Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2011 / ia / Paper 1 / 5C / Solution

In the parametric description, $a$ is a point of the straight line and the nonzero vector $b$ gives its direction. The real parameter runs through every point of that line. For the cross product description, take another cross product with $c$ and use the vector triple product identity:Hence every solution has the representationHere $a\cdot b=0$ and $|b|=|c|$, as required. Conversely,Thus the perpendicularity assumption is sufficient, and the solutions form a straight line parallel to $c$. When $d\ne 0$, the vector $d$ is perpendicular both to $c$ and to every position vector on the line; it is the normal to the plane through the origin containing that line. The point $a=c\times d/|c{|}^2$ is the perpendicular foot from the origin. Its distance from the origin is $|d|/|c|$, since $c\cdot d=0$.

For a general parametric straight line, minimize the squared Euclidean distanceThis strictly convex quadratic function has its unique minimum at $\lambda =b\cdot (y-a)/|b{|}^2$, giving the orthogonal projectionFor the cross product description, $a\cdot c=0$, so this becomes

For the two planes, put $s=m\cdot n$ and $c=m\times n$. Nonparallel unit normals give $|s|<1$ and $|c{|}^2=1-s^2$. Seek the perpendicular foot in their span, $a=um+vn$. Its two dot products impose $u+sv=\mu$ and $su+v=\nu$. Solving gives both requested descriptions of the intersection:andIndeed the vector triple product identity gives $x\times (m\times n)=m(x\cdot n)-n(x\cdot m)$. Conversely, since $m,n$ are linearly independent, equality to $\nu m-\mu n$ forces both plane equations. Thus neither description introduces extra points.