JEE Mathematics · Hard

Straight Lines: Concurrent lines MCQ

Solve this quality-checked JEE multiple-choice question, then review the correct answer and explanation.

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Concurrent linesHardQuestion 300011

Question

Lines ax + by + c = 0, bx + cy + a = 0, cx + ay + b = 0 are concurrent if:
  1. A
    a³ + b³ + c³ − 3abc = 0
    Correct
  2. B
    a + b + c = 0
  3. C
    a = b = c
  4. D
    ab + bc + ca = 0

Correct answer

a³ + b³ + c³ − 3abc = 0

Explanation

Three lines are concurrent iff their determinant = 0. Setting up the 3×3 determinant: |a b c; b c a; c a b| = 0 gives a³+b³+c³−3abc = 0 (or equivalently a+b+c = 0 when the factored form (a+b+c)(a²+b²+c²−ab−bc−ca) = 0).