V7 Intersecting Lines in 3D
In order to find the point of intersection of two lines in three dimen-
sional space, it is best to have both equations in parametric form.
This module discusses how to determine whether two lines intersect
or not.
Lines
The equation of a line in three dimensional space can be written in
either vector, parametric or symmetric form. Vector form is not so
useful for determining whether two lines intersect. Parametric form
is preferred for this purpose.
Parametric Form
The parametric equations of a line through the point ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) in the
−
→
direction of the vector V = aî + b ĵ + ck̂ is :
x = x0 + at
y = y0 + bt
z = z0 + ct
where t ∈ R is called a parameter. Note that t is merely a number. It
has no physical significance and may be any symbol. Often s is used
for the parameter.
Symmetric Form
The symmetric form of a line through the point ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) in the
−
→
direction of the vector V = aî + b ĵ + ck̂ is :
x − x0 y − y0 z − z0
= = . (1)
a b c
2
Converting to Parametric Form
A line in symmetric form may be converted to parametric form by
setting each term in equation (1) equal to a parameter s ∈ R. That is,
x − x0
=s
a
y − y0
=s
b
z − z0
= s.
c
These can then be rearranged to give the parametric form of the line:
x = x0 + as
y = y0 + bs
z = z0 + cs
where s ∈ R.
Finding the Intersection of Two Lines
The idea is to write each of the two lines in parametric form. Differ-
ent parameters must be used for each line, say s and t. If the lines
intersect, there must be values of s and t that give the same point on
each of the lines. If this is not the case, the lines do not intersect.
The basic approach is:
1. write each line in parametric form
2. solve the simultaneous equations for the parameters
3. if a solution exists the line intersect, if not they don’t intersect.
Example 1
Find the point of intersection of the two lines L1 and L2 where L1 is
y −1
the line represented by the equation x− 5 z −8
1 = −1 = −3 and L2 is the
line x = 1 + 2s ; y = −4 + s ; z = 8 − 2s.
Solution.
Line L2 is already in parametric form:
x = 1 + 2s (2)
y = −4 + s (3)
z = 8 − 2s (4)
We now write L1 in parametric form. Set1 1
As L2 is using the parameter s we
choose a parameter t in what follows. It
doesn’t matter what you use but it must
be different from s.
3
x−5
=t
1
y−1
=t
−1
z−8
= t.
−3
Rearranging we obtain
x = 5+t (5)
y = 1−t (6)
z = 8 − 3t (7)
To find the point of intersection of these two lines, we must find a
point P that lies on both lines.
At the point of intersection the coordinates for L1 will equal the
coordinates for L2 . This means there exist values of s and t such that
the x,y and z coordinates of the two lines are equal.
Equating the x,y and z coordinates, we get from equations (2 − 7) :
for x, 5 + t =1 + 2s
4 =2s − t (8)
for y, 1 − t = − 4 + s
5 =s + t (9)
for z, 8 − 3t =8 − 2s
0 =3t − 2s. (10)
If we add equations (8) and (9) we get 9 = 3s and so s = 3.
If s = 3 we can substitute this into all of the above equations
(8 − 9) and find that t = 2. Note that you must check all equations. 2 2
You must check that s = 3 and
t = 2 satisfies all three equations. It is
common that they satisfy only 2 of the
3 equations as shown below in Example
2.
4
The solution is therefore
s=3
t = 2.
To find the point of intersection, substitute the s value into the
x, y and z equations for L2 or substitute the t value into x, y and z
equations for L1 . For L1 ,
x = 5+t
= 5+2
=7
y = 1−t
= 1−2
= −1
z = 8 − 3t
= 8 − 3(2)
=2
Therefore the point of intersection of the two lines is (7, −1, 2).
Example 2
Do the lines L1 : x = s ; y = −4 + s ; z = 8 − 2s and
L2 : x = 2 + 2t ; y = −1 + t ; z = 3 − 2t intersect?
Solution.
Equate the coordinates of each line. We have:
for x, s =2 + 2t
s − 2t =2 (11)
for y, − 4 + s = − 1 + t
s − t =3 (12)
for z, 8 − 2s =3 − 2t
−2s + 2t = − 5. (13)
Subtract equation (11) from equation (12):
s − t − (s − 2t) = 3 − 2
t = 1.
5
Substitute t = 1 in equation (11):
s − 2 (1) = 2
s = 4.
We have a solution namely, t = 1, s = 4 but this must be checked
with all equations. The proposed solution satisfies equations (11) and
equation (12) but substituting in equation (13),
−2 (4) + 2 (1) = −5
−8 + 2 = −5
−6 = −5.
The last statement is clearly untrue. Consequently, we conclude there
is no solution for t and s and so the lines do not intersect. In this
case, we say the lines are skew.
Exercise
Find the point of intersection of the lines
y −2
x = 2t + 2 ; y = 2t + 3 ; z = t + 3 and x+ 2
2 = −1 = z
2
Answer: (0, 1, 2)
