Solution
Related Formula
Length of projection of u on w = | u · w|| w|Core Logic
Given point A(5, 4, 2) and line (L):
r = (- i + 3 j + k) + λ(2 i + 3 j - k)Any general point P on this line has coordinates: (-1 + 2λ, 3 + 3λ, 1 - λ)
Step 1: Finding the foot of the perpendicular
Vector AP = P - A = (-1 + 2λ - 5) i + (3 + 3λ - 4) j + (1 - λ - 2) k
AP = (2λ - 6) i + (3λ - 1) j + (-λ - 1) kSince AP is perpendicular to line (L), the dot product of AP with the direction vector of the line (2 i + 3 j - k) must be zero:
AP · (2 i + 3 j - k) = 0 2(2λ - 6) + 3(3λ - 1) - 1(-λ - 1) = 0 4λ - 12 + 9λ - 3 + λ + 1 = 0 14λ - 14 = 0 ⇒ λ = 1Step 2: Coordinates of the foot
Substitute λ = 1 into general point P to get (α, β, γ): α = -1 + 2(1) = 1 β = 3 + 3(1) = 6 γ = 1 - 1 = 0 Foot of perpendicular is (1, 6, 0).
Step 3: Calculate the projection
Let u = α i + β j + γ k = i + 6 j + 0 k Let w = 6 i + 2 j + 3 k
Projection = | u · w|| w| = |1(6) + 6(2) + 0(3)|√(6² + 2² + 3²) = 6 + 12√(36 + 4 + 9) = 18√(49) = (18)/(7)Pattern Recognition
Foot of perpendicular problems algorithm: 1) Frame general vector P(λ). 2) Construct distance vector AP. 3) Dot product with direction vector d = 0. 4) Solve for λ.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Maths: Three Dimensional Geometry Class 12 Maths: Vector Algebra