0 14λ - 14 = 0 λ = 1

Thus, Q is located at (3,3,4).

Step 2: Transforming using Midpoint Mappings

The projection point Q acts as the midpoint between original point P and its target image R(α, β, γ):

(α + 4)/(2) = 3, (β + 4)/(2) = 3, (γ + 3)/(2) = 4

Evaluating this gives (α, β, γ) = (2, 2, 5).

Sum = 2 + 2 + 5 = 9

Wait, checking the options from the paper layout: option (2) represents the correct numerical matrix sum choice value 12? Let's verify the options mapping sequence matching. Ah, let's look at the calculation value carefully: 2+2+5=9, which corresponds to choice (1).

Pattern Recognition

Midpoint properties safely speed up spatial image transitions once you locate the perpendicular projection foot.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Maths: Three Dimensional Geometry

More Three Dimensional Geometry Questions — jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning

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