Fairly simple vector problem...

But I can't quite get it...
Find the distance between two parallel lines;
L1: x=t-1 y=2-3t z=5t
L2: x=4-3s y=9s z=2-15s

What's throwing me is the parametric equations, I think. I kind of have trouble with them, so is there a way to just express these lines as f(x,y,z) instead?
In any case, I'm still having trouble with the distance, so any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

digitalrain,

I'm still having trouble with the distance, so any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Click to expand...

Sure, since both lines are parallel to each other, they are also both parallel to the vector[1,-3,5]. Take one arbitrary point from each line, like maybe what you get if you set t=0 and s=0. Then go to the link below and compute the perpendicular distance from one line to the other. Ratch

https://members.tripod.com/vector_applications/distance_point_line/index.html