SOLVED SUBJECTIVE EXAMPLES
Example 1:
Let a , b and c be non-coplanar vectors. Show that the vectors a 2b 3c, 2a 3b 4c
and a 3b 5c are coplanar vectors.
Solution :
Since a , b and c are non-coplanar, we have
[ a.b, c] 0 . . . . . (i)
Let p a 2b 3c, q 2a 3b 4c and r a 3b 5c . Then
q r ( 2a 3b 4c ) (a 3b 5c)
= 6a b 10a c 3b a 15b c 4c a 12c b ( as a a b b c c 0)
= 3a b 6a c 3b c
= 3 [ a b 2a c b c ]
= [ p q r ] p( q r )
Therefore
= (a 2b 3c).3(a 2b 2a c b c )
= 3[ a , a , b ] 6[a , a , c ] [ 3a , b, c ] 6[ b, a , b ] 12[ b, a , c ]
6 [ b, b, c ] 9[ c, a , b ] 18[ c, a , c ] 9[ c, b c ]
as [ a, a, b ] etc. having two
= 12[ a, b, c ] 12[ b, a, c ] vectors equal are all zero and
[ c, a, b ] [ a, b, c ]
as [ b, a , c ] b.(a c )
= 12[ a , b, c ] 12[ b, a , c ] 0 b.(c a )
[ a , b, c ]
Hence, p, q and r are coplanar vectors.
Example 2:
The position vectors of the points P and Q are 5î 7 ĵ 2k̂ and 3î 3 ĵ 6k̂ respectively. A line
1 is parallel to A 3î ˆj k̂ and passes through the point P and a line 2 is parallel to
B 3î 2 ĵ 4k̂ and passes through the point Q. A third line parallel to 2î 7ˆj 5k̂ intersects
lines 1 and 2 . Find the position vectors of the points of intersection.
Solution :
A B
2i + 7j – 5k
L(x1, y1, z1) M (x2, y2, z2 )
P(5, 7, – 2) (– 3, 3, 6)
Q
Let L and M denote the points of intersection of the line with 1 and 2 .
Since vectors PL and A are collinear
we have
PL 1 A , for some real 1 .
i.e., ( x1 5) î ( y1 7) ĵ ( z1 2) k̂ 1 (3î ĵ k̂ )
x 1 5 y 1 7 z1 2
1
3 1 1
L (31 5, 7 1, 1 2)
Similarly vectors QM and B are collinear
OM 2 B , for some real 2
M (3 2 3, 2 2 3, 4 2 6)
Again vector LM and 2î 7 ĵ 5k̂ are collinear
x 2 x 1 y 2 y 1 z 2 z1
3
2 7 5
3 2 31 8 2 2 1 4 4 2 1 8
3
2 7 5
31 3 2 2 3 8 .........(i)
1 2 2 7 3 4 .........(ii)
and 1 4 2 5 3 8 ..........(iii)
Solving (i), (ii) and (iii) we get 1 2 3 1
Hence position vectors of L and M are respectively 2î 8 ĵ 3k̂ and ĵ 2k̂ .
Example 3:
Using vector methods for any triangle ABC, prove that c2 = b2 + a2 - 2ab cos C.
Solution :
A
B C
–C
We have
AC CB AB
AC CB. AC CB [Link]
AC 2 CB 2 [Link] AB2
b2 + a2 - 2ab cos C = c2.
Example 4:
The base BC of a ABC is divided at D so that mBD = nCD. Show that
mAB2 + nAC2 = mBD2 + nCD2 + (m + n) AD2.
Solution :
A
B C
D
With A as origin, let the position vectors of B and C be b and c.
mBD n DC
mDB n DC 0
Now,
2
2
AB 2 AB AD DB AD 2 DB 2 [Link]
AC AD DC AD DC
2 2
AC 2 2 2
[Link]
Multiplying by m and n respectively and adding, we get
mAB 2 nAC 2 (m n )AD 2 mBD 2 nDC 2 2AD m DB n DC
= (m + n) AD2 + mBD2 + nDC2.
Example 5:
If a, b, c are mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude, show that a + b + c is equally
inclined to a, b, c.
Solution :
Given that :
b. a = a. b = b .c = c. b = a. c = c. a . . . (i)
and |a|=|b|=|c| . . . (ii)
Now,
|a + b + c|2 = (a + b + c). (a + b + c)
= a. a + a. b + a. c + b. a + b. b + b. c + c. a + c. b + c. c
= 3 | a |2
|a + b + c| = 3|a|
Let 1 , 2 , 3 be angles at which a + b + c is inclined to a, b, c respectively, then
(a b c).a | a |2 1
cos 1 2
|a bc| |a | 3| a | 3
1
Similarly cos 2 cos 3 1 2 3
3
Example 6:
Determine a unit vector perpendicular to the plane of a and b, where a = 4i + 3j - k and
b = 2i - 6j - 3k. Also obtain sine of the angle between a and b.
Solution :
i j k
a × b = 4 3 1
2 6 3
= 15 i + 10 j + 30 k
As a × b is the vector perpendicular to the plane of a and b, hence a unit vector perpendicular to
the plane of a and b is
ab 15i 10 j 30k 3 2 6
= i j k
|ab| ( 15) 2 (10) 2 (30) 2 7 7 7
If be the angle between the vectors, then
| ab| {(15) 2 10 2 (30) 2 }
sin
| a || b | {4 2 32 (1) 2 } {22 (6) 2 (3) 2 }
35 5
=
26 (49) 26
Example 7:
Show that the perpendicular distance of a point whose position vector is a from the plane through
three points with position vectors b, c, d is ([bcd] + [cad] + [abd] - [abc])/|b × c + c × d + d × b|
Solution :
A
h
B D
C
Let ABCD be the tetrahedron whose vertices A, B, C, D have position vectors a, b, c, d
respectively.
Volume of tetrahedron ABCD
1
= (area BCD) h
3
where h is the perpendicular distance of A from the plane BCD
3 volume of tetrahedron ABCD
h= Area of BCD
1
6
AB, AC, AD
[b a , c a , d a ]
= 3 .
1 | (c b ) (d b ) |
BC BD
2
(b a ).[(c a ) (d a )]
=
| cd c d b d |
(b a ).[c d c a a d ]
=
| b c c d d b |
[ b c d ] [ b c a ] [ b a d ] [a c d ]
=
| b c cd d b |
[ b c d ] [c a d ] [a b d ] [ a b c ]
=
| b c c d d b |
Example 8:
Examine whether the vectors 5a + 6b + 7c, 7a – 8b + 9c and 3a + 20b + 5c,
(a, b, c being non-coplanar vectors ) are linearly independent or dependent.
Solution :
If possible, let the linearly dependent. Then there exist scalars x1, x2, x3, not all zero, such that
x1(5a + 6b + 7c) + x2(7a – 8b + 9c) + x3(3a + 20b + 5c) = 0 ...........(i)
(5x1 + 7x2 + 3x3)a + (6x1 – 8x2 + 20x3)b + (7x1 + 9x2 + 5x3)c = 0
As a, b, c are non-coplanar vectors,
5x1 + 7x2 + 3x3 = 0
6x1 – 8x2 + 20x3 = 0
7x1 + 9x2 + 5x3 = 0
From first two equations, we get
x1 x 2 x 3
k ( say )
2 1 1
x1 = 2k, x2 = – k, x3 = – k
These values also satisfy the third equation
Hence, there exist scalars x1, x2, x3 such that (i) holds. Hence, given vectors are linearly dependent.
Example 9:
The straight line joining the mid-points of two non-parallel sides of a trapezium is parallel to the
parallel sides and half their sum.
Solution :
Let ABCD be a trapezium with parallel sides AB, CD. A as the origin of reference. Let
AB b, AD d ,
So that b, d are the position vectors of the points B and D respectively the mid point A as the origin
of reference.
As DC is parallel to AB, the vector DC must be a product of the vector AB by some scalar t.
Let DC t AB tb ........(i)
Now the position vector of C is
AC AD DC d tb
1 1
The position vectors of the mid–points E and F of BC and AD are ( b d tb) and d
2 2
respectively.
We have
FE AE AF
1 1
= ( b d tb) d
2 2
1 1
= (1 t )b (1 t ) AB
2 2
1
the vector FE is the product of the vector AB by a scalar (1 t )
2
1
FE || AB and FE = (1 t ) AB
2
Also from (i), we have
DC = t AB
It follows that
AB + DC = (1 + t)AB = 2 EF.
Example 10:
If D, E, F are three points on the sides BC, CA, AB respectively of a triangle ABC such that the
BD CE AF
points D, E, F are collinear, then prove that . . 1 and conversely..
CD AE BF
Solution :
Let BE, CF at H
Let a, b, c, h be the position vectors of the four points A, B, C, H relative to any origin O of
reference.
These four points being coplanar, there exist four scalars x, y, z, t such that
xa + yb + zc + th = 0, x + y + z + t = 0
xa zc xa yb
The position vectors of the points E and F, therefore, are , respectively..
xz xy
We now require the position vector of the point D. Writing e xa zc , f xa yb
xz xy
and eliminating, a, we have
(x + z) e – (x + y) f = zc – yb,
( x z)e ( x y)f zc yb
( x z) ( x y) zy
zc yb
This equality shows that is the position vector of the point D. Thus
zy
BD z CE x AF x
, ,
CD y EA z FB y
BD CE AF
. . 1
CD EA FB
BD CE AF
Conversely, let D, E, F be three points on the sides BC, CA, AB such that . . 1
CD EA FB
BD z CE x AF y
Suppose that , , so that
CD y AE z BF z
BD z CE x AF y
, ,
DC y EA z EB x
Thus if a, b, c be the position vectors of the vertices A, B, C, then the position vectors of the points
zc yb xa zc xa yb
D, E, F are , , respectively. Denoting these by d, e, f respectively,,
zy xz xy
we obtain – (z – y)d + (x + z)e – (x + y)f = 0, where – (z – y) + (x + z) – (x + y) = 0.
Thus, the points D, E, F are collinear.
Example 11:
Show that the circumcenter, the centroid and the orthocenter of a triangle are collinear and the
centroid divides the join of the circumcenter and the orthocenter in the ratio 1 : 2.
Solution :
Let O, G, H denote the circumcenter, centroid and orthocenter respectively of a triangle ABC.
Let a, b, c be the position vectors of the vertices A, B, C of the triangle with respect to the
circumcenter O, as the origin of reference.
We have
OA = OB = OC
a2 = b2 = c2
1
Also the position vector of G is OG (a b c)
3
We have, by (i)
[(a + b + c) – a] . (b – c) = 0,
[(a + b + c) – b] . (c – a) = 0,
[(a + b + c) – c] . (a – b) = 0,
So that if H denotes the point with position vector
a + b + c,
We see that
HA BC, H B CA, HC AB
So that H is the orthocentre of the triangle ABC
and we have OH a b c
Thus, we have
OH 3 OG
G divides OH in the ratio 1 : 2
Hence the result
Example 12:
P, Q are the mid-points of the non-parallel sides BC and AD of a trapezium ABCD. Show that
APD CQB .
Solution :
Let AB b and AD d
Now DC is parallel to AB
there exists a scalar t such, that DC t AB t b
AC AD DC d t b
1 1
The position vectors of P and Q are ( b d tb) and d respectively..
2 2
Now
2 APD AP AD
1 1
= ( b d tb) d (1 t ) ( b d)
2 2
1
= 2 CQB CQ CB d (d tb) [b (d tb)]
2
1
= (1 t )d b tb d
2
1 1
= (1 t ) b d tb d (1 t 2t ) b d
2 2
1
= (1 t ) b d 2 APD
2
Example 13:
Prove that [a p, b q, c r ] [ a q, b r , c p] [a r , b p, c q] 0 .
Solution :
[a p, b q, c r ] (a p).[(b q ) (c r )]
= (a p).[{(b q ).r}c {b q ).c}]
= (a p).{[b q r ] [a p r ][ b q c] ..........(i)
Also, [a q, b r , c p]
= ( b r ).[(c p) ( a q)]
= ( b r ).[{(b q ).r}c {( b q).c}r ]
= ( b r ).{[c p q]a [c p a ]q}
= [ b r a ][ c p q ] [ b q r ] [a p c ] ...........(ii)
[a q, b p, c q]
= (c q ).[(a r ) ( b p)]
= (c q).[{(a r ).p}b {( a r ).b}p]
= [ c q b ] [ a r p ] – [c q b ] [a r b ] ..........(iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii) the required result follows
Example 14:
In a ABC, let M be the mid point of segment AB and let D be the foot of the bisector
Area CDM C (origin)
of C . Then find the ratio of .
)
Area ABC
Area CDM b a
Solution :
Area CBA
1 a b ba a b M
= A B a
2(a b) ba b D
a b ba
ab
2
a b
1 (a b) b a
=
2(a b) ba
ab
= A()
2 (a b)
sin A sin B
=
2 (sin A sin B) O
G
AB AB
2 cos sin
= 2 2 B() C( )
AB A B
2 2 sin cos
2 2
Example 15:
Prove using vectors that the distance of the circumcenter of the ABC from the centroid
1
is R 2 (a 2 b 2 c 2 ) where R is the circumradius.
9
2 1 2
[ Hint: circumcenter is 'O' OG
9
2
1 2 2
Solution : 2 2 2
9
1
9
3R2 2R2 (cos 2A cos 2B cos 2C)
1
9
3R2 2R2 (3 2 sin 2 A)
1 2 2 a
2
b2 c2
9R 4 R 2
9 4R 4 R2 4 R 2
SOLVED OBJECTIVE EXAMPLES
Example 1:
If a, b, and c are unit vectors, then |a - b|2 + |b - c|2 + |c - a|2 does not exceed
(A) 4 (B) 9
(C) 8 (D) 6 (IIT-1995)
Solution :
We have
0 |a + b + c|2 = |a|2 + |b|2 + |c|2 + 2|a. b + b. c + c.a|
= 3 + 2|a. b + b. c + c. a|
So, a. b + b. c + c. a - 3/2.
Now, |a - b|2 + |b - c|2 + |c - a|2
= 2 (|a|2 + |b|2 + |c|2 - (a. b + a. c + b. c) 2 (3 + 3/2) = 9.
Hence (B) is the correct answer.
Example 2 :
Let a = 2i + j - 2k and b = i + j. If c is a vector such that a. c = |c|, |c - a| = 2 2 and the angle
between a × b and c is 30°, then |(a × b) × c| =
2 3
(A) (B)
3 2
(C) 2 (D) 3
Solution :
i j k
a × b = 2 1 2 = 2i + 2j + k |a × b| = 2
4 4 1 = 3. Also |c - a| = 8
1 1 0
So, |c|2 + |a|2 - 2a.c = 8 |c|2 + |a|2 - 2 |c| = 8
|c|2 + 9 - 2|c| = 8 |c|2 - 2|c| + 1 = 0
(|c| - 1)2 |c| = 1
1 3
Now, |(a × b) × c| = |a × b| × |c| sin 30° = 3.1.
2 2
Hence (B) is the correct answer.
Example 3:
Let v = 2i + j - k and w = i + 3k. If u is a unit vector, then for the maximum value of the scalar triple
product [u v w], u =
1 1
(A) (3î ˆj 2k̂ ) (B) (2î ĵ k̂ )
14 6
1 1
(C) (î 3k̂ ) (D) (3î 7ˆj k̂ )
10 59
Solution :
v × w = 3i - 7j - k
Now, [u v w] = u. (3i - 7j - k)
= | u | |3i - 7j - k| cos (where is the angle between u and v × w)
= 59 cos
1
Thus [u v w] is maximum if cos = 1 i.e. = 0 or u = (3i - 7j - k)
59
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
Example 4:
Let there be two points A and B on the curve y = x2 in the plane OXY satisfying OA. i = 1 and OB.
i = - 2 then the length of the vector 2OA - 3OB is
(A) 14 (B) 2 51
(C) 3 41 (D) 2 41
Solution :
Let OA = x1i + y1j and OB = x2i + y2j. Since 1 = OA. i = x1 and - 2 = OB. i = x2.
Moreover,
y1 = x12 and y2 = x22 = 4, so
OA = i + j and OB = - 2i + 4j. Hence |2OA - 3OB| = |8i - 10j| = 164 = 2 41
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
Example 5 :
If A, B, C and D are four points in space satisfying AB. CD = k [|AD|2 + |BC|2 - |AC|2 - |BD|2]
then the value of k is
(A) 2 (B) 1/3
(C) 1/2 (D) 1
Solution :
Let A be the origin of reference and let the position vectors of B, C, D be b, c, d. So
AB = b, CD = d - c, AD = d, BC = c - b, AC = c and BD = d- b. The L.H.S. is equal to
b.(d - c). The R.H.S is
k[|d|2 + |c - b|2 - |c|2 - |d - b|2]
= k[d.d + c.c + b.b - 2c.b - c.c - d.d - b.b + 2d.b]
= 2k[b. (d - c)]. Hence k = 1/2 .
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
Example 6 :
For unit vectors b and c and any non-zero vector a, the value of
{{(a + b) × (a + c)} × (b + c)}. (b + c) is
(A) | a |2 (B) 2| a |2
(C) 3| a |2 (D) none of these.
Solution :
The given expression
= {{a × c + b × a + b × c} × (b × c)}. (b + c)
= {(a × c) × (b × c) + (b × a) × (b × c)}. (b + c)
= [(a.(b × c))c - (c.(b × c))a + (b.(b × c))a - (a.(b × c)b)]. (b + c)
= [(a. (b × c))(c - b). (b + c)] = (a. (b × c)) [|c|2 - |b|2] = 0 [ |b| = |c| = 1].
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
Example 7 :
Three non-coplanar vectors a, b and c are drawn from a common initial point. The angle between
the plane passing through the terminal points of these vectors and the vector a×b + b×c + c × a is
(A) (B)
4 2
(C) (D) none of these.
3
Solution :
Let the terminal points be A, B, C and the common initial point be the origin of reference so that
AB = b - a and AC = c - a. The vector AB × AC is perpendicular to the plane ABC.
AB × AC = (b - a) × (c - a) = b × c + c × a + a × b. Hence the angle between the plane and the
given vector is .
Hence (B) is the correct answer.
Example 8 :
If a + b + c = 0 and | a | = 3 | b | = 5 and | c | = - 7, then the angle between a and b is
2
(A) (B)
6 3
5
(C) (D)
3 3
Solution :
a+b+c=0 a+b=-c (a + b). (a + b) = |c|2.
Thus | a |2 + | b |2 + 2 | a | | b | cos = | c |2, where is the angle between a and b.
49 9 25 1
therefore cos =
2.3.5 2
3
Hence (C) is correct answer.
Example 9 :
b gb g b g b g
Given that x a . x a = 8 and x . a = 2, then the angle between x a & x a is :
F
G 3 I F3 I
(A) cos 1
H14 JK (B) cos 1 G
H21 JK
F
G5 I
(C) cos 1
H21 JK (D) none of these
Solution : x a x a = 8 x = 3
To determine x a we have
x a . x a = 9 + 1 4 = 6 so that
x a = 6 and similarly x a = 14
Then x a . x a = 14 x 6 cos
8= 14 x 6 cos
4
cos =
21
Example 10 :
e j
The vector a 3 b is perpendicular to 7 a 5 be j and ea 4 bj is pernendicular to
e j
7 a 2 b . The angle between a & b is :
(A) 30º (B) 45º
(C) 60º (D) none of these
Solution :
Given a 3 b . 7 a 5 b = 0
7 a2 15 b2 + 16 a . b = 0 ...... (1)
Also, a 4 b . 7 a 2 b = 0
7 a2 + 8 b2 30 a . b = 0 ...... (2)
b2
Subtracting, 23 b2 + 46 a . b = 0 a . b =
2
Putting this in (1),
7 a2 7 b2 = 0 a b .
Thus a . b = ab cos
b2 1
= b2 cos cos =
2 2
or = 60º .
Example 11 :
Xcomponent of a is twice its Ycomponent . If the magnitude of the vector is 5 2 and
it makes an angle of 135º with zaxis then the vector is :
(A) 2 3 , 3 , 3 (B) 2 6 , 6 , 6
(C) 2 5 , 5 , 5 (D) none of these
Solution :
Let a 2 x i x j z k
5 x 2 z2 = 5 2
z z 1
Also, cos 135º = 2 2
= =
5x z 5 2 2
z=5
then x = 5,
The required vector a 2 5 i 5 j 5 k
Example 12:
If a . b = a b , then the angle between a & b is :
(A) 0º (B) 180º
(C) 135º (D) 45º
Solution :
We have a . b = a b
a b cos = a b sin
cos = sin = = 45º, 135º
Example 13:
If the non zero vectors a & b are perpendicular to each other then
the solution of the equation, r a b is :
1 1
(A) r x a a b
a.a
e j
(B) r x b a b
b.b
e j
(C) r x a b (D) none of these
Solution :
Since a , b and are non coplanar
r xa yb z a b ...... (1)
for some scalars x, y, z
Now b r a
b xa yb z a b a
= x a a y b a z a b a
= 0 y b a z a . a b a . b a
b y b a z a . a b a . b 0
Comparing the coefficients, we get
1
y = 0 and z =
a . a
Putting the values of y and z in (1), we get
1
r xa a b
a . a
Example 14:
If a , b & c are non coplanar unit vectors such that
bc
e j
a bc =
2
, then the angle between a & b is :
3
(A) (B)
4 4
(C) (D)
2
Solution :
bc
We have a bc = 2
b c
a . c b a . b c
2 2
1 1
a . c b a . b c =0
2 2
1 1
then a.c = 0 and a . b =0
2 2
1
a.b
2
a , b , c are non coplanar
Let the angle between a & b be then
1
a.b
2
1
a b cos
2
1
1 . 1 cos =
2
3
=
4
Example 15 :
Let a & b are two vectors making angle with each other, then unit vectors along bisector of
a & b is :
a b a b
(A) ± (B) ±
2 2 cos
(C) ±
a b
(D)
ea bj
2 cos / 2 a b
Solution :
Now in ABC
BD a
DC b
BD = ak, DC = bk
BC = (a + b) k
(BC)2 = (AB)2 + (AC)2 2AB . AC cos
(a + b)2 k2 = a 2 + b2 2ab cos
a 2 b 2 2 ab cos
k2 =
a b 2
In ADC and ABD
2 2
b 2 AD b 2 k 2 a 2 AD a 2 k 2
cos =
2 2 b AD 2 a AD
(AD)2 = ab (1 k)2
a 2 b 2 2 ab cos
= ab 1 [from (1)]
a b 2
4 a 2 b 2 cos 2 2
=
a b 2
2 ab cos 2
AD =
a b
AD = ±
a b b a
a b
ab a b
=±
a b a b
ab
=± a b
a b
a b
AD
AD = AD = ± 2 cos
2