Q.

Let for any three distinct consecutive terms a, b, c of an A.P., the lines ax + by + c = 0 be concurrent at the point P and Q(α, β) be a point such that the system of equations x + y + z = 6, 2x + 5y + αz = β and x + 2y + 3z = 4, has infinitely many solutions. Then (PQ)2 is equal to __________.          [2024]


Ans.

(113)

a, b, c are in A.P. 2b = a + c a – 2b + c = 0 and ax + by + c = 0 are concurrent.

Two lines a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 are concurrent if

a1a2 = b1b2 = c1c2           1x = 2y = 11 = 0

    x = 1  and  y = 2

So, P(1, –2) is the point of concurrency.

Now, x + y + z = 6                    ... (i)

         2x + 5y + αz = β           ... (ii)

         x + 2y + 3z = 4               ... (iii)

has infinitely many solution.

On solving these equation, we have

          x + y = 6 – zx + 2y = 4 – 3z

On solving these two, we get –y = 2 + 2z

    y = –2(1 + z)      x = 6 – z + 2 + 2z      x = 8 + z

From (ii), we get 2(8 + z) + 5(–2(1 + z)) + αz = β

   6  8z + αz = β

   z(α  8) = β  6

For infinitely many solution, α = 8, β = 6

|PQ|2= ((8  1)2 + (6 + 2)2)2 = 113