2022-23 Second Semester

MATH 2822 Mathematical Methods for Actuarial Science II

Assignment 1
2023/01/20

Name: University No:

1. Let L1 be the line x−1 = − 12 (y+3) = −z and L2 be the line r = (5, 2, −1)+t(k 2 +4k+2, k 2 +1, 1)
where k ∈ R. Suppose L1 is parallel to L2 .

(a) Find the value of k.

(b) Find the distance between L1 and L2 .
2. Let L1 be the line r = (−2, −1, 0) + t(2, 0, 1) and L2 be the line 3 − x = y = z.

(a) Find the distance between the two lines.

(b) Let P1 be a plane containing L1 , and P2 be a plane containing L2 and parallel to P1 .
(i) Give numerical examples of P1 and P2 .
(ii) Are the answers in (i) uniquely determined? Explain.
(iii) What is the distance between P1 and P2 ? How does this relate to (a)?
3. Give numerical examples of three planes P1 , P2 and P3 in R3 for which their intersection is

(a) empty
(b) a point
(c) a line
4. Rewrite the following equations in cylindrical and spherical coordinates, and determine the
shape of their graphs in R3 .

(a) x2 + y 2 = 4
(b) x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1
(c) x2 + y 2 = z 2
5. For each of the following statements, circle ‘T’ if it is true and ‘F’ if it is false, and then give a
very brief (say, one-line) explanation.

(a) If two planes in R3 intersect, then their intersection must be a line.

T/F

(b) Let u1 and u2 be direction vectors of the lines L1 and L2 respectively. If u1 × u2 = 0,

then there exists a unique plane containing L1 and L2 .

T/F

(c) Let L1 , L2 and L3 be three distinct lines in R3 . Suppose L1 intersects L2 at A, L2 intersects

L3 at B and L3 intersect L1 at C. If A, B and C are distinct points, then L1 , L2 and L3
must lie on the same plane.

T/F

(d) Let L1 , L2 , L3 and L4 be four distinct lines in R3 . Suppose L1 intersects L2 at A, L2

intersects L3 at B, L3 intersects L4 at C and L4 intersects L1 at D. If A, B, C and D are
distinct points, then L1 , L2 , L3 and L4 must lie in one plane.

T/F