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Given an (infinitely long) line described by two distinct points it contains in $\mathbb{R}^n$

$$\alpha^{(1)} = (\alpha_1^{(1)}, \alpha_2^{(1)},\dots,\alpha_n^{(1)})$$ $$\alpha^{(2)} = (\alpha_1^{(2)}, \alpha_2^{(2)},\dots,\alpha_n^{(2)})$$

And a hypersphere (surface) described by a point and a radius:

$$\beta = (\beta_1, \beta_2,\dots,\beta_n)$$ $$r \in \mathbb{R} $$

Let $\gamma$ denote the (possibly empty) set of points that the line intersects the spheres surface.

Let $m = |\gamma|$

Clearly $m \in \{0,1,2\}$

By what formulae can we calculate $m$ and the locations of $\gamma$:

$$\gamma^{(1)} = (\gamma_1^{(1)}, \gamma_2^{(1)},\dots,\gamma_n^{(1)})$$ $$.$$ $$.$$ $$\gamma^{(m)} = (\gamma_1^{(m)}, \gamma_2^{(m)},\dots,\gamma_n^{(m)})$$

partial solution maybe:

$$|x-\beta| = r $$

And parameterize the line:

$$x = \alpha^{(1)} + t(\alpha^{(2)} - \alpha^{(1)})$$

So:

$$|\alpha^{(1)} + t(\alpha^{(2)} - \alpha^{(1)}) -\beta| = r $$

and then?

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    Why don't you go via a direct way and write $n-1$ equations on $x =(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ for a line and $1$ equation on $x$ for a sphere to find the solution?2012-05-29
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    The equation for the sphere is clear enough, $|x-\beta| = r$ - what are the equations for the lines? Presumably the system will be somehow linear mixed with quadratic? Isn't there someway I can use matricies and eigenvalues and all that jazz for this?2012-05-29
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    I'm not aware of such methods, at least. Also, for the lines it may be easier to use $n$ parametrization equations, say $x_i = \alpha_1^{(1)}+(\alpha_1^{(2)}-\alpha_1^{(1)})t$ and solve a system of $n+1$ equations on $(x,t)$.2012-05-29
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    Ok, so we have $x = \alpha^{(1)} + t(\alpha^{(2)}-\alpha^{(1)})$ and $|x-\beta| = r$ and solve for $(x,t)$.2012-05-29
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    Yes, I hope that would help.2012-05-29
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    I've written it out, but stuck again. (Maybe being awake for 30 hours is not helping.)2012-05-29

2 Answers 2

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And now just substitute: $$ \sum\limits_{i=1}^n(x_i - \beta_i)^2 = r^2 \quad\rightarrow\quad \sum\limits_{i=1}^n \left[\left(\alpha_i^{(2)}-\alpha_i^{(1)}\right)t+\left(\alpha_i^{(1)}-\beta_i\right)\right]^2 = r^2. $$ If we denote $\delta_i = \alpha_i^{(2)}-\alpha_i^{(1)}$ and $\gamma_i =\beta_i-\alpha_i^{(1)}$ we obtain: $$ \sum\limits_{i=1}^n(\delta_i t -\gamma_i)^2 = r^2\Leftrightarrow \left(\sum\limits_{i=1}^n\delta_i^2\right)t^2-2\left(\sum\limits_{i=1}^n\delta_i\gamma_ i\right)t + \sum\limits_{i=1}^n\gamma_i^2-r^2 = 0. $$ Which you can compactly write as $$ \|\alpha^{(2)} - \alpha^{(1)}\|^2 \cdot t^2-2\left\langle \alpha^{(2)} - \alpha^{(1)},\beta - \alpha^{(1)}\right\rangle \cdot t+ \|\beta - \alpha^{(1)}\|^2 = r^2. $$ This equation you know how to solve, and know how to determine if $m = 0$ or $1$ or $2$.

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If you replace each of the variables $x_i$ in the equation $(x_1−β_1)^2+(x_2−β_2)^2+⋯+(x_n−β_n)^2=r^2$ by using $x_i=α^{(1)}_i+t(α^{(2)}_i−α^{(1)}_i)$, you will then get a quadratic equation in the single variable $t$.

The coefficients of $t^2$ , $t$ and the constant term would be some (moderately complicated) combination of the $\alpha$'s and $\beta$'s, but you could then just write down the condition for the quadratic to have 2, or 1 or 0 roots, depending as $b^2-4ac$ is positive, zero or negative.

(I think Ilya has just said almost the same thing while I was working out how to format my first post here!)