[Math] How to find the distance between $z$ axis and a line

calculusvectors

Given the line $(3t, 1-t, 2-2t)$ I need to find the distance between the line and $z$ axis. First, we need to determine the mutual position of the lines.

I'm not sure if it's correct to say that the vector form form for the line of $z$ axis is $z: (0,0,0)+s(0,0,1)$? Then the parametric form would be $(0,0,s)$. Then:
$$
\begin{cases}
3t=0 \\
1-t=0\\
2-2t=s
\end{cases}
$$

From which we can see that the lines are not parallel, they don't intersect so they're perpendicular. If they are then we can build a plane that is spanned by the direction vectors and then calculate the distance.

But my main concern is whether I correctly determine the mutual position.

Best Answer

let $M=(3t,1-t,2-2t) $ be a point of the line.

its distance to $z-$axis is

$$\sqrt {9t^2+(1-t)^2} =$$ $$\sqrt {10t^2-2t+1} $$

the derivative inside is $$20t-2$$

the minimum is attained for $t=\frac {1}{10} $ which gives the distance $\frac {3}{\sqrt {10}} $.

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