UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » Physics » Calculate Distance Between Two Straight Lines

Calculate Distance Between Two Straight Lines

The perpendicular distance between two lines formula can be used to compute the distance between them. In most cases, we calculate the distance between two parallel lines.

The distance between two lines refers to the distance between the two lines. A line is a figure formed by connecting two points with the smallest possible distance between them and extending both ends of the line to infinity. The perpendicular distance between two lines could be used to compute the distance between them. In most cases, we calculate the distance between two parallel lines. In addition, the shortest distance between two non-intersecting lines in the same plane is the distance that would be the shortest of all the distances across two points on both lines.

Explain the Distance from Point to Line

The shortest distance between any two points on an infinite straight line is the distance from the point to the line. It is the length of the line segment that connects the point to the nearest point on the line, and it is perpendicular to the line. There are different ways to derive or describe the formula for calculating it. Understanding the distance between a point and a line can be beneficial in various scenarios, such as determining the shortest route to a road, quantifying scatter on a graph, etc. Suppose the dependent and independent variables have equal variance. In that case, Deming regression, a sort of linear curve fitting, produces orthogonal regression. The degree of imperfection of the fit is assessed for each data point as the perpendicular distance of the point from the regression line. 

Explain the Distance Between Two Lines and Formula? 

The distance between two lines is calculated by referring to two places on each line. The minimal distance between any two points resting on two straight lines in a plane seems to be the distance between two straight lines. We frequently use multiple lines to calculate the distance between two lines, including parallel lines, intersecting lines, and even skew lines. As a result, the perpendicular distance between these two parallel lines is the distance between any point on one line and any point on the other line. The shortest path between two intersecting lines eventually equals zero, and also, the distance between two skew lines equals the length of the perpendicular between them.The formula for calculating the distance between two lines with the following equations y = mx + c1 and y = mx + c2 is: d=|c2−c1|√(1+m2 )=| c 2 − c 1 | √(1 + m 2) .

What are Skew Lines? 

Two or more lines that are not intersecting, parallel, and coplanar concerning each other are called skew lines.

  • Coplanar Lines: These are parallel lines in almost the same plane.
  • Intersecting Lines: These are parallel lines that meet in the same plane.
  • Parallel Lines: These lines run parallel to one other but never meet.

What Are Some Examples of Skew Lines in the Real World?

Skew lines exist in three or even more dimensions. Hence they will undoubtedly live in our world. Here are a few examples of skew lines to help you visualise them better:

  • The lines are visible on the surfaces of the ceilings and walls.
  • Two or more street signs are placed next to one another on the same post.
  • In a city, roads run alongside highways or overpasses.

Flats With a Skew in Higher Dimensions

A flat of dimension k is known as a k-flat in higher-dimensional space. As a result, a line can also be referred to as a 1-flat.

When applying the skew line notion to d-dimensional space, an i-flat and just a j-flat can both be skew if I + j d. Skew flats, like lines in three dimensions, were ones that are neither parallel nor intersect.

Two flats of any dimension can be parallel in affine d-space. Parallelism does not occur in projective space; hence two flats must cross or be skewed. Let I represent the set of points on an i-flat and J represent the set of points on a j-flat. If I + j d in projective d-space, the intersection of I and J must contain an (i+jd)-flat. (A point is a 0-flat.)

If I and J cross at a k-flat in either geometry, then the points of I and J define an (i+jk)-flat fork = 0.

Conclusion

The smallest distance between any two points situated on two straight lines in a plane is the distance between them. We frequently deal with several types of lines in geometry, including parallel lines, intersecting lines, and skew lines. I hope now you all have the necessary information about the distance from a point to a line and also about the skew lines. For better understanding, you must go through this topic thoroughly. It will clear all your doubts. 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NEET UG Examination Preparation.

What approach do you utilise to figure out the distance?

Ans. To calculate distance, use the distance formula d = st, where distance eq...Read full

How do I calculate the slope of two lines?

Ans. Use the slope formula to determine the slope of a line given the coordina...Read full

Why is it that the shortest distance between two points is perpendicular?

Ans. When we talk about distance, we refer to the shortest distance from a point to a line or plane, which oc...Read full

What are skew lines, exactly?

Ans. Agonic lines are two or more lines with no intersections yet are not para...Read full