CHAPTER – 10: VECTOR ALGEBRA

MARKS WEIGHTAGE – 05 marks

NCERT Important Questions & Answers


1. Find the unit vector in the direction of the sum of the vectors, a  2i  2 j  5k and

b  2i  j  3k
Ans:
  
The sum of the given vectors is a  b ( c, say )  4i  3 j  2k
 2 2 2
and | c | 4  3  (2)  29
Thus, the required unit vector is
1  1 4  3  2 
c   c  (4i  3 j  2k )  i j k
|c| 29 29 29 29

2. Show that the points are A(2i  j  k ), B (i  3 j  5k ), C (3i  4 j  4k ) the vertices of a right angled
triangle.
Ans:

We have AB  (1  2)i  (3  1) j  (5  1)k  i  2 j  6k

BC  (3  1)i  (4  3) j  (4  5)k  2i  j  k

and CA  (2  3)i  (1  4) j  (1  4)k  i  3 j  5k
  
Then | AB |2  41,| BC |2  6,| CA |2  35
  
| AB |2 | BC |2  | CA |2
Hence, the triangle is a right angled triangle.

3. Find the direction cosines of the vector joining the points A(1, 2, –3) and B(–1, –2, 1), directed
from A to B.
Ans:
The given points are A(1,2, − 3) and B(−1, −2,1).

Then AB  (1  1)i  (2  2) j  (1  (3))k  2i  4 j  4k

Now, | AB | 4  16  16  36  6
 1  1 1 2 2
 unit vector along AB =  AB  (2i  4 j  4k )   i  j  k
| AB | 6 3 3 3
1 2 2
Hence direction cosines are  ,  ,
3 3 3
4. Find the position vector of a point R which divides the line joining two points P and Q whose
position vectors are i  2 j  k and i  j  k respectively, in the ratio 2 : 1 (i) internally (ii)
externally
Ans:
The position vector of a point R divided the line segment joining two points P and Q in the ratio m: n
is given by
 
mb  na
Case I Internally 
mn
 
mb  na
Case II Externally 
mn
 
Position vectors of P and Q are given as OP  i  2 j  k , OQ  i  j  k
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 (i) Position vector of R [dividing (PQ ) in the ratio 2 : 1 internally]
 
mOQ  nOP 2( i  j  k )  1(i  2 j  k ) i  4 j  k 1  4  1 
    i j k
mn 2 1 3 3 3 3
(i) Position vector of R [dividing (PQ ) in the ratio 2 : 1 externally]
 
mOQ  nOP 2( i  j  k )  1(i  2 j  k ) 3i  0 j  3k  
    3i  3k
mn 2 1 1

5. Find the position vector of the mid point of the vector joining the points P(2, 3, 4) and Q(4,
1, –2).
Ans:
 
Position vectors of P and Q are given as OP  2i  3 j  4k , OQ  4i  j  2k
The position vector of the mid point of the vector joining the points P(2, 3, 4) and Q(4, 1, –2) is
given by
1   1  
Position Vector of the mid-point of (PQ) = OQ  OP  4i  j  2k  2i  3 j  4k
   
2 2
1  
 6i  4 j  2k  3i  2 j  k
 
2
 
6. Show that the points A, B and C with position vectors, a  3i  4 j  4k , b  2i  j  k and

c  i  3 j  5k respectively form the vertices of a right angled triangle.
Ans:
Position vectors of points A, B and C are respectively given as
  
a  3i  4 j  4k , b  2i  j  k and c  i  3 j  5k
  
Now, AB  b  a  2i  j  k  3i  4 j  4k  i  3 j  5k

| AB |2  1  9  25  35
  
BC  c  b  i  3j  5k  2i  j  k  i  2 j  6k

| BC |2  1  4  36  41
  
CA  a  c  3i  4 j  4k  i  3 j  5k  2i  j  k

| CA |2  4  1  1  6
  
| BC |2 | AB |2  | CA |2
Hence it form the vertices of a right angled triangle.
 
7. Find angle ‘θ’ between the vectors a  i  j  k and b  i  j  k
Ans:  
The angle θ between two vectors a and b is given by

a.b
cos   
| a || b |

Now, a.b  (i  j  k ).(i  j  k )  1  1  1  1
1  1 
Therefore, we have cos      cos 1  
3  3 
     
8. If a  5i  j  3k and b  i  3 j  5k , then show that the vectors a  b and a  b are
perpendicular.
Ans:
We know that two nonzero vectors are perpendicular if their scalar product is zero.
 
Here, a  b  5i  j  3k  i  3 j  5k  6i  2 j  8k

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  
and a  b  5i  j  3k  i  3 j  5k  4i  4 j  2k
   
Now, (a  b).(a  b)  (6i  2 j  8k ).(4i  4 j  2k )  24  8  16  0
   
Hence a  b and a  b are perpendicular.
      
9. Find | a  b | , if two vectors a and b are such that | a | 2 , | b | 3 and a.b = 4.
Ans:
We have
         
| a  b |2  (a  b).(a  b)  a.a  a.b  b.a  b.b
  
| a |2 2(a.b) | b |2  22  2(4)  32  4  8  9  5
 
| a  b | 5
10. Show that the points A(2i  3 j  5k ), B(i  2 j  3k ), C (7i  k ) are collinear.
Ans:
We have

AB  (1  2)i  (2  3) j  (3  5)k  3i  j  2k

BC  (7  1)i  (0  2) j  (1  3)k  6i  2 j  4k

CA  (7  2)i  (0  3) j  (1  5)k  9i  3 j  6k
  
Now, | AB |2  14,| BC |2  56,| CA |2  126
  
| AB | 14,| BC | 2 14,| CA | 3 14
  
| CA || AB |  | BC |
Hence the points A, B and C are collinear.
        
11. If a, b, c are unit vectors such that a  b  c  0 , find the value of a.b  b.c  c.a
Ans:      
Given that | a | 1,| b | 1,| c | 1, a  b  c  0
        
(a  b  c )2  (a  b  c ).(a  b  c)  0
         
 a.a  a.b  a.c  b.b  b.c  b.a  c.a  c.b  c.c  0
     
| a | 2  | b | 2  | c | 2 2(a.b  b.c  c.a )  0
  
 1  1  1  2(a.b  b.c  c.a)  0
  
 2(a.b  b.c  c.a )  3
      3
 a.b  b.c  c.a 
2

12. If the vertices A, B, C of a triangle ABC are (1, 2, 3), (–1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 2), respectively, then find
 ABC.
Ans:
We are given the points A(1, 2, 3), B(−1, 0, 0) and C(0, 1, 2). 

Also, it is given that  ABC is the angle between the vectors BA and BC

Now, BA  (i  2 j  3k )  (i  0 j  0k )  2i  2 j  3k

| BA | 4  4  9  17

and BC  (0i  j  2k )  (i  0 j  0k )  i  j  2k

| BC | 1  1  4  6
 
BA.BC  (2i  2 j  3k ).(i  j  2k )  2  2  6  10

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  
BA.BC 10 10
cos      cos ABC  
| BA || BC | ( 17 )( 6) 102
 10 
 ABC  cos 1  
 102 

13. Show that the points A(1, 2, 7), B(2, 6, 3) and C(3, 10, –1) are collinear.
Ans:
The given points are A(1, 2, 7), B (2, 6, 3) and C(3, 10, −1).

AB  (2i  6 j  3k )  (i  2 j  7k )  i  4 j  4k

| AB | 1  16  16  33

BC  (3i  10 j  k )  (2i  6 j  3k )  i  4 j  4k

| BC | 1  16  16  33

and AC  (3i  10 j  k )  (i  2 j  7k )  2i  8 j  8k

| AC | 4  64  64  132  2 33
  
| AC || AB |  | BC |
Hence, the given points A, B and C are collinear.

14. Show that the vectors 2i  j  k , i  3 j  5k and 3i  4 j  4k form the vertices of a right angled
triangle.
Ans:
Let A= 2i  j  k B = i  3 j  5k and C = 3i  4 j  4k

AB  (i  3 j  5k )  (2i  j  k )  i  2 j  6k

| AB | 1  4  36  41

BC  (3i  4 j  4k )  (i  3 j  5k )  2i  j  k

| BC | 4  1  1  6

and AC  (3i  4 j  4k )  (2i  j  k )  i  3 j  5k

| AC | 1  9  25  35
  
| AB |2 | AC |2  | BC |2
Hence, ABC is a right angled triangle.
   
15. Find a unit vector perpendicular to each of the vectors (a  b) and (a  b) , where
 
a  i  j  k , b  i  2 j  3k .
Ans:
   
We have a  b  2i  3 j  4k and a  b   j  2k
   
A vector which is perpendicular to both (a  b) and (a  b) is given by
i j k
    
(a  b)  (a  b)  2 3 4  2i  4 j  2k ( c, say )
0 1 2

Now, | c | 4  16  4  24  2 6
Therefore, the required unit vector is
1  1 1  2  2 
c   c  (2i  4 j  2k )  i j k
|c| 2 6 6 6 6
16. Find the area of a triangle having the points A(1, 1, 1), B(1, 2, 3) and C(2, 3, 1) as its vertices.
Prepared by: M. S. KumarSwamy, TGT(Maths) Page - 5 -
 Ans:
 
We have AB  j  2k and AC  i  2 j .
1  
The area of the given triangle is | AB  AC |
2
i j k
 
Now, AB  AC  0 1 2  4i  2 j  k
1 2 0
 
Therefore, | AB  AC | 16  4  1  21
1   1
Thus, the required area is | AB  AC | 21
2 2

17. Find the area of a parallelogram whose adjacent sides are given by the vectors a  3i  j  4k

and b  i  j  k .
Ans:
   
The area of a parallelogram with a and b as its adjacent sides is given by | a  b |
i j k
 
Now, a  b  3 1 4  5i  j  4k
1 1 1
 
Therefore, | a  b | 25  1  16  42
and hence, the required area is 42 .

18. Find the area of the triangle with vertices A(1, 1, 2), B(2, 3, 5) and C(1, 5, 5).
Ans:

AB  (2i  3 j  5k )  (i  j  2k )  i  2 j  3k

AC  (i  5 j  5k )  (i  j  2k )  4 j  3k
i j k
 
Now, AB  AC  1 2 3  6i  3 j  4k
0 4 3
 
| AB  AC | 36  9  16  61
1   61
Area of triangle ABC = | AB  AC | sq. units.
2 2
19. Find the area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are determined by the vectors
 
a  i  j  3k and b  2i  7 j  k .
Ans:
 
Adjacent sides of parallelogram are given by the vectors a  i  j  3k and b  2i  7 j  k .
i j k
 
Now, a  b  1 1 3  20i  5 j  5k
2 7 1
 
| a  b | 400  25  25  450  15 2
Hence, the area of the given parallelogram is 15 2 sq. units.

Prepared by: M. S. KumarSwamy, TGT(Maths) Page - 6 -

     2  
20. Let the vectors a and b be such that | a | 3 and | b | , then a  b is a unit vector, find the
3
 
angle between a and b .
Ans:
    2
Given that vectors a and b be such that | a | 3 and | b | .
3
   
Also, a  b is a unit vector  | a  b | 1
  2
| a | . | b | sin   1  3  sin   1
3
1 
 sin    
2 4
21. If i  j  k , 2i  5 j , 3i  2 j  3k and i  6 j  k are the position vectors of points A, B, C and D
respectively, then find the angle between AB and CD . Deduce that AB and CD are collinear.
Ans:
Note that if θ is the angle between AB and CD , then θ is also the angle between AB and CD .
Now AB = Position vector of B – Position vector of A
= (2i  5 j )  (i  j  k )  i  4 j  k

Therefore, | AB | 1  16  1  18  3 2
 
Similarly, CD  2i  8 j  2k | CD | 4  64  4  72  6 2
 
AB.CD 1(2)  4(8)  (1)(2)
Thus, cos       1
| AB || CD | (3 2)(6 2)
Since 0 ≤ θ ≤ π, it follows that θ = π. This shows that AB and CD are collinear.
     
22. Let a , b and c be three vectors such that | a | 3,| b | 4,| c | 5 and each one of them being
  
perpendicular to the sum of the other two, find | a  b  c | .
Ans:
Given that each one of them being perpendicular to the sum of the other two.
        
Therefore, a.(b  c)  0, b.(c  a)  0, c.(a  b)  0
           
Now, | a  b  c |2  (a  b  c) 2  (a  b  c).(a  b  c )
            
 a.a  a.(b  c)  b.b  b.(c  a)  c.(a  b)  c.c
  
| a | 2  | b | 2  | c | 2
 9  16  25  50
  
Therefore, | a  b  c | 50  5 2

23. Find a vector of magnitude 5 units, and parallel to the resultant of the vectors a  2i  3 j  k

and b  i  2 j  k .
Ans:
 
Given vectors a  2i  3 j  k and b  i  2 j  k .
  
Let c be the resultant vector a and b then

c  (2i  3 j  k )  (i  2 j  k )  3i  j  0k

| c | 9  1  0  10
 1  1
 Unit vector in the direction of c = c   c  (3i  j )
|c| 10
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  
Hence, the vector of magnitude 5 units and parallel to the resultant of vectors a and b is
1 3 10  10 
5c  5 (3i  j )   i j
10 2 2
24. The two adjacent sides of a parallelogram are 2i  4 j  5k and i  2 j  3k . Find the unit vector
parallel to its diagonal. Also, find its area.
Ans:
 
Two adjacent sides of a parallelogram are given by a  2i  4 j  5k and b  i  2 j  3k
  
Then the diagonal of a parallelogram is given by c  a  b
  
 c  a  b  2i  4 j  5k  i  2 j  3k  3i  6 j  2k

| c | 9  36  4  49  7
1  1 3 6 j  2 k
Unit vector parallel to its diagonal = c   c  (3i  6 j  2k )  i 
|c| 7 7 7 7
i j k
 
Now, a  b  2 4 5  22i  11j  0k
1 2 3
 
Then the area of a parallelogram = | a  b | 484  121  0  605  11 5 sq. units.
   
25. Let a  i  4 j  2k , b  3i  2 j  7k and c  2i  j  4k . Find a vector d which is perpendicular
   
to both a and b and c.d  15 .
Ans:    
The vector which is perpendicular to both a and b must be parallel to a  b .
i j k
 
Now, a  b  1 4 2  32i  j  14k
3 2 7
  
Let d   (a  b)   (32i  j  14k )
 
Also c.d  15  (2i  j  4k ). (32i  j  14k )  15
15 5
 64    56  15  9  15    
9 3
 5
 Required vector d  (32i  j  14k )
3
26. The scalar product of the vector i  j  k with a unit vector along the sum of vectors
2i  4 j  5k and i  2 j  3k is equal to one. Find the value of λ.
  
Ans: Let a = i  j  k , b = 2i  4 j  5k and c = i  2 j  3k
 
Now, b  c  2i  4 j  5k   i  2 j  3k  (2   )i  6 j  2k
 
| b  c | (2   ) 2  36  4  4   2  4  40   2  4  44
 
  b  c (2   )i  6 j  2k
Unit vector along b  c is   
|bc|  2  4  44
The scalar product of i  j  k with this unit vector is 1.
 
bc (2   )i  6 j  2k
 (i  j  k ).    1  (i  j  k ).
   1
|bc |  2  4  44

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 (2   )  6  2  6
 1 1
 2  4  44  2  4  44
   6   2  4  44  (  6) 2   2  4  44
  2  12  36   2  4  44  8  8    1

27. If with reference to the right handed system of mutually perpendicular unit vectors i, j and k ,
       
  3i  j ,   2i  j  3k , then express  in the form   1   2 , where 1 is parallel to  and
 
2 is perpendicular to 
Ans:
  
Let 1   ,  is a scalar, i.e. 1  3 i   j .
  
Now,  2    1  (2  3 )i  (1   ) j  3k
   
Now, since 2 is perpendicular to  , we should have  2 0. i.e.,
3(2  3 )  (1   )  0
 6  9  1    0  5  10  0
5 1
 10  5    
10 2
 3 1  1 3
Therefore, 1  i  j and  2  i  j  3k
2 2 2 2
  
28. If a , b and c are mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitudes, show that the vector
     
a  b  c is equally inclined to a , b and c .
Ans:   
Given that a , b and c are mutually perpendicular vectors.
  
 a.b  b.c  c.a  0
  
It is also given that | a || b || c |
     
Let vector a  b  c be inclined to a , b and c at angles andrespectively.
       
(a  b  c).a a.a  b.a  c.a | a |2  0  0
cos                
| a  b  c || a | | a  b  c || a | | a  b  c || a |
 2 
|a| |a|
        
| a  b  c || a | | a  b  c |
       
(a  b  c).b a.b  b.b  c.b 0 | b |2 0
cos                
| a  b  c || b | | a  b  c || a | | a  b  c || a |
 2 
|b| |b|
        
| a  b  c || a | | a  b  c |
       
(a  b  c ).c a.c  b.c  c.c 0  0 | c |2
cos                
| a  b  c || c | | a  b  c || a | | a  b  c || a |
 
| c |2 |c|
        
| a  b  c || a | | a  b  c |
  
Now as | a || b || c | , therefore, cos = cos = cos

     
Hence, the vector a  b  c is equally inclined to a , b and c .

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CHAPTER – 10: VECTOR ALGEBRA
MARKS WEIGHTAGE – 04 marks

Previous Years Board Exam (Important Questions & Answers)

1. Write the projection of vector i  j  k along the vector j .

Ans:
(i  j  k ).j 0 1 0 1
Required projection    1

| j| 0 1 0 1

2. Find a vector in the direction of vector 2i  3 j  6k which has magnitude 21 units.
Ans:
 2i  3 j  6k   2i  3 j  6k 
Required vector  21   21 
 4  9  36   49
   
 2i  3 j  6k 
 21
   3(2i  3 j  6k )  6i  9 j  18k
 7 
        
3. Show that the vectors a  b , b  c and c  a are coplanar if a, b, c are coplanar.
Ans:
     
Let a, b, c are coplanar then we have  a b c   0
        
 a.(b  c)  b.(c  a )  c.(a  b)  0
           
Now,  a  b b  c c  a   (a  b).{(b  c)  (c  a)}
         
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a}
       
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  a}
                 
 a.(b  c)  a.(b  a )  a.(c  a )  b.(b  c )  b.(b  a )  b.(c  a)
     
  a b c   0  0  0  0  b c a 
     
  a b c    a b c 
  
 2  a b c   2  0  0
  
Hence, a, b, c are coplanar
        
4. Show that the vectors a, b, c are coplanar if a  b , b  c and c  a are coplanar.
Ans:
     
Let a  b, b  c, c  a are coplanar
     
 (a  b).{(b  c)  (c  a )}  0
         
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a}  0
       
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  a}  0
                 
 a.(b  c )  a.(b  a )  a.(c  a )  b.(b  c )  b.(b  a)  b.(c  a )  0
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   
  a b c   0  0  0  0  0
  
  a b c   0
  
 a, b, c are coplanar

5. Write a unit vector in the direction of vector PQ , where P and Q are the points (1, 3, 0) and
(4, 5, 6) respectively.
Ans:

PQ  (4  1)i  (5  3) j  (6  0)k  3i  2 j  6k
3i  2 j  6k 3i  2 j  6k 3i  2 j  6k 3 2  6 
 Required unit vector =    i j k
9  4  36 49 7 7 7 7
6. Write the value of the following : i  ( j  k )  j  (k  i)  k  (i  j )
Ans:
i  ( j  k )  j  (k  i)  k  (i  j )

 i  j  i  k  j  k  j  i  k  i  k  j
 k  j  i  k  j  i  0

7. Find the value of 'p' for which the vectors 3i  2 j  9k and i  2 p j  3k are parallel.
Ans:
Since given two vectors are parallel.
3 2 9 3 2
    
1 2 p 3 1 2 p
1
 6 p  2  p  
3
     
8. Find a.(b  c) , if a  2i  j  3k , b  i  2 j  k and c  3i  j  2k .
Ans:
  
Given that a  2i  j  3k , b  i  2 j  k and c  3i  j  2k
2 1 3
  
 a.(b  c)  1 2 1  2(4  1)  1(2  3)  3(1  6)
3 1 2
 6  5  21  10
9. Show that the four points A, B, C and D with position vectors 4i  5 j  k ,  j  k , 3i  9 j  4k and
4(i  j  k ) are coplanar.
Ans:
Position vectors of A, B, C and D are
Position vector of A = 4i  5 j  k
Position vector of B =  j  k

Position vector of C = 3i  9 j  4k

Position vector of D = 4(i  j  k ) = 4i  4 j  4k

  
 AB  4i  6 j  2k , AC  i  4 j  3k , AD  8i  j  3k

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 4 6 2
  
Now, AB.( AC  AD )  1 4 3  4(12  3)  6(3  24)  2(1  32)
8 1 3
 60  126  66  0
  
 AB.( AC  AD)  0
  
Hence AB, AC and AD are coplanar i.e. A, B, C and D are coplanar.
  
10. Find a vector a of magnitude 5 2 , making an angle of with x-axis., with y-axis and an
4 2
acute angle  with z-axis.
Ans:

Direction cosines of required vector a are
 1 
l  cos  , m  cos  0 and n  cos 
4 2 2
 l 2  m2  n2  1
2
 1  2 2 1 1
   0  cos   1  cos   1  2  2
 2
1 1
 cos   n
2 2
 1 1 
 Unit vector in the direction of a  i  0 j  k
2 2
  1   1   
 a 5 2 i0j k   5i  5k
 2 2 
     
11. If a and b are perpendicular vectors, | a  b | = 13 and | a | = 5 find the value of | b |.
Ans:  
Given | a  b | = 13
     
| a  b |2  169  (a  b).(a  b)  169
  
| a |2 2a.b | b |2  169
    
| a |2  | b |2  169  a  b  a.b  0
 
 2  2
| b |  169 | a |  169  25  144

| b | 12

12. Find the projection of the vector i  3 j  7 k on the vector 2i  3 j  6k .
Ans:
 
Let a = i  3 j  7 k and b = 2i  3 j  6k

  a.b (i  3 j  7k ).(2i  3 j  6k )
Projection of the vector a on b =  
|b| | 2i  3 j  6k |
2  9  42 35 35
   5
4  9  36 49 7
   
13. If a and b are two unit vectors such that a  b is also a unit vector, then find the angle
 
between a and b .
Ans:  
Given that a  b is also a unit vector

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  
 |ab | = 1
     
| a  b |2  (a  b).(a  b)
  
| a |2 2a.b | b |2  12  1
  
 1  2a.b  1  1 | a | 1,| b | 1
 
  1   1
 2a.b  1  a.b   | a || b | cos   
2 2
1 1 2
 11 cos     cos     cos   cos
2 2 3
2
 
3   
14. Prove that, for any three vectors a, b, c
        
 a  b b  c c  a   2 a b c 
   
Ans:
           
 a  b b  c c  a   (a  b).{(b  c)  (c  a)}
 
         
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a}
       
 (a  b).{b  c  b  a  c  a}
                 
 a.(b  c)  a.(b  a )  a.(c  a )  b.(b  c )  b.(b  a )  b.(c  a)
     
  a b c   0  0  0  0  b c a 
     
  a b c    a b c 
  
 2  a b c 
        
15. Vectors a, b, c are such that a  b  c = 0 and | a | 3, | b | 5 and | c | 7 . Find the angle
 
between a and b .
Ans:
     
a  b  c  0  a  b  c
  
 ( a  b ) 2  ( c ) 2
    
| (a  b).(a  b)  c.c
    
| a |2 2a.b  | b |2 | c |2  9  2a.b  25  49

 2a.b  49  25  9  15
  15   15
 a.b  | a || b | cos  
2 2
15 1 
 3  5  cos    cos    cos   cos
2 2 3

 
3
     
16. If a is a unit vector and ( x  a )( x  a )  24 , then write the value of | x |.
Ans:
   
Given that ( x  a )( x  a )  24
   
 x. x  x.a  a.x  a.a  24
   
| x |2  | a |2  24  x.a  a.x 
 
 2  2 
| x | 1  24 | x |  25 | x | 5

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   
17. For any three vectors a, b and c , write the value of the following:
        
a  (b  c)  b  (c  a)  c  (a  b)
Ans:
        
a  (b  c)  b  (c  a)  c  (a  b)
           
 ab  a c  b c  b a  c a  c b
           
 ab  a c  b c  ab  a c  bc  0
18. The magnitude of the vector product of the vector i  j  k with a unit vector along the sum of
vectors 2i  4 j  5k and i  2 j  3k is equal to 2 . Find the value of .
Ans:
  
Let a = i  j  k , b = 2i  4 j  5k and c = i  2 j  3k
 
Now, b  c  2i  4 j  5k   i  2 j  3k  (2   )i  6 j  2k
 
| b  c | (2   ) 2  36  4  4   2  4  40   2  4  44
The vector product of i  j  k with this unit vector is 2 .
    
 bc a  (b  c )
 a    2     2
|bc| |bc|
i j k
  
Now, a  (b  c)  1 1 1  (2  6)i  (2  2   ) j  (6  2   )k
2 6 2

 8i  (4   ) j  (4   )k
  
a  (b  c ) 8i  (4   ) j  (4   )k
    2  2
|bc|  2  4  44
64  (4   )2  (4   )2
  2
 2  4  44
64  (4   ) 2  (4   )2 64  16   2  8  16   2  8 96  2 2
 2   2  2
 2  4  44  2  4  44  2  4  44
 96  2 2  2( 2  4  44)  96  2 2  2 2  8  88
 8  8    1
   
19. Find a unit vector perpendicular to each of the vectors a  2b and 2a  b , where
 
a  3i  2 j  2k and b  i  2 j  2k .
Ans.
 
Given that a  3i  2 j  2k and b  i  2 j  2k
 
 a  2b  3i  2 j  2k  2(i  2 j  2k )
 3i  2 j  2k  2i  4 j  4k  5i  6 j  2k
 
and 2a  b  2(3i  2 j  2k )  i  2 j  2k
 6i  4 j  4k  i  2 j  2k  7i  6 j  2k
   
Now, perpendicular vector of a  2b and 2a  b

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 i j k
= 5 6 2  (12  12)i  (10  14) j  (30  42)k
7 6 2

 24i  24 j  12k  12(2i  2 j  k )

12(2i  2 j  k ) 2i  2 j  k
 Required unit vector =  
12 4  4  1 9
2i  2 j  k 2 2 1 
    i  j  k 
3 3 3 3 
     
20. If a  i  j  7k and b  5i  j   k , then find the value of , so that a  b and a  b are
perpendicular vectors.
Ans:
 
Given that a  i  j  7k and b  5i  j   k
 
 a  b  i  j  7k  5i  j   k  6i  2 j  (7   )k
 
and a  b  i  j  7k  5i  j   k  4i  (7   )k
   
Now, a  b and a  b are perpendicular vectors
   
 (a  b).(a  b)  0
 (6i  2 j  (7   )k ).(4i  (7   )k  0
 24  0  (7   )(7   )  0
 24  49   2  0   2  25    5

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