Q.

Let the direction cosines of two lines satisfy the equations 4l+m-n=0 and 2mn+10nl+3lm=0. Then the cosine of the acute angle between these lines is:          [2026]

1 1038  
2 20338  
3 10738  
4 10338  

Ans.

(4)

Direction cosines of two lines satisfy the equation

⇒4ℓ+m-n=0    ...(1)

2mn+10nℓ+3ℓm=0    ...(2)

And we know

⇒ℓ2+m2-n2=1    ...(3)

⇒n=4ℓ+m  putting in eqn. (1)

⇒n(2m+10ℓ)+3ℓm=0

⇒(4ℓ+m)(2m+10ℓ)+3ℓm=0

⇒8ℓm+40ℓ2+2m2+10ℓm+3ℓm=0

⇒40ℓ2+21ℓm+2m2=0

⇒(8ℓ+m)(5ℓ+2m)=0

Case 1: 8ℓ+m=0⇒m=-8ℓ

Case 2: 5ℓ+2m=0⇒m=-52ℓ

So direction ratio of L1 is ℓ,-8ℓ,-4ℓ

and direction ratio of L2 is ℓ,-5ℓ2,3ℓ2

cosθ=|ℓ2+20ℓ2-6ℓ2ℓ2+64ℓ2+16ℓ2ℓ2+25ℓ24+9ℓ24|

=15ℓ2(9ℓ)38ℓ2=10338

Ans. =10338