Let a line L_1 pass through the origin and be perpendicular to the lines L_2: = (3+t) i + (2t-1) j + (2t+4) k and L_3: = (3+2s) i + (3+2s) j + (2+s)…
JEE Main 2026 — Mathematics Vectors & 3D Geometry
2026integermedium
Let a line L1 pass through the origin and be perpendicular to the lines
L2:r=(3+t)i^+(2t−1)j^+(2t+4)k^ and
L3:r=(3+2s)i^+(3+2s)j^+(2+s)k^, t,s∈R.
If (a,b,c), a∈Z, is the point on L3 at a distance of 17 from the point of intersection of L1 and L2, then (a+b+c)2 is equal to ________.
Official previous-year question
Held on 8 Apr 2026 · Verified 6 Jul 2026.
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Solution
The direction vectors of the given lines L2 and L3 are d2=i^+2j^+2k^ and d3=2i^+2j^+k^ respectively.
Since line L1 is perpendicular to both L2 and L3, its direction vector d1 is given by the cross product of d2 and d3:
d1=d2×d3=i^12j^22k^21=−2i^+3j^−2k^
Since L1 passes through the origin, its equation is:
r=λ(−2i^+3j^−2k^)
Let the point of intersection of L1 and L2 be P. The coordinates of P can be written as (−2λ,3λ,−2λ) from L1 and (3+t,2t−1,2t+4) from L2. Equating the respective coordinates:
−2λ=3+t
3λ=2t−1
−2λ=2t+4
From the first and third equations, we get:
3+t=2t+4⇒t=−1
Substituting t=−1 into the first equation gives −2λ=2⇒λ=−1. This also satisfies the second equation. Thus, the point of intersection is P(2,−3,2).
Let the point on L3 be Q(a,b,c)=(3+2s,3+2s,2+s). The distance between P and Q is given as 17.
PQ2=17
(3+2s−2)2+(3+2s−(−3))2+(2+s−2)2=17
(2s+1)2+(2s+6)2+s2=17
4s2+4s+1+4s2+24s+36+s2=17
9s2+28s+37=17
9s2+28s+20=0
9s2+18s+10s+20=0
(9s+10)(s+2)=0
This gives s=−2 or s=−910.
Since a=3+2s must be an integer (a∈Z), we must choose s=−2.
Substituting s=−2 into the coordinates of Q:
a=3+2(−2)=−1
b=3+2(−2)=−1
c=2+(−2)=0
Therefore, (a,b,c)=(−1,−1,0).
We need to find the value of (a+b+c)2:
(a+b+c)2=(−1−1+0)2=(−2)2=4
Answer: 4
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