Skew Lines - Distance Between Two Skew Lines

Distance Between Two Skew Lines

To calculate the distance between two skew lines the lines are expressed using vectors,

.

The cross product of b and d is perpendicular to the lines, as is the unit vector

(if |b × d| is zero the lines are parallel and this method cannot be used). The distance between the lines is then

.

Read more about this topic:  Skew Lines

Famous quotes containing the words distance and/or lines:

    From a distance the rushing of the torrent delights and uplifts us, but it rocks us in a flimsy boat, we are overwhelmed by despair. The same applies to danger.
    Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)

    Your letter is come; it came indeed twelve lines ago, but I
    could not stop to acknowledge it before, & I am glad it did not
    arrive till I had completed my first sentence, because the
    sentence had been made since yesterday, & I think forms a very
    good beginning.
    Jane Austen (1775–1817)