THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY

Single Type
1. The shortest distance between the lines 2x+ y+z=1, 3x + y +
2z = 2 and x = y = z.
(A) 12 (B) 2
3 3
(C) 2
(D) 2

2. A mirror and a source of light are situated at the origin O and

at a point on the line OX respectively. A ray of light from
the source strikes the mirror at O and is reflected. The
direction ratios of the normal to the plane of the mirror are
(1, 1, 1); then the direction cosines of the reflected ray are
(A) 13 ,  32 , 32 (B)  13 , 23 , 23
(C)  13 , 
2
3
, 
2
3
(D) 1
3
,
2
3
, 
2
3

3. A variable plane at a distance of 1 unit from the origin cuts

the co-ordinate axes at A, B and C. If the centroid D (x, y, z)
of triangle ABC satisfies the relation 1  1  1 = k, then the
x2 y2 z2

value of k is
(A) 3 (B) 1
(C) 1/3 (D) 9

1
4. A straight line passes through the point (2, –1, –1). It is
parallel to the plane 4x + y + z + 2 = 0 and is perpendicular
to the line 1x  y2  z 1 5 . The equation of the straight line is
x  2 y 1 z 1 x  2 y 1 z 1
(A) 4

1

1
(B) 4

1

1
x  2 y 1 z 1 x  2 y 1 z 1
(C) 1

1

3
(D) 1

1

3

5. The equation of the straight line through the origin parallel

to the line
(b + c)x + (c + a)y + (a + b)z = k
= (b – c)x + (c – a)y + (a – b)z is
(A) b x c  c y a  a z b
2 2 2
(B) bx  cy  az
2 2 2

x y z
(C) a  bc
2

b  ca
2

c  ab
2
(D) none of these

6. The angle between two lines whose direction cosines are

given by the equation l + m + n = 0, l2 + m2 + n2 = 0 is
 2
(A) (B)
3 3

(C) (D) None of these
4

7. The equation of the plane which contains the line of

intersection of the planes x + y + z – 6 = 0 and 2x + 3y + z +
5 = 0 and perpendicular to the xy plane is:
(A) x – 2y + 11 = 0 (B) x + 2y + 11 = 0
(C) x + 2y – 11 = 0 (D) x – 2y – 11 = 0

2
8. The coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular drawn from
the origin to the plane 3x + 4y – 6z + 1 = 0 are :
 3 4 6  3 4 6 
(A)  , ,  (B)  , , 
 61 61 61   61 61 61 
3 4 6  3 4 6
(C)  , ,  (D)  , , 
 61 61 61   61 61 61 

9. If equation of a sphere is 2(x2 + y2 + z2) – 4x – 8y + 12z – 7

= 0 and one extremity of its diameter is (2, –1, 1), then the
other extremity of diameter of the sphere will be
(A) (2, 9, –13) (B) (0, 9, 7)
(C) (0, 5, 7) (D) (2, 5, –13)

10. The image of the point (1, 3, 4) in the plane 2x – y + z + 3 =

0 is :
(A) (–3, 5, 2) (B) (3, 2, 5)
(C) (–5, 3, –2 (D) (–2, 5, 3)

11. The equation of the sphere which passes through the points
(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0) and (0, 0, 1) and has its radius as small as
possible is :
(A) 3(x2 + y2 + z2) + 2(x + y + z) – 1= 0
(B) 3(x2 + y2 + z2) – 2(x + y + z) – 1= 0
(C) (x2 + y2 + z2) – 2(x + y + z) – 1= 0
(D) (x2 + y2 + z2) + 2(x + y + z) – 1= 0

3
12. A point moves so that the ratio of its distances from two
fixed points is constant. Its locus is a:
(A) plane (B) st. lines
(C) circle (D) sphere

13. A line makes angles , , ,  with the four diagonals of a

cube then cos2 + cos2 + cos2 + cos2 =
(A) 1 (B) 4/3
(C) 3/4 (D) 4/5

14. The points (0, -1, -1), (-4, 4, 4), (4, 5, 1) and (3, 9, 4) are
(A) collinear (B) coplanar
(C) forming a square (D) none of these

15. A variable plane passes through a fixed point (a, b, c) and

meets the coordinate axes in A, B, C. The locus of the point
common to plane through A, B, C parallel to coordinate
planes is
(A) ayz + bzx + cxy = xyz (B) axy + byz + czx = xyz
(C) axy + byz + czx = abc (D) bcx + acy + abz = abc

4
 x y z
16. The plane   1 meets the coordinate axes in A, B, C.
a b c
Then area of ABC is
1 2 2 1
(A) a b  b2c2  c2a 2 (B) ab  bc  ca
2 2
1 2 2 1
(C) a b  b2c2  c2a 2 (D) abc
4 2

17. The internal bisector of angle A of ABC meets BC in D

where A, B, C are (3, 2, 0), (5, 3, 2) and  9, 6,  3 . Then D is
 19 57 17   19 57 17 
(A)  , ,  (B)  , , 
 8 16 16   8 16 16 
 19 57 17   19 57 17 
(C)  , ,  (D)  , , 
 8 16 16   8 16 16 

18. Distance between the planes

2x  y  2z  8

4x  2y  4z  5  0 is
3 5
(A) (B)
2 2
7 9
(C) (D)
2 2

19. The vector equation of a straight line passing through a and

perpendicular to b and c is
(A) r  a  t(b  c) (B) r  a  (b  c)
(C) r  b  t(a  c) (D) r  b  (a  c)

5
20. The centroid of the triangle whose vertices are (5, 7, 1), (1,
1, 3) is given by (1, 3, 5), then the 3rd vertex is
(A)  3, 1, 11 (B) (3,  1, 11)
(C) (3, 1,  11) (D) none of these

Integer Type
21. The distance of the point (-1, 2, 6) from the line
x2 y3 z4
  , is equal to:
6 3 4

22. The shortest distance between the line x + y + 2z – 3 = 2x +

3y + 4z – 4 = 0 and the z-axis is:

x  y  z  
23. The equation of the plane containing the line  
l m n
is a (x  ) + b (y  ) + c (z ) = 0, where al + bm + cn is
equal to

24. If d is the distance between the point (1, 5, 10) and the
point of intersection of the line x  2  y  1  z  2 with the plane
3 4 12
x – y + z = 5, then d – 10 is equal to

6
25. P, Q, R, S are four coplanar points on the sides
AB,BC,CD,DA of a skew quadrilateral. ABCD. The product
equals AP . BQ . CR . DS =
PB QC RD SA

26. Show that the origin lies in the acute angle between the
planes x + 2y + 2z  9 = 0 and 4x  3y + 12z + 13 = 0. Find
the plane bisecting the angle between them and distinguish
the acute angle bisector.

27. Find the distance of the point (1, –2, 3) from the plane x – y
+ z = 5 measured parallel to the line 2x  3y  z6 .

28. Find the equation of the plane through the point (, , )
and the line x l   y m   x n  .

29. The shortest distance between the two straight lines

x 4 / 3 y 6 / 5 z 3 / 2
2

3

4
and 5y8 6  2z9 3  3x5 4 is

30. A plane is passed through the middle point of the segment

A(–2, 5, 1), B(6, 1, 5) and is perpendicular to this line. Then
its equation is _____________.

7
 SOLUTIONS
Single Type
1. (A)
Any plane passing through first line 2x + y + z – 1 + (3x +
y + 2z – 2) = 0, if it is parallel to second line
(2 + 3)1 + (1 + )1 + (1 + 2)1 = 0   = – 2/3.
Plane is y – z + 1 = 0
Distance from (0, 0, 0) = 1 .
2

2. (D)
(l, m, n) N(1, –1, 1)

O (–1, 0, 0)

The d.c’s of incident ray are (–1, 0, 0). Let the d.c’s of
reflected ray be (l, m, n), then the direction ratios of the
normal to the plane of mirror will be (l – 1, m , n).
So, l 11  m1  n1  k (say)
 l = k + 1, m = –k, n = k
 (k + 1)2 + (–k)2 + (k)2 = l2 + m2 + n2
= 1  k = –2/3.
So, (l, m, n) is  31 , 32 ,  32  .

8
3. (D)
1
x y z
Let   1
a b c
be the variable plane so that 1

1

1 1 .
2 2 2
a b c

The plane meets the coordinate axes at A (a, 0, 0), B (0, b,

0), C (0, 0, c). The centroid D of the triangle ABC is  a3 , b3 , 3c 
x= a b
, y , z
c
and 1

1

1
1  1

1

1
= 9.
3 3 3 a2 b2 c2 x 2
y 2
z2

Hence, (D) is the correct answer.

4. (C)
Let direction cosines of straight line be l, m, n  4l + m +
n=0
l – 2m + n = 0  3l  m3  n9  l1  m1  n3
 Equation of straight line is x12  y 1 1  z 3 1 .
Hence, (C) is the correct answer.

5. (C)
x0 y0 z0
Equation of straight line through origin is l

m

n

where l((b+c) + m(c+a) + n(a + b) = 0

and l(b  c) + m(c a) + n(a  b) = 0
l m n
On solving,  
2  a  bc  2 b  ca  2  c  ab 
2 2 2

 Equation of the straight line is x

a  bc
2

b  ca
2
y

c  ab
2
z

Hence,(C) is the correct answer.

9
6. (B)
Eliminating n between the two relations, we have
l2 + m2 – (l + m)2 = 0 or 2lm = 0  either l = 0 or m = 0
if l = 0, then m + n = 0 i,e. m = – n
 0l  m1  n1 , giving the direction ratios of one line.
If m = 0, then l + n = 0 i.e. l = – n
 1l  m0  n1 , giving direction ratios of the other lines.
The angles between these lines is
 0.1  1.0   1 1 
cos-1  
 = cos–1   21   3 or
2
.
 0 2  12   1 12  0 2   1    3
2 2
 

7. (B)
Equation of the required plane is (x + y + z – 6) + (2x +
3y + z + 5) = 0
i.e. (1 + 2)x + (1 + 3)y + (1 + )z + (–6 + 5) = 0
This plane is perpendicular to xy plane whose equation is z
=0
i.e. 0 . x + 0 . y + z = 0
 By condition of perpendicularity
0.(1 + 2) + 0. (1 + 3) + (1 + ) .1 = 0 i.e.  = –1
 Equation of required plane is
(1 – 2)x + (1 – 3)y + (1 – 1)z + (–6 – 5)
= 0 or x + 2y + 11 = 0.

10
8. (C)
The equation of the plane is 3x + 4y – 6z + 1 = 0
……(1)
The direction ratios of the normal to the plane (1) are 3, 4,
–6. So equation of the line through (0, 0, 0) and
perpendicular to the plane (1) are
x y
 
3 4 6
z
= r (say) ……(2)
The coordinates of any point P on (2) are (3r, 4r, –6r). If
this point lie on the plane (1), then
3(3r) + 4(4r) – 6(–6r) + 1 = 0 i.e. r = – 611
Putting the value of r coordinates of the foot of the
perpendicular P are  613 , 614 , 61
6
.
 

9. (C)
The centre of the sphere is (1, 2, –3) so if other extremity of
diameter is (x1, y1, z1), then
x 2 y 1 z 1
1
2
= 1, 1
2
= 2, 1
2
= –3
 Required point is (0, 5, 7).
Hence, (C) is the correct answer.

11
10. (A)
P(1, 3, 4)

Plane

Q(Image Point)

As it is clear from the figure that PQ will be perpendicular

to the plane and foot of this perpendicular is mid point of
PQ i.e. N.
So, direction ratios of line PQ is 2, –1, 1
 Equation of line PQ = x 2 1  y13  z 1 4 r (say)
Any point on line PQ is (2r + 1, –r + 3, r + 4)
If this point lies on the plane, then
2(2r + 1) – (–r + 3) + (r + 4) + 3 = 0  r = –1
 coordinate of foot of perpendicular N = (–1, 4, 3)
As N is middle point of PQ
 –1 = 1 2x , 4 = 3 2 y , 3 = 4 2 z
1 1 1

 x1 = –3, y1 = 5, z1 = 2
 Image of point P (1, 3, 4) is the point Q (–3, 5, 2).

12
11. (B)
Let equation of sphere be given by
x2 + y2 + z2 + 2ux + 2vy + 2wz + d = 0 ……(1)
As sphere passes through points (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0) and (0, 0,
1). So we have
1 + 2u + d = 0, 1 + 2v + d = 0, 1 + 2w + d = 0
On solving u = v = w = – 21 (d + 1)
If r is the radius of the sphere, then
r = u v w d
2 2 2

r2 = 34 (d + 1)2 – d =  (say)
for r to be minimum
d
dd
= 0  3
4
.2(d + 1) – 1 = 0 or d = – 1
3
d2 3
Also,  = positive at d = – 31
dd2 2

Hence  is minimum at d = – 31
So, substituting value of d we have u = v = w = – 31
 equation of the sphere
x2 + y2 + z2 – 32 (x + y + z) – 1
3
=0
 3(x2 + y2 + z2) – 2(x + y + z) – 1= 0.

13
12. (D)
Let the coordinates of moving point P be (x, y, z). Let A (a,
0, 0) and B (–a, 0, 0) be two fixed points. According to
given condition
AP
BP
= constant = k (say)  AP2 = k2BP2
or, (x – a)2 + (y – 0)2 + (z – 0)2 = k2{(x + a)2 + (y – 0)2 + (z
– 0)2}
 (1 – k2)(x2 + y2 + z2) – 2ax(1 + k2) + a2(1 – k2) = 0
 required locus is x2 + y2 + z2 – 2a(1  k 2 )
(1  k 2 )
x + a2 = 0.
Which is a sphere.

13. (B)

P (0, 0, 1)
Q (1, 0, 1)
(0, 1, 1)S R (1, 1, 1)

O
A(1, 0, 0)
C(0, 1, 0) B(1, 1, 0)

The direction ratios of the diagonal OR (1, 1, 1)

 1 1 1 
Direction cosine are  , , 
 3 3 3
 1 1 1 
Similarly, direction cosine of AS are  ,  ,  
 3 3 3
 1 1 1 
BP are  , , 
 3 3 3
 1 1 1 
CQ are  , , 
 3 3 3

14
Let l, m, n be direction cosines of the line
cos = l  m  n , cos = l  m  n , cos = l  m  n , cos = lmn
3 3 3 3

cos2 + cos2 + cos2 + cos2 = 4 l m n =

2 2 2
4
3 3

(Since l2 + m2 + n2 = 1)
Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

14. (B)
Equation of the plane passing through the points (0, -1, -1),
x y  1 z  1
(-4, 4, 4) and (4, 5, 1) is 4 5 5 =0 ….
4 6 2

(1)
The point (3, 9, 4) satisfies the equation (1).
Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

15. (A)
x y z
Let the equation to the plane be   1
  

 a b c
  1
  
( the plane passes through a, b, c)
Now the points of intersection of the plane with the
coordinate axes are A(, 0, 0), B(0, , 0) & C(0, 0, )
 Equation to planes parallel to the coordinate planes
and passing through A, B & C are x = , y =  and z = .
 The locus of the common point is
   1 (by eliminating , ,  from above equation)
a b c
x y z

15
 Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

16. (A)
A is (a, 0, 0) B is (0, b, 0) C is (0, 0, c)
The area of the projection on xy plane i.e. z = 0
= Area of the triangle formed by vertices (a, 0), (0, b), (0,
0)
1 1
  [ab] ;
1   a b 2
1
2 2
2 4
1 2 2 2 1 2 2
Similarly 22 
4
b c , 3  c a
2
1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2
Required area  21  22  23 
4
a b  b c  c a 
4 4 2
a b  b 2c 2  c 2a 2

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

17. (B)
AB = 3 AC = 13
D divides BC in the ratio 3 : 13
 3( 9)  13  5 3  6  13  3 3( 3)  13  2 
D
3  13
,
3  13
,
3  13    19 57 17 
 , , 
   8 16 16 

Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

18. (C)
Note that the two planes are parallel. Let ( x , y , z ) be a point 1 1 1

on the I plane 2x  y  2z  8
1 1 1

Perpendicular distance ( x , y , z ) from the II plane

1 1 1

4 x1  2y1  4z1  5 2(8)  5 21 7

   
6 6 6 2

Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

16
19. (A)

Since the line is perpendicular to both b and c , the line is

parallel to b  c.
Line passes through a .
   
 Equation is r  a  t (b  c )
   
r  a  t (b  c ) where t is a scalar.

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

20. (A)
Let ( x , y , z ) be the 3rd vertex.
1 1 1

Then centroid is  5  13 x , 7  13 y

1 1
,
1  3  z1 
  (1, 3, 5)
 3 
6  x1
 1  6  x1  3  x1  3
3
8  y1
 3  8  y1  9  y1  1
3
4  z1
 5  4  z1  15  z1  11
3

(3, 1, 11)

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

Integer Type
21. (7)
Any point on the line is
P  (6r1  2, 3r1  3, –4r1 –4).
Direction ration of the line segment PQ, where Q  (–1, 2, 6),are
6r1  3, 3r1  1, – 4r, – 10.
If ‘P’ be the foot of altitude drawn from Q to the given line, then

17
6(6r1  3)  3(3r1  1)  4(4r1  10)  0.
 r1 = –1.
Thus, P  (–4, 0, 0)
 Required distance  9  4  36  7 units.

22. (2)
We have,
3
x + y + 2z  3=0, x + 2z  2  y  0
2
Solving these equations, we get
Y  –2.
Thus, required shortest distance is 2 units.

23. (0)
Since, straight line lies in the plane so it will be
perpendicular to the normal at the given plane.
Since, direction cosines of straight line are l, m, n and
direction ratio of normal to the planes are
a, b, c. So, al + bm + cn = 0.

24. (3)
Any point on the line is (3r + 2, 4r – 1, 12r + 2) which lies
on the plane if
3r + 2 – (4r – 1) + 12r + 2 = 5
 r = 0 and the point of intersection of the line and the plane
is (2, 1, 2).

18
 So, d2 = (2 + 1)2 + (1 + 5)2 + (2 + 10)2 = 169
d = 13  d – 10 = 3

25. (1)
Let the vertices A,B,C,D of quadrilateral be
 x , y , z  ,  x , y , z  ,  x , y , z  and  x , y , z  and the equation of plane
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4

PQRS be u  ax  by  cz  d  0
Let u  a x  b y  c z  d where r  1, 2,3, 4
r r r r

AP BQ CR DS  u1   u2   u3  u4 
Then . . .             1
PB QC RD SA  u2   u3   u4  u1 

26. (3)
 x  2y  2z + 9 = 0 .....(1)
And 4x  3y + 12z + 13 = 0 ....(2)
So, a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 = (1) . 4 + (2). (3) + (2) . 12 =
negative
Hence, origin lies in the acute angle between plane (1) and
(2)
The equation of bisector planes between the given planes
are x  2y  2z  9   4x  3y  12z  13
1 4  4 16  9  144

 25x + 17y + 62z  78 = 0 ....(3)

x + 35y  10z  156 = 0 ....(4)
As origin lies in acute angle so acute angle bisector will be
represented by (3).

19
27. (1)
Here we are not to find perpendicular distance of the point from
the plane but distance measured along with the given line. The
method is as follow:
The equation of the line through the point (1, –2, 3) and parallel
to given line is x 2 1  y 3 2  z63 = r (say)
The coordinate of any point on it is (2r + 1, 3r – 2, –6r + 3).
If this point lies in the given plane then
2r + 1 – (3r – 2) + (–6r + 3) = 5
 –7r = –1 or r = 71
 Point of intersection is 9
7,


11
7
,
15 
7 
.
 The required distance
= the distance between the points (1, –2, 3) and 9
7,


11
7
,
15 
7 
2 2 2
 9  11   15  1
=  1  7    2  7    3  7   7 49 = 1 unit.
     

28. (0)
The equation of any plane through the given line is
a(x  ) + b(y  ) + c(z  ) = 0 ....(1)
where al + bm + cn = 0 ....(2)
The plane (1) passes through the point (, , ) so
a(  ) + b(  ) + c(  ) = 0 ...(3)
The equation of the required plane will be obtained by eliminating
a, b, c between the equation (1), (3) and (2).

20
Hence, eliminating a, b, c between the above equations, the
equations of the required plane is given by
x  y  z 
           =0
l m n

or (x  ){n(  )  m(y  )} = 0.

29. (0)
Since these two lines are intersecting so shortest distance between
the lines will be 0.

30. (4)
Plane passes through the midpoint of AB and direction ratio of
normal to plane is proportional to direction ratio of AB. So
equation of plane is
(6 + 2)(x  2) + (1  5)(y  3) + (5  1)(z  3) = 0
8x  4y + 4z = 16
2x  y + z = 4.

21