Preliminary ideas of Vector algebra

1. If 𝑎⃗ is a non-zero vector with modulus |𝑎⃗| and 𝑚 is a non-zero scalar, then 𝑚𝑎⃗ is a
unit vector if:
(a) 𝑚 = ±1
(b) 𝑚 = |𝑎⃗|
1
(c) 𝑚 = |𝑎⃗⃗|
(d) 𝑚 = ±2

2. The direction cosines of the vector 3𝑖ˆ − 4𝑗ˆ + 5𝑘ˆ are:

3 −4 1
(a) 5 , 5 , 5
3 −4 1
(b) 5√2 , 5√2 ,
√2
3 −4 1
(c) , ,
√2 √2 √2
3 4 1
(d) 5√2 , 5√2 ,
√2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝐸𝐵
3. If 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷𝐸𝐹 is a regular hexagon, then 𝐴𝐷 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝐹𝐶
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =
⃗⃗
(a) 𝑂
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(b) 2𝐴𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(c) 3𝐴𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(d) 4𝐴𝐵

4. The unit vector parallel to the resultant vector of 2i + 4j − 5k and i + 2j + 3k is

1
(a) 7 (3i + 6j − 2k)
i+j+k
(b)
√3
i+j+2k
(c)
√6
1
(d) (−𝐢 − 𝐣 + 8𝐤)
√69

5. If the sum of two vectors is a unit vector, then the magnitude of their difference is
(a) √2
(b) √3
1
(c)
√3
(d) 1

6. The length of the longer diagonal of the parallelogram constructed on the vectors
5𝑎⃗ + 2𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑎⃗ − 3𝑏⃗⃗, given that |𝑎⃗| = 2√2, |𝑏⃗⃗| = 3, and the angle between 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗
𝜋
is 4 , is:
(a) 15
(b) √113
(c) √593
(d) √369
 Algebra of vectors 2

7. The sum of two forces is 18 N and resultant whose direction is at right angles to the
smaller force is 2 N. The magnitude of the two forces are
(a) 13,5
(b) 12,6
(c) 14,4
(d) 11,7
8. The vector 𝑐⃗, directed along the internal bisector of the angle between the vectors
𝑎⃗ = 4𝑖ˆ − 3𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ and 𝑏⃗⃗ = −𝑖ˆ + 2𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ with |𝑐⃗| = 3√2, is:
3
(a) 5 (𝑖ˆ + 𝑗ˆ + 𝑘ˆ)
3
(b) 5 (5𝑖ˆ − 𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ )
3
(c) 5 (3𝑖ˆ − 𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ)
3
(d) 5 (3𝑖ˆ + 𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ )
9. If the position vector of point 𝐴 is 𝑎⃗ + 2𝑏⃗⃗ and point 𝐶 divides the line segment 𝐴𝐵 in
the ratio 2 : 3 , what is the position vector of point 𝐵 ?
a) 2a − b
(b) b − 2a
(c) a − 3b
(d) b

11. Let 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾 be distinct real numbers. The points with position vectors 𝛼i̇ + 𝛽j +
𝛾k, 𝛽i + 𝛾j + 𝛼k, 𝛾i̇ + 𝛼j + 𝛽k

(a) Are collinear

(b) Form an equilateral triangle

(c) Form a scalene triangle

(d) Form a right angled triangle

12. The position vectors of the vertices 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 of a triangle are i − j − 3k, 2i + j − 2k and
−5i + 2j − 6k respectively. The length of the bisector 𝐴𝐷 of the angle 𝐵𝐴𝐶 where 𝐷
is on the segment 𝐵𝐶, is
3
(a) 4 √10
1
(b)
4
11
(c) 2
(d) None of these
13. The points with position vectors 50𝑖ˆ + 7𝑗ˆ, 30𝑖ˆ − 4𝑗ˆ, and 𝑏𝑖ˆ − 36𝑗ˆ are collinear if 𝑏
is:
(a) -30
(b) 30
(c) 10
(d) None of these

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 Algebra of vectors 3
14. Let 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, and 𝑐⃗ be three non-zero vectors such that no two of these vectors are
collinear. If the vector 𝑎⃗ + 2𝑏⃗⃗ is collinear with 𝑐⃗ and the vector 𝑏⃗⃗ + 3𝑐⃗ is collinear
with 𝑎⃗ (where 𝜆 is some non-zero scalar), then 𝑎⃗ + 2𝑏⃗⃗ + 6𝑐⃗ equals:
⃗⃗
(a) 0
(b) 𝜆𝑏⃗⃗
(c) 𝜆𝑐⃗
(d) 𝜆𝑎⃗

15. If the vectors 4i + 11j + 𝑚k, 7i + 2j + 6k and i + 5j + 4k are coplanar, then 𝑚 is

(a) 38
(b) 0
(c) 10
(d) -10
16. The resultant of two forces, one double the other in magnitude, is perpendicular to
the smaller of the two forces. The angle between the two forces is
a. 120∘
b. 60∘
c. 90∘
d. 150∘

Product of vectors
1. (a. 𝐢)𝐢 + (𝐚 ⋅ 𝐣)𝐣 + (𝐚 ⋅ 𝐤)𝐤 =
(a) 𝐚
(b) 2𝐚
(c) 3𝐚
(d) 0

2. If |𝐚| = 3, |𝐛| = 4 then a value of 𝜆 for which 𝐚 + 𝜆𝐛 is perpendicular to 𝐚 − 𝜆𝐛 is

(a) 9/16
(b) 3/4
(c) 3/2
(d) 4/3

3. A unit vector in the plane of the vectors 2𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝐤, 𝐢 − 𝐣 + 𝐤 and orthogonal to 5𝐢 +

2𝐣 + 6𝐤 is
6𝐢−5𝐤
(a)
√61
3𝐣−𝐤
(b)
√10
2𝐢−5𝐣
(c)
√29
2𝐢+𝐣−2𝐤
(d) 3

3
 Algebra of vectors 4
4. If 𝜃 be the angle between the vectors 𝐚 = 2𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 𝐤 and 𝐛 = 6𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 2𝐤, then
4
(a) cos⁡ 𝜃 = 21
3
(b) cos⁡ 𝜃 = 19
2
(c) cos⁡ 𝜃 = 19
5
(d) cos⁡ 𝜃 = 21

5. Let 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, and 𝑐⃗ be vectors with magnitudes 3,4 , and 5 respectively, and 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗ =
0. Find the value of 𝑎⃗ ⋅ 𝑏⃗⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ ⋅ 𝑐⃗ + 𝑐⃗ ⋅ 𝑎⃗ :
(a) 47
(b) 25
(c) 50
(d) -25

6. The vectors 𝑎⃗ = 2𝜆2 𝑖ˆ + 4𝜆𝑗ˆ + 𝑘ˆ and 𝑏⃗⃗ = 7𝑖ˆ − 2𝑗ˆ + 𝜆𝑘ˆ make an obtuse angle,
𝜋
whereas the angle between 𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑘ˆ is acute and less than 6 . Determine the domain of
𝜆:
1
(a) 0 < 𝜆 < 2
(b) 𝜆 > √159
1
(c) − 2 < 𝜆 < 0
(d) Null set

7. The vectors 𝑎⃗ = 2𝜆2 𝑖ˆ + 4𝜆𝑗ˆ + 𝑘ˆ and 𝑏⃗⃗ = 7𝑖ˆ − 2𝑗ˆ + 𝜆𝑘ˆ make an obtuse angle,
𝜋
whereas the angle between 𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑘ˆ is acute and less than 6 . Determine the domain of
𝜆:
1
(a) 0 < 𝜆 < 2
(b) 𝜆 > √159
1
(c) − 2 < 𝜆 < 0
(d) Null set

8. In Cartesian coordinates, the point 𝐴 is (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) where 𝑥1 = 1 on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 +

𝑥 + 10. The tangent at 𝐴 cuts the x-axis at 𝐵. The value of the dot product ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 ⋅ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵
is:
520
(a) − 3
(b) -148
(c) 140
(d) 12

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 Algebra of vectors 5
9. If three non-zero vectors are 𝑎⃗ = 𝑎1 𝑖ˆ + 𝑎2 𝑗ˆ + 𝑎3 𝑘ˆ, 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑏1 𝑖ˆ + 𝑏2 𝑗ˆ + 𝑏3 𝑘ˆ, and 𝑐⃗ =
𝑐1 𝑖ˆ + 𝑐2 𝑗ˆ + 𝑐3 𝑘ˆ, where 𝑐⃗ is a unit vector perpendicular to 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗, and the angle
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝜋
between 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ is 6 , then |𝐀| where 𝐀 = |𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3 | is equal to:
2
𝑐1 𝑐2 𝑐3
(a) 0
3(∑𝑎12 )(∑𝑏𝑖2 )(∑𝑐12 )
(b) 4
(c) 1
(∑𝑎12 )(∑𝑏12 )
(d) 4
⃗⃗ = 4𝑖ˆ − 𝑗ˆ + 2𝑘ˆ on 𝑣⃗ = 2𝑖ˆ + 𝑗ˆ − 𝑘ˆ is:
10. The projection of 𝑢
2
(a)
√6
5
(b)
√6
(c) √6
−1
(d)
√6

11. Let 𝐛 = 3𝐣 + 4𝐤, ⁡𝐚 = 𝐢 + 𝐣 and let 𝐛1 and 𝐛2 be component vectors of 𝐛 parallel and
3 3
perpendicular to 𝐚. If 𝐛1 = 2 𝐢 + 2 𝐣, then 𝐛2 =
3 3
(a) 2 𝐢 + 2 𝐣 + 4𝐤
3 3
(b) − 2 𝐢 + 2 𝐣 + 4𝐤
3 3
(c) − 2 𝐢 + 2 𝐣
(d) None of these

12. If 𝐚 is any vector, then (𝐚 × 𝐢)2 + (𝐚 × 𝐣)2 + (𝐚 × 𝐤)2 is equal to

(a) |𝐚|2
(b) 0
(c) 3|𝐚|2
(d) 2|𝐚|2
13. ⁡(𝐚 × 𝐛)2 + (𝐚. 𝐛)2 is equal to
(a) 𝐚2 + 𝐛2
(b) 𝐚2 𝐛2
(c) 2𝐚 ⋅ 𝐛
(d) 1

14. The position vectors of the vertices of a quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 are 𝐚, 𝐛, 𝐜 and 𝐝
respectively. Area of the quadrilateral formed by joining the middle points of its sides is
1
(a) 4 |𝐚 × 𝐛 + 𝐛 × 𝐝 + 𝐝 × 𝐚|

1
(b) 4 |𝐛 × 𝐜 + 𝐜 × 𝐝 + 𝐚 × 𝐝 + 𝐛 × 𝐚|

1
(c) 4 |𝐚 × 𝐛 + 𝐛 × 𝐜 + 𝐜 × 𝐝 + 𝐝 × 𝐚|

1
(d) 4 |𝐛 × 𝐜 + 𝐜 × 𝐝 + 𝐝 × 𝐛|

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 Algebra of vectors 6
14. The area of a triangle whose vertices are 𝐴(1, −1,2), 𝐵(2,1, −1) and 𝐶(3, −1,2) is
(a) 13
(b) √13
(c) 6
(d) √6
15. If 𝐚 = 𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝐤, 𝐛 = 𝐢 + 3𝐣 + 5𝐤 and 𝐜 = 7𝐢 + 9𝐣 + 11𝐤, then the area of the
parallelogram having diagonals 𝐚 + 𝐛 and 𝐛 + 𝐜 is
(a) 4√6
1
(b) 2 √21
√6
(c) 2
(d) √6
∣𝑎×𝑏
16. If 𝜃 is the angle between the vectors 𝐚 and 𝐛, then equals:
𝑎.𝑏
(a) tan⁡ 𝜃
(b) −tan⁡ 𝜃
(c) cot⁡ 𝜃
(d) −cot⁡ 𝜃

Problem. For a = (1,2, −1), b = (2, −1,3), c = (0,4,1), compute [abc].

Problem. For 𝐚 = (1, 𝑘, 2), 𝐛 = (2, −1,1), 𝐜 = (3,0,1), find 𝑘 such that the three vectors are
coplanar.

Problem. The vertices of a tetrahedron are 𝑂(0,0,0), 𝐴(2,1,0), 𝐵(1,3,2), 𝐶(−1,2,4). Find its
volume.
Problem. Let 𝐚, 𝐛 form the base of a parallelepiped and 𝐜 is the third edge. Given ‖𝐚‖ =
3, ‖𝐛‖ = 4, 𝐚 ⋅ 𝐛 = 6, and [𝐚𝐛𝐜] = 24. Find the height ℎ relative to base 𝐚, 𝐛.

Problem. For 𝐚 = (1,2,3), 𝐛 = (2, −1,1), 𝐜 = (𝑘, 1,2), determine 𝑘 so that 𝐜 lies in the plane
of 𝐚 and 𝐛.

Problem. For 𝐚 = (1,2, −1), 𝐛 = (2,0,1), 𝐜 = (0,3,1), compute 𝐚 × (𝐛 × 𝐜).

𝐚 × (𝐛 × 𝐜) = 𝐛(𝐚 ⋅ 𝐜) − 𝐜(𝐚 ⋅ 𝐛).

Problem. For 𝐚 = (1,2,3) and 𝐛 = (2, −1,1), evaluate 𝐚 × (𝐛 × (𝐚 + 𝐛))

without expanding any raw cross products.

Problem. Let 𝐚 = (1,0,2), 𝐛 = (0,1,1), 𝐜 = (𝑘, 2, −1). Find all 𝑘 such that (𝐚 × 𝐛) × (𝐜 ×
𝐛) = 𝟎.

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Algebra of vectors 7