Q159 / 240 · KCET 2026 · Mathematics
The angle between the lines whose direction ratios are $a, b, c$ and $b - c, c - a, a - b$ is
- Correct answerA$90^\circ$
- B$60^\circ$
- C$30^\circ$
- D$0^\circ$
Solution
Let the direction ratios of the two lines be represented by vectors $\vec{d_1}$ and $\vec{d_2}$.
$\vec{d_1} = a\hat{i} + b\hat{j} + c\hat{k}$
$\vec{d_2} = (b - c)\hat{i} + (c - a)\hat{j} + (a - b)\hat{k}$
The angle $\theta$ between the lines is given by $\cos\theta = \dfrac{\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2}}{|\vec{d_1}| |\vec{d_2}|}$.
Calculating the dot product of the direction vectors:
$\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2} = a(b - c) + b(c - a) + c(a - b)$
$\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2} = ab - ac + bc - ab + ac - bc = 0$
Since the dot product is zero, the vectors are perpendicular.
$\cos\theta = 0 \Rightarrow \theta = 90^\circ$
Answer: $90^\circ$
$\vec{d_1} = a\hat{i} + b\hat{j} + c\hat{k}$
$\vec{d_2} = (b - c)\hat{i} + (c - a)\hat{j} + (a - b)\hat{k}$
The angle $\theta$ between the lines is given by $\cos\theta = \dfrac{\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2}}{|\vec{d_1}| |\vec{d_2}|}$.
Calculating the dot product of the direction vectors:
$\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2} = a(b - c) + b(c - a) + c(a - b)$
$\vec{d_1} \cdot \vec{d_2} = ab - ac + bc - ab + ac - bc = 0$
Since the dot product is zero, the vectors are perpendicular.
$\cos\theta = 0 \Rightarrow \theta = 90^\circ$
Answer: $90^\circ$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.