Three lines in space are given by
\(g_1: \vec{r}(u)=\langle 2,2,0\rangle+u\langle 1,0,1\rangle\),
\(g_2: \vec{r}(s)=\langle 3,3,2\rangle+s\langle -1,1,0\rangle\),
\(g_3: \vec{r}(t)=\langle 1,4,1\rangle+t\langle 0,-1,-1\rangle\).
a) Show that the lines intersect pairwise and form a triangle.
b) Find the vertices \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\).
c) Use vector dot products to find the interior angles and classify the triangle.
d) Find the centroid \(S\).
e) Write an equation of a line through \(S\) parallel to side \(AB\).
Hints
- Solve each pair of line equations to find a common point.
- Form side vectors from the vertices.
- Use \(\cos\theta=\frac{\vec{u}\cdot\vec{v}}{\lVert\vec{u}\rVert\lVert\vec{v}\rVert}\).
- The centroid is the coordinate average of the three vertices.
- A parallel line can use a scalar multiple of the side vector.
Solution
1. Pairwise solution of the coordinate equations gives \(g_1\cap g_2=B(4, 2, 2)\), \(g_2\cap g_3=C(1, 5, 2)\), and \(g_3\cap g_1=A(1, 2, -1)\). The three points are distinct, so the lines form a triangle.
2. The side vectors are \(\overrightarrow{AB}=\langle 3,0,3\rangle\), \(\overrightarrow{AC}=\langle 0,3,3\rangle\), and \(\overrightarrow{BC}=\langle -3,3,0\rangle\).
3. At \(A\),
\(\cos A=\frac{\overrightarrow{AB}\cdot\overrightarrow{AC}}{\lVert\overrightarrow{AB}\rVert\lVert\overrightarrow{AC}\rVert}=\frac{9}{\sqrt{18}\sqrt{18}}=\frac12\), so \(A=60^\circ\).
4. The same calculation at \(B\) and \(C\) gives \(B=C=60^\circ\). Thus the triangle is equilateral.
5. The centroid is the coordinate average:
\(S=\frac13(A+B+C)=\frac13(\langle 1,2,-1\rangle+\langle 4,2,2\rangle+\langle 1,5,2\rangle)=(2, 3, 1)\).
6. A line through \(S\) parallel to \(AB\) may use \(\langle 1,0,1\rangle\) as its direction:
\(h: \vec{r}(u)=\langle 2,3,1\rangle+u\langle 1,0,1\rangle\).
Answer
a) The lines intersect pairwise in three distinct points.
b) \(A(1, 2, -1)\), \(B(4, 2, 2)\), \(C(1, 5, 2)\)
c) \(A=B=C=60^\circ\); the triangle is equilateral.
d) \(S(2, 3, 1)\)
e) \(h: \vec{r}(u)=\langle 2,3,1\rangle+u\langle 1,0,1\rangle\)