Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM25Ma554d: JEE Main 2025 Mathematics - Class 12 JEEM25Ma554d Solution: Let a line pass through two distinct points and , and be…

Let a line pass through two distinct points P(−2,−1,3)P(-2,-1,3) and QQ , and be parallel to the vector 3i^+2j^+2k^3 \hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k} . If the distance of the point Q from the point R(1,3,3)\mathrm{R}(1,3,3) is 5 , then the square of the area of △PQR\triangle P Q R is equal to :

Multiple Choice Options

  • A 148
  • B 144
  • C 136
  • D 140

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

P=(−2,−1,3)P = (-2, -1, 3)

Since the line through PP is parallel to the vector

d⃗=(3,2,2),\vec{d} = (3, 2, 2),

any point QQ on this line can be expressed as:

Q=P+t d⃗=(−2+3t, −1+2t, 3+2t),Q = P + t\,\vec{d} = (-2 + 3t,\, -1 + 2t,\, 3 + 2t),

where tt is a real number. Given that PP and QQ must be distinct, we require t≠0t \neq 0 .

The point RR is given by:

R=(1,3,3).R = (1, 3, 3).

The distance from QQ to RR is 55 , so we have:

[(−2+3t−1)2+(−1+2t−3)2+(3+2t−3)2]=52.\left[ (-2 + 3t - 1)^2 + (-1 + 2t - 3)^2 + (3 + 2t - 3)^2 \right] = 5^2.

Simplify each coordinate difference:

For the xx -coordinate:

−2+3t−1=3t−3=3(t−1).-2 + 3t - 1 = 3t - 3 = 3(t - 1).

For the yy -coordinate:

−1+2t−3=2t−4=2(t−2).-1 + 2t - 3 = 2t - 4 = 2(t - 2).

For the zz -coordinate:

3+2t−3=2t.3 + 2t - 3 = 2t.

So the equation becomes:

[3(t−1)]2+[2(t−2)]2+(2t)2=25.[3(t - 1)]^2 + [2(t - 2)]^2 + (2t)^2 = 25.

Expanding the squares:

9(t−1)2+4(t−2)2+4t2=25.9(t - 1)^2 + 4(t - 2)^2 + 4t^2 = 25.

Expand each term:

9(t2−2t+1)+4(t2−4t+4)+4t2=25,9(t^2 - 2t + 1) + 4(t^2 - 4t + 4) + 4t^2 = 25,

which simplifies to:

9t2−18t+9+4t2−16t+16+4t2=25.9t^2 - 18t + 9 + 4t^2 - 16t + 16 + 4t^2 = 25.

Combine like terms:

(9t2+4t2+4t2)−(18t+16t)+(9+16)=25,(9t^2 + 4t^2 + 4t^2) - (18t + 16t) + (9 + 16) = 25,

17t2−34t+25=25.17t^2 - 34t + 25 = 25.

Subtract 25 from both sides:

17t2−34t=0.17t^2 - 34t = 0.

Factor out 17t17t :

17t(t−2)=0.17t(t - 2) = 0.

Since t≠0t \neq 0 , we must have:

t=2.t = 2.

Substitute t=2t = 2 back into the equation for QQ :

Q=(−2+3(2), −1+2(2), 3+2(2))=(4,3,7).Q = (-2 + 3(2),\, -1 + 2(2),\, 3 + 2(2)) = (4, 3, 7).

Next, to find the square of the area of triangle PQRPQR , first compute the vectors:

PQ⃗=Q−P=(4−(−2), 3−(−1), 7−3)=(6,4,4),\vec{PQ} = Q - P = (4 - (-2),\, 3 - (-1),\, 7 - 3) = (6, 4, 4),

PR⃗=R−P=(1−(−2), 3−(−1), 3−3)=(3,4,0).\vec{PR} = R - P = (1 - (-2),\, 3 - (-1),\, 3 - 3) = (3, 4, 0).

The area of the triangle is given by:

Area=12 ∥PQ⃗×PR⃗∥.\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \, \| \vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR} \|.

Calculate the cross product:

PQ⃗×PR⃗=∣i^amp;j^amp;k^6amp;4amp;43amp;4amp;0∣.\vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR} = \begin{vmatrix} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 6 & 4 & 4 \\ 3 & 4 & 0 \\ \end{vmatrix}.

Expanding the determinant:

i^\hat{i} -component:

4×0−4×4=−16,4 \times 0 - 4 \times 4 = -16,

j^\hat{j} -component:

−(6×0−4×3)=12,-(6 \times 0 - 4 \times 3) = 12,

k^\hat{k} -component:

6×4−4×3=24−12=12.6 \times 4 - 4 \times 3 = 24 - 12 = 12.

Thus,

PQ⃗×PR⃗=(−16, 12, 12).\vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR} = (-16,\, 12,\, 12).

Find the magnitude squared of the cross product:

∥PQ⃗×PR⃗∥2=(−16)2+122+122=256+144+144=544.\| \vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR} \|^2 = (-16)^2 + 12^2 + 12^2 = 256 + 144 + 144 = 544.

The square of the area of triangle PQRPQR is:

(Area)2=(12)2∥PQ⃗×PR⃗∥2=14×544=136.(\text{Area})^2 = \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2 \| \vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR} \|^2 = \frac{1}{4} \times 544 = 136.

Thus, the square of the area of △PQR\triangle PQR is 136.136.

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