CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Chapter 11: Three Dimensional Geometry NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 12 PDF

CBSE Class 12 Mathematics, Chapter 11: Three Dimensional Geometry, introduces students to the fascinating world of lines and planes in three-dimensional space. This chapter delves into essential concepts like direction cosines and direction ratios, which are crucial for describing the orientation of lines. You'll learn how to calculate these values from given angles or direction ratios, and how to identify if points lie on the same line. The NCERT Solutions provide clear, step-by-step explanations to help you grasp these principles, including proving collinearity using direction ratios. Mastering these topics will build a strong foundation for understanding more complex 3D geometry concepts and will be invaluable for your board exam preparation.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 12
SubjectMathematics
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 11

Chapter summary

Chapter 11 of the CBSE Class 12 Mathematics syllabus focuses on Three Dimensional Geometry. This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions covering the calculation of direction cosines from given angles, finding direction cosines for lines equally inclined to coordinate axes, and converting direction ratios to direction cosines. It also includes methods to verify the collinearity of points in 3D space. The exercises are designed to build a strong foundation in spatial reasoning and vector algebra.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of direction cosines and direction ratios.
  • Calculate direction cosines given the angles a line makes with the coordinate axes.
  • Determine direction cosines for a line equally inclined to the coordinate axes.
  • Convert direction ratios into direction cosines.
  • Apply direction ratios to check for collinearity of points in three-dimensional space.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Direction Cosines
  • Direction Ratios
  • Relationship between Direction Cosines and Angles with Axes
  • Condition for Direction Cosines ($l^2+m^2+n^2=1$)
  • Direction Cosines from Direction Ratios
  • Collinearity of Points in 3D

Important topics

  • Calculating Direction Cosines from angles
  • Finding Direction Cosines for equally inclined lines
  • Converting Direction Ratios to Direction Cosines
  • Proving Collinearity of Points using Direction Ratios

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

If a line makes angles $90^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$, and $45^{\circ}$ with the positive x, y, and z - axes respectively, find its direction cosines.
Solution:

Let the direction cosines of the line be $l, m,$ and $n$. These are defined as the cosines of the angles the line makes with the positive x, y, and z axes, respectively.

Given angles are:

  • Angle with x-axis, $\alpha = 90^{\circ}$
  • Angle with y-axis, $\beta = 135^{\circ}$
  • Angle with z-axis, $\gamma = 45^{\circ}$

The direction cosines are calculated as follows:

$l = \cos \alpha = \cos 90^{\circ} = 0$

$m = \cos \beta = \cos 135^{\circ} = \cos (180^{\circ} - 45^{\circ}) = -\cos 45^{\circ} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$

$n = \cos \gamma = \cos 45^{\circ} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$

Thus, the direction cosines of the line are $0, -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}},$ and $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$.

Question 2

Find the direction cosines $l, m,$ and $n$ of a line which makes equal angles with the coordinate axes.
Solution:

Let the direction cosines of the line be $l, m,$ and $n$. If the line makes equal angles with each of the coordinate axes, let this angle be $\alpha$. Then, $l = \cos \alpha$, $m = \cos \alpha$, and $n = \cos \alpha$.

We know the fundamental property of direction cosines: $l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1$.

Substituting the values, we get:

$\cos^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \alpha = 1$

$3 \cos^2 \alpha = 1$

$\cos^2 \alpha = \frac{1}{3}$

Taking the square root, we find $\cos \alpha = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$.

Therefore, the direction cosines are $l = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$, $m = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$, and $n = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$. This gives two possible sets of direction cosines: $(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}})$ and $(-\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, -\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, -\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}})$.

Question 3

If a line has the direction ratios $-18, 12, -4$, then what are its direction cosines?
Solution:

Let the direction ratios of the line be $a = -18$, $b = 12$, and $c = -4$. The direction cosines $(l, m, n)$ can be found using the formula: $l = \frac{a}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$, $m = \frac{b}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$, $n = \frac{c}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$.

First, calculate the magnitude of the direction ratios:

$\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2} = \sqrt{(-18)^2 + (12)^2 + (-4)^2}$

$= \sqrt{324 + 144 + 16}$

$= \sqrt{484}$

$= 22$

Now, calculate the direction cosines:

$l = \frac{-18}{\pm 22} = \frac{-18}{22} = -\frac{9}{11}$

$m = \frac{12}{\pm 22} = \frac{12}{22} = \frac{6}{11}$

$n = \frac{-4}{\pm 22} = \frac{-4}{22} = -\frac{2}{11}$

Hence, the direction cosines are $-\frac{9}{11}, \frac{6}{11},$ and $-\frac{2}{11}$.

Question 4

Show that the points $(2,3,4)$, $(-1,-2,1)$, and $(5,8,7)$ are collinear.
Solution:

Let the given points be $A(2,3,4)$, $B(-1,-2,1)$, and $C(5,8,7)$.

To show that these points are collinear, we can check if the direction ratios of the line segment AB are proportional to the direction ratios of the line segment BC.

The direction ratios of a line segment joining two points $(x_1, y_1, z_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2, z_2)$ are given by $(x_2 - x_1, y_2 - y_1, z_2 - z_1)$.

Direction ratios of AB:

$= (-1 - 2, -2 - 3, 1 - 4)$

$= (-3, -5, -3)$

Direction ratios of BC:

$= (5 - (-1), 8 - (-2), 7 - 1)$

$= (5 + 1, 8 + 2, 6)$

$= (6, 10, 6)$

Now, we check if the direction ratios of AB are proportional to the direction ratios of BC. We can see if one set of ratios is a scalar multiple of the other.

Let's compare the ratios: $\frac{6}{-3} = -2$, $\frac{10}{-5} = -2$, $\frac{6}{-3} = -2$.

Since the ratio is constant ($-2$) for all corresponding components, the direction ratios of AB are proportional to the direction ratios of BC. This means that the line segments AB and BC are parallel and share a common point B. Therefore, the points A, B, and C lie on the same straight line, proving they are collinear.

Common mistakes

  • Errors in calculating trigonometric values for angles like 135 degrees.
  • Forgetting the condition $l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1$ when finding direction cosines.
  • Incorrectly calculating the square root of the sum of squares of direction ratios.
  • Mistakes in simplifying fractions when converting direction ratios to direction cosines.
  • Sign errors when dealing with negative direction ratios.

Revision tips

  • Memorize the relationship between direction cosines and angles with axes: $l = \cos \alpha$, $m = \cos \beta$, $n = \cos \gamma$.
  • Remember the fundamental identity $l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1$ for direction cosines.
  • Practice converting direction ratios $(a, b, c)$ to direction cosines by dividing each ratio by $\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}$.
  • Understand that collinearity of points A, B, C can be checked if the direction ratios of AB are proportional to the direction ratios of BC.
  • Review the calculations for angles like $135^\circ$ and $45^\circ$ carefully.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What are the direction cosines of a line that makes angles of $90^\circ$, $135^\circ$, and $45^\circ$ with the x, y, and z axes respectively?

Q2. If a line makes equal angles with the coordinate axes, what is the value of $\cos^2 \alpha$ where $\alpha$ is the angle with each axis?

Q3. What are the direction cosines of a line with direction ratios $(-18, 12, -4)$?

Q4. For points A(2,3,4) and B(-1,-2,1), what are the direction ratios of the line segment AB?

Q5. If the direction ratios of AB are $(-3, -5, -3)$ and the direction ratios of BC are $(6, 10, 6)$, are the points A, B, and C collinear?

Frequently asked questions

What are direction cosines in 3D geometry?

Direction cosines of a line are the cosines of the angles that the line makes with the positive directions of the coordinate axes (x, y, and z). They are usually denoted by $l, m, n$.

How do you find direction cosines if a line makes given angles with the axes?

If a line makes angles $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$ with the x, y, and z axes respectively, its direction cosines are $l = \cos \alpha$, $m = \cos \beta$, and $n = \cos \gamma$.

What is the fundamental property of direction cosines?

The sum of the squares of the direction cosines of any line is always equal to 1, i.e., $l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1$.

How can direction ratios be converted into direction cosines?

If a line has direction ratios $a, b, c$, its direction cosines are given by $l = \frac{a}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$, $m = \frac{b}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$, and $n = \frac{c}{\pm\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}}$.

How can we check if three points are collinear using direction ratios?

Three points A, B, and C are collinear if the direction ratios of the line segment AB are proportional to the direction ratios of the line segment BC. This means that the ratios $(x_2-x_1, y_2-y_1, z_2-z_1)$ for AB are a constant multiple of $(x_3-x_2, y_3-y_2, z_3-z_2)$ for BC.

What does it mean for a line to be equally inclined to the coordinate axes?

A line is equally inclined to the coordinate axes if the angles it makes with the positive x, y, and z axes are all equal. In this case, its direction cosines are equal in magnitude.

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