DIRECTION RATIOS AND DIRECTION COSINES

If a straight line makes angles α , β and γ with x-axis , y-axis and z- axis respectively,

then cosα ,cosβ ,cosγ are called direction cosines of the straight line. Direction cosines are generally
denoted by l , m , n.

If O be origin and P is a point whose co-ordinates are ( x , y , z ),

then x = lr , y = mr , z = nr , where l , m , n are direction cosines of OP.

PROOF: Through P draw PL perpendicular to x-axis so that OL = x.

Let OP = r

From the right triangle OPL , we have LOP i.e. or

Similarly

RELATION BETWEEN DIRECTION COSINES OF A LINE

If are direction cosines of a straight line, then

PROOF: Let O be the origin and P be a point whose co-ordinates are such that length of OP is
r, then as we have shown in the previous article.

By the distance formula the distance between O and P =

But as assumed the distance between O and P is r.

So r or ………………(1)

Substituting in the equation (1), we get

DIRECTION RATIOS OF A LINE:

Any three numbers a , b , c proportional to the direction cosines of a line are called direction ratios of
the line.

If l , m , n are the direction cosines of a line and are its direction ratios, then

l= m= , n= .

DIRECTION RATIOS OF THE LINE JOINING TWO POINTS :

Let P( and Q( be two given points,

Draw QM and PL perpendiculars to OX and PN perpendicular to QM.

PN = LM = OM – OL =

cos∠QPN = = , ,

So the direction ratios of the line joining P and Q are

ANGLE BETWEEN TWO STRAIGHT LINES WHEN THEIR DIRECTION COSINES ARE GIVEN:

If and are the direction cosines of the lines and θ is the angle between them,
then ( ).

PROOF:

Through O, draw OA and OB parallel to the two st.

lines such that OA = OB = 1. So the co-ordinates of the point A are ( ) and the co-ordinates of
the point B are ( )

=( )+( ) ( )

= ( )

From triangle AOB, by the cosine formula, we have

cos∠AOB = = =

cos θ = or θ= ( )

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