Question

Find the angle between the lines whose direction cosines are given by the equations

2l + 2m − n = 0, mn + ln + lm = 0

Answer 1

The given relations are

2l + 2m − n = 0                   .....(1)

mn + ln + lm = 0                 .....(2)

From (1), we have

n = 2l + 2m

Putting this value of n in (2), we get

\[m\left( 2l + 2m \right) + l\left( 2l + 2m \right) + lm = 0\]

\[ \Rightarrow 2lm + 2 m^2 + 2 l^2 + 2lm + lm = 0\]

\[ \Rightarrow 2 m^2 + 5lm + 2 l^2 = 0\]

\[ \Rightarrow \left( 2m + l \right)\left( m + 2l \right) = 0\]

\[ \Rightarrow 2m + l = 0 \text{ or m + 2l = 0}\]

\[ \Rightarrow l =\text{  - 2m  or l } = - \frac{m}{2}\]

\[\text{ When  l} = - 2m\]  we have

\[n = 2 \times \left( - 2m \right) + 2m = - 4m + 2m = - 2m\]

When  \[l = - \frac{m}{2}\] we have

\[n = 2 \times \left( - \frac{m}{2} \right) + 2m = - m + 2m = m\]

Thus, the direction ratios of two lines are proportional to

\[- 2m, m, - 2m\]  and \[- \frac{m}{2}, m, m\]

Or  \[- 2, 1, - 2\] and -1,2,2

So, vectors parallel to these lines are \[\vec{a} = - 2 \hat{i} + \hat{j} - 2 \hat{k}\] and \[\vec{b} = -  \hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - 2 \hat{k}\] 

Let `theta` be the angle between these lines, then `theta` is also the anglebetween   `vec a and`

`vec b`

\[\therefore \cos\theta = \frac{\vec{a} . \vec{b}}{\left| \vec{a} \right|\left| \vec{b} \right|}\]

\[ = \frac{\left( - 2 \hat{i} + \hat{j} - 2 \hat{k} \right) . \left( - \hat{i} + 2 \hat{j} + 2 \hat{k} \right)}{\sqrt{4 + 1 + 4}\sqrt{1 + 4 + 4}}\]

\[ = \frac{- 2 \times \left( - 1 \right) + 1 \times 2 + \left( - 2 \right) \times 2}{3 \times 3}\]

\[ = \frac{2 + 2 - 4}{9}\]

\[ = 0\]

\[ \Rightarrow \theta = \frac{\pi}{2}\]

Thus, the angle between the two lines whose direction cosines are given by the given relations is

\[\frac{\pi}{2}\]