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Three Dimensional Geometry Assertion-Reasoning MCQs

Directions- Each of these questions contains two statements : Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Each of
these questions has four alternative choices in which any one of them is the correct answer. You have
to select one of the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) given below.
(a) 𝑨 is true, 𝑹 is true; 𝑹 is a correct explanation for 𝑨.
(b) 𝑨 is true, 𝑹 is true; 𝑹 is not a correct explanation for 𝑨.
(c) 𝑨 is true; 𝑹 is false.
(d) 𝑨 is false; 𝑹 is true.

1. Statement-1: (Assertion): If a is an integer, then the straight lines

𝑟⃗ = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂ + 𝜆(𝑎𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂) and 𝑟⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ + 𝜇(3𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂)
intersect at a point for 𝑎 = −5.
Statement-2: (Reason): Two straight lines intersect if the shortest distance between
them is zero.
SOLUTION
Ans. (a)
Clearly, statement-2 is true. Given lines pass through 𝑎⃗1 = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂ and 𝑎⃗2 =
2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂ respectively and are parallel to vectors 𝑏⃗⃗1 = 𝑎𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗⃗2 =
3𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂ respectively. If given lines intersect. Then,
𝑎 2 3
S.D. = 0. ⇒ (𝑏⃗⃗1 × 𝑏⃗⃗2 ). (𝑎⃗1 − 𝑎⃗) = 0 ⇒ |3 𝑎 2 |=0
1 1 −2
⇒ 𝑎(−2𝑎 − 2) − 2(−6 − 2) + 3(3 − 𝑎) = 0 2𝑎2 + 5𝑎 − 25 = 0 ⇒
(𝑎 + 5)(2𝑎 − 5) = 0 ⇒ 𝑎 = −5, 5/2
𝑥−1 𝑦+3 𝑧−2 𝑥−2 𝑦−1 𝑧+3
2. The equations of two straight lines are = = and = =
2 1 −3 1 −3 2

Statement-1: (Assertion): The given lines are coplanar.

2𝑟 − 𝑠 = 1
Statement-2: (Reason): The equations 𝑟 + 3𝑠 = 4 are consistent.
3𝑟 + 2𝑠 = 5
SOLUTION
Ans. (a)
The coordinates of arbitrary points on the given lines are (2𝑟 + 1, 𝑟 − 3, −3𝑟 + 2)
and (𝑠 + 2, −3𝑠 + 1, 2𝑠 − 3) respectively. Given lines will intersect (be coplanar), if
 2

2𝑟 + 1 = 𝑠 + 2, 𝑟 − 3 = −3𝑠 + 1 and−3𝑟 + 2 = 2𝑠 − 3 are consistent i.e. 2𝑟 − 𝑠 =

1, 𝑟 + 3𝑠 = 4 and 3𝑟 + 2𝑠 = 5 are consistent.
Clearly, values of r and s obtain from any two equations satisfy the third equation. So,
these equations are consistent.
Hence, both the statements are true and statement-2 is a correct explanation for
statement-1.
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
3. Statement-1: (Assertion): The shortest distance between the lines 2 = −1 = 2 and
𝑥−1 𝑦−1 𝑧−1
= = is √2.
4 −2 4

Statement-2 (Reason): The shortest distance between two parallel lines is the
perpendicular distance from any point on one of the lines to the other line.
SOLUTION
Ans. (a)
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
Clearly, statement-2 is true. Line 2 = −1 = 2 passes through the origin O and the line
𝑥−1 𝑦−1 𝑧−1
= = passes through A (1, 1, 1) and is parallel to the vector 𝑏⃗⃗ = 4𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ +
4 −2 4

4𝑘̂.
|𝑂𝐴.𝑏| ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ |4−2+4|
Clearly, AL = Projection of OA on 𝑏⃗⃗ = |𝑏⃗⃗| = =1
√16+4+16

2
∴ 𝑂𝐿 = √|𝑂𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗| − 𝐴𝐿2 = √3 − 1 = √2

Hence, statement-1 is true and statement-2 is a correct explanation for statement-1.