Vectors - lines and equations

Question

1) How do we find the perpendicular distance of a point C=c fron the straight line (r-a)^b =0

2) how do we find the shortest distance between the two skew lines (r-a)^b =0 and (r-c)^d =0

Answer 1

Getting into trig; you're looking for side "a or b" of a right-triangle; as long as pt C=c and the end of the line make a rt angle.

a^2+b^2=c^2

ra is either side a or b; point C=c makes the other side which makes a rt angle. Side "c" is the hypotenuse; side "a" is the shortest.