The straight lines $\frac{x-2}{1}=\frac{y-3}{1}=\frac{z-4}{-k}$ and $\frac{x-1}{k}=\frac{y-4}{2}=\frac{z-5}{1}$, will intersect provided:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
Any point on the first line can be takes as
$P_1=\left(r_1+2, r_1+3,-k r_1+4\right)$
These lines will intersect if for some r1 and r2 we have
$r_1+2=kr_2+1,$
$r_1+3=2 r_2+4,$
$-kr_1+4=r_2+5$
∴ $r_1-kr_2+1=0, r_1=2 r_2+1 $
$\Rightarrow r_2=\frac{2}{k-2}, r_1=\frac{k+2}{k-2}$
putting these values in the last condition, we get
$k^2+3 k=0$
⇒ k = {-3, 0}