JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on

Straight Lines

Question 1: If C be the centroid of the triangle having vertices (3,−1), (1,3) and (2, 4).
Let P be the point of intersection of the lines x + 3y − 1 = 0 and 3x − y + 1 = 0, then the
line passing through the points C and P also passes through the point:
(a) (-9, -7) (b) (-9, -6) (c) (7, 6) (d) (9, 7)

Answer: (b)
Solution:
3+1+2 −1+3+4
Coordinates of C = ( , ) = (2, 2)
3 3
Point of intersection of two lines: x + 3y - 1 = 0 and 3x - y + 1 = 0 is A(-1/2, 2/5)
Now, equation of line CA is 8x - 11y + 6 = 0
and Point (-9, -6) lies on CP.

Question 2: The locus of mid points of the perpendiculars drawn from points on the line
x = 2y to the line x = y is:
(a) 2x - 3y = 0
(b) 3x − 2y = 0
(c) 5x − 7y = 0
(d) 7x − 5y = 0
Answer: (c)

Solution:

Let R be the midpoint of PQ

PQ is perpendicular on line: y = x
Therefore, the equation of the line PQ can be written as
y = −x + c and it intersects y = x at point Q and x = 2y at point P.
(c/2, c/2) and (2c/3, c/3) are the Coordinates of points Q and P respectively.
 JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on
Straight Lines

Now, Midpoint R = (7c/12, 5c/12) and

Locus of R: x = 7c/12, y = 5c/12
This implies, 5x − 7y = 0

Question 3: Find the equation of line through (-4, 1, 3) and parallel to the plane x + y + z
= 3 while the line intersects
another line whose equation is x + y - z = 0 = x + 2y - 3z + 5

Answer: (c)

Solution:
Family of planes containing the line of intersection of planes is A + λB = 0
Where A = (x + y - z) and B = (x + 2y - 3z + 5)
That is,
(x + y - z) + λ(x + 2y - 3z + 5) = 0
Above line passing through the point (-4, 1, 3), so satisfy the equation.
On substituting the above equation, we get
λ = -1
=> Equation of plane is y - 2z + 5 = 0
Required line is lie in this plane and is parallel to x + y + z = 5.
Now,
 JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on
Straight Lines

Question 4: A plane parallel to y-axis passing through line of intersection of planes x + y

+ z = 1 and 2x + 3y - z - 4 = 0 which of the point lie on the plane.
(a) (3, 2, 1) (b) (-3, 0, 1) (c) (-3, 1, 1) (d) (3, 1, -1)

Answer: (d)

Solution:
Required plane is A + λB = 0
Where A = (x + y + z - 1) and B = (2x + 3y - z - 4)
That is,
(x + y + z - 1) + λ(2x + 3y - z - 4) = 0
=> (1 + 2λ)x + (1 + 3λ)y + (1 - λ)z - (1 + 4λ) = 0
As above equation is parallel to y-axis, so λ = -1/3
Therefore, required plane is x + 4z + 1 = 0
Using given all options, we found that (3, 1, -1) is the point lie in this plane.

Question 5: If the foot of perpendicular drawn from the point (1, 0, 3) on a line passing
through (α, 7, 1) is (5/3, 7/3, 17/3), then What will be the value of α.

Solution:
Let P(1, 0, 3) and Q(5/3, 7/3, 17/3) are given points.
Direction ratios of line L is:
(α - 5/3, 7 - 7/3, 1 - 17/3) = ( (3α - 5)/3, 14/3, -14/3 )
Direction ratios of PQ: (-2/3, -7/3, -8/3)
Since line L is perpendicular to PQ then

=> -6α +10 - 98 + 112 = 0

=> 6α = 24
=> α = 4
Therefore, the value of α is 4.

Question 6: If the line, (x-3)/1 = (y-2)/-1 = (z+λ)/-2 lie in the plane, 2x - 4y + 3z = 2,

then the shortest distance between this line and the line (x-1)/12 = y/9 = z/4 is:
(a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) 3
Answer: (c)
 JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on
Straight Lines

Solution:
(x-3)/1 = (y-2)/-1 = (z+λ)/-2 = k
Let P be any point on the plane,
P = (k + 3, -k - 2, -2k - λ )
P lie on the plane, 2x - 4y + 3z = 2, Which means P satisfy the equationn of plane.
So, 2(k + 3) - 4(-k - 2) + 3(-2k - λ) = 2
Solving above equation, we have λ = 4
Now, the shortest distance between the below lines:
(x-3)/1 = (y-2)/-1 = (z+4)/-2 and (x-1)/12 = y/9 = z/4 is

= |2(14) + 2(28) - 4(21)|

=0
=> d2 = 0
or d = 0

Question 7: Let A(1, 0), B(6, 2), C(3/2, 6) be the vertices of a triangle ABC. If P is a
point inside the triangle ABC such that the triangles APC, APB and BPC have equal
areas, then find the length of the line segment PQ, where 𝑄 is the point (-7/6, -1/3).

Solution:
Since point P is the centroid, so its coordinates are

and coordinates of point Q : (-7/6, -1/3)

Now, PQ = √[42+32] = 5
 JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on
Straight Lines

Question 8: Let two points be A(1, −1) and B(0, 2). If a point P(x', y') be such that the
area of triangle PAB = 5 sq. units and it lies on the line, 3x + y - 4λ = 0, then the value of
λ is
(a) 4 (b) 1 (c) -3 (d) 3

Answer: (d)

Solution:
Let two points be A(1, −1) and B(0, 2). If a point P(x', y') be such that the area of triangle
PAB = 5 sq. units
Area of triangle is:

=> (2 - y') - x' - 2x' = ± 10

=> 3x' + y' = 12 or 3x' + y' = -8
Since triangle lie on the line 3x + y - 4λ = 0 then,
=> λ = 3 or λ = -2
Neglecting negative value.
So, λ = 3

Question 9: Find the shortest distance between the lines:

Solution:
 JEE Main Maths Previous Year Questions With Solutions on
Straight Lines

Question 10: The length of the perpendicular from the origin, on the normal to the curve,
x2 + 2xy - 3y2 = 0 at the point (2,2) is:
(a) 2 (b) 2√2 (c) 4√2 (d) √2

Answer: (b)

Solution:
Given curve: x2 + 2xy - 3y2 = 0
=> x2 + 3xy - xy - 3y2 = 0
=> x(x + 3y) – y(x + 3y) = 0
=> (x + 3y)(x – y) = 0
=> x + 3y = 0 or x – y = 0
Since point (2, 2) lies on x - y = 0
Therefore,
Equation of normal will be x + y = λ
Put x = 2 and y = 2
So, λ = 4
Required line is x + y = 4
Now, Distance of L from the origin = |−4/√2 | = 2√2