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Vector Algebra question

2020 · 3 Sep · Shift 2 · Q23
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  5. /2020 · 3 Sep · Shift 2 · Q23

Vector Algebra question

2020 · 3 Sep · Shift 2 · Q23

JEE MainMathematicsVector AlgebraMCQ+4 / −1
Let a, b c ∈\in∈ R be such that a2 + b2 + c2 = 1. If acos⁡θ=bcos⁡(θ+2π3)=ccos⁡(θ+4π3)a\cos \theta = b\cos \left( {\theta + {{2\pi } \over 3}} \right) = c\cos \left( {\theta + {{4\pi } \over 3}} \right)acosθ=bcos(θ+32π​)=ccos(θ+34π​), where θ=π9{\theta = {\pi \over 9}}θ=9π​, then the angle between the vectors ai^+bj^+ck^a\widehat i + b\widehat j + c\widehat kai+bj​+ck and bi^+cj^+ak^b\widehat i + c\widehat j + a\widehat kbi+cj​+ak is :
  1. A
    0
  2. B
    π9{{\pi \over 9}}9π​
  3. C
    2π3{{{2\pi } \over 3}}32π​
  4. D
    π2{{\pi \over 2}}2π​
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: D

  1. Given condition

We have a2+b2+c2=1a^2+b^2+c^2=1a2+b2+c2=1 and acosθ=bcos(θ+2π3)=ccos(θ+4π3),a\\cos\theta=b\\cos\left(\theta+\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)=c\\cos\left(\theta+\frac{4\pi}{3}\right),acosθ=bcos(θ+32π​)=ccos(θ+34π​), with θ=π9.\theta=\frac{\pi}{9}.θ=9π​.

Let the common value be kkk. Then acos⁡θ=k,bcos⁡(θ+2π3)=k,ccos⁡(θ+4π3)=k.a\cos\theta=k,\qquad b\cos\left(\theta+\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)=k,\qquad c\cos\left(\theta+\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)=k.acosθ=k,bcos(θ+32π​)=k,ccos(θ+34π​)=k. So, a=kcos⁡θ,b=kcos⁡(θ+2π3),c=kcos⁡(θ+4π3).a=\frac{k}{\cos\theta},\qquad b=\frac{k}{\cos\left(\theta+\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)},\qquad c=\frac{k}{\cos\left(\theta+\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)}.a=cosθk​,b=cos(θ+32π​)k​,c=cos(θ+34π​)k​.

  1. Write the two vectors

Let u⃗=(a,b,c),v⃗=(b,c,a).\vec u=(a,b,c),\qquad \vec v=(b,c,a).u=(a,b,c),v=(b,c,a). We need the angle ϕ\phiϕ between them.

Using dot product, cos⁡ϕ=u⃗⋅v⃗∣u⃗∣∣v⃗∣.\cos\phi=\frac{\vec u\cdot \vec v}{|\vec u||\vec v|}.cosϕ=∣u∣∣v∣u⋅v​.

Now, u⃗⋅v⃗=ab+bc+ca.\vec u\cdot \vec v=ab+bc+ca.u⋅v=ab+bc+ca. Also,

and similarly ∣v⃗∣=b2+c2+a2=1.|\vec v|=\sqrt{b^2+c^2+a^2}=1.∣v∣=b2+c2+a2​=1. Hence, cos⁡ϕ=ab+bc+ca.\cos\phi=ab+bc+ca.cosϕ=ab+bc+ca. So it is enough to compute ab+bc+caab+bc+caab+bc+ca.

  1. Express in terms of secants

Let α=θ=π9,β=θ+2π3,γ=θ+4π3.\alpha=\theta=\frac{\pi}{9},\qquad \beta=\theta+\frac{2\pi}{3},\qquad \gamma=\theta+\frac{4\pi}{3}.α=θ=9π​,β=θ+32π​,γ=θ+34π​. Then a=ksec⁡α,b=ksec⁡β,c=ksec⁡γ.a=k\sec\alpha,\quad b=k\sec\beta,\quad c=k\sec\gamma.a=ksecα,b=ksecβ,c=ksecγ. Therefore, ab+bc+ca=k2(sec⁡αsec⁡β+sec⁡βsec⁡γ+sec⁡γsec⁡α).ab+bc+ca=k^2\big(\sec\alpha\sec\beta+\sec\beta\sec\gamma+\sec\gamma\sec\alpha\big).ab+bc+ca=k2(secαsecβ+secβsecγ+secγsecα).

Also from a2+b2+c2=1a^2+b^2+c^2=1a2+b2+c2=1, k2(sec⁡2α+sec⁡2β+sec⁡2γ)=1.k^2\left(\sec^2\alpha+\sec^2\beta+\sec^2\gamma\right)=1.k2(sec2α+sec2β+sec2γ)=1.

So we need relations among these trig terms.

  1. Use the identity for angles differing by 2π3\frac{2\pi}{3}32π​

Let x=cos⁡α,y=cos⁡β,z=cos⁡γ.x=\cos\alpha,\quad y=\cos\beta,\quad z=\cos\gamma.x=cosα,y=cosβ,z=cosγ. Since α+β+γ=3θ+2π,\alpha+\beta+\gamma=3\theta+2\pi,α+β+γ=3θ+2π, and here 3θ=π33\theta=\frac{\pi}{3}3θ=3π​, these are the three cosine values at angles separated by 2π3\frac{2\pi}{3}32π​.

A standard identity is cos⁡α+cos⁡(α+2π3)+cos⁡(α+4π3)=0,\cos\alpha+\cos\left(\alpha+\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)+\cos\left(\alpha+\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)=0,cosα+cos(α+32π​)+cos(α+34π​)=0, so x+y+z=0.x+y+z=0.x+y+z=0.

Now divide by xyzxyzxyz: x+y+zxyz=0\frac{x+y+z}{xyz}=0xyzx+y+z​=0 which gives 1yz+1zx+1xy=0.\frac{1}{yz}+\frac{1}{zx}+\frac{1}{xy}=0.yz1​+zx1​+xy1​=0. That is, sec⁡βsec⁡γ+sec⁡γsec⁡α+sec⁡αsec⁡β=0.\sec\beta\sec\gamma+\sec\gamma\sec\alpha+\sec\alpha\sec\beta=0.secβsecγ+secγsecα+secαsecβ=0.

Hence, ab+bc+ca=k2⋅0=0.ab+bc+ca=k^2\cdot 0=0.ab+bc+ca=k2⋅0=0.

Therefore, cos⁡ϕ=0  ⟹  ϕ=π2.\cos\phi=0\implies \phi=\frac{\pi}{2}.cosϕ=0⟹ϕ=2π​.

  1. Conclusion

The angle between the vectors is π2.\boxed{\frac{\pi}{2}}.2π​​.

So the correct option is D.

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