If the coordinates of the points A, B, C, D are (1,2,3), (4,5,7),(–4,3,–6),(2,9,2), then find the angle between AB and CD.
Given points are:
⇒ A = (1,2,3)
⇒ B = (4,5,7)
⇒ C = (–4,3,–6)
⇒ D = (2,9,2)
Let us assume the direction ratios for line AB be (r1,r2,r3) and CD be (r4,r5,r6)
We know that direction ratios for a line passing through points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) is (x2–x1, y2–y1, z2–z1).
Let’s find the direction ratios for the line AB
⇒ (r1,r2,r3) = (4–1, 5–2, 7–3)
⇒ (r1,r2,r3) = (3,3,4)
Let’s find the direction ratios for the line CD
⇒ (r4,r5,r6) = (2–(–4), 9–3, 2–(–6))
⇒ (r4,r5,r6) = (2+4, 9–3, 2+6)
⇒ (r4,r5,r6) = (6,6,8)
We know that the angle between the vectors with direction ratios proportional to (a1,b1,c1) and (a2,b2,c2) is given by:
⇒
Using the above formula we calculate the angle between the vectors.
Let be the angle between the two vectors given in the problem.
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
∴ The angle between the given two vectors is 00.