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Vector Algebra question

2023 · 31 Jan · Shift 2 · Q42
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  5. /2023 · 31 Jan · Shift 2 · Q42

Vector Algebra question

2023 · 31 Jan · Shift 2 · Q42

JEE MainMathematicsVector AlgebraNumerical+4 / −1
Let a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c}a,b,c be three vectors such that ∣a⃗∣=31,4∣b⃗∣=∣c⃗∣=2|\vec{a}|=\sqrt{31}, 4|\vec{b}|=|\vec{c}|=2∣a∣=31​,4∣b∣=∣c∣=2 and 2(a⃗×b⃗)=3(c⃗×a⃗)2(\vec{a} \times \vec{b})=3(\vec{c} \times \vec{a})2(a×b)=3(c×a). If the angle between b⃗\vec{b}b and c⃗\vec{c}c is 2π3\frac{2 \pi}{3}32π​, then (a⃗×c⃗a⃗⋅b⃗)2\left(\frac{\vec{a} \times \vec{c}}{\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}}\right)^{2}(a⋅ba×c​)2 is equal to ‾\underline{\hspace{2cm}}​.
Numerical answer
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: 3

  1. Given data

We have | a|=\sqrt{31}, \qquad 4|\vec b|=2, \qquad |\vec c|=2. So, ∣b⃗∣=12,∣c⃗∣=2.|\vec b|=\frac12, \qquad |\vec c|=2.∣b∣=21​,∣c∣=2.

Also, 2(a⃗×b⃗)=3(c⃗×a⃗).2(\vec a\times \vec b)=3(\vec c\times \vec a).2(a×b)=3(c×a). Since c⃗×a⃗=−(a⃗×c⃗),\vec c\times \vec a=-(\vec a\times \vec c),c×a=−(a×c), this becomes 2(a⃗×b⃗)=−3(a⃗×c⃗).2(\vec a\times \vec b)=-3(\vec a\times \vec c).2(a×b)=−3(a×c). Hence, a⃗×(2b⃗+3c⃗)=0.\vec a\times (2\vec b+3\vec c)=0.a×(2b+3c)=0.

Therefore, 2b⃗+3c⃗2\vec b+3\vec c2b+3c is parallel to a⃗\vec aa. So there exists some scalar λ\lambdaλ such that a⃗=λ(2b⃗+3c⃗).\vec a=\lambda(2\vec b+3\vec c).a=λ(2b+3c).


  1. Use magnitude of a⃗\vec aa to find λ\lambdaλ

First compute ∣2b⃗+3c⃗∣2=4∣b⃗∣2+9∣c⃗∣2+12(b⃗⋅c⃗).|2\vec b+3\vec c|^2=4|\vec b|^2+9|\vec c|^2+12(\vec b\cdot \vec c).∣2b+3c∣2=4∣b∣2+9∣c∣2+12(b⋅c).

Now, ∣b⃗∣=12,∣c⃗∣=2,∠(b⃗,c⃗)=2π3,|\vec b|=\frac12, \quad |\vec c|=2, \quad \angle(\vec b,\vec c)=\frac{2\pi}{3},∣b∣=21​,∣c∣=2,∠(b,c)=32π​, so b⃗⋅c⃗=∣b⃗∣∣c⃗∣cos⁡2π3=12⋅2⋅(−12)=−12.\vec b\cdot \vec c=|\vec b||\vec c|\cos\frac{2\pi}{3}=\frac12\cdot 2\cdot\left(-\frac12\right)=-\frac12.b⋅c=∣b∣∣c∣cos32π​=21​⋅2⋅(−21​)=−21​.

Thus, ∣2b⃗+3c⃗∣2=4(14)+9(4)+12(−12)=1+36−6=31.|2\vec b+3\vec c|^2=4\left(\frac14\right)+9(4)+12\left(-\frac12\right)=1+36-6=31.∣2b+3c∣2=4(41​)+9(4)+12(−21​)=1+36−6=31. So, ∣2b⃗+3c⃗∣=31.|2\vec b+3\vec c|=\sqrt{31}.∣2b+3c∣=31​.

But ∣a⃗∣=31|\vec a|=\sqrt{31}∣a∣=31​ too, and a⃗=λ(2b⃗+3c⃗).\vec a=\lambda(2\vec b+3\vec c).a=λ(2b+3c). Hence, ∣λ∣=1.|\lambda|=1.∣λ∣=1. So we may take a⃗=±(2b⃗+3c⃗).\vec a=\pm(2\vec b+3\vec c).a=±(2b+3c). The required quantity is squared, so sign will not matter.


  1. Compute a⃗⋅b⃗\vec a\cdot \vec ba⋅b

Using a⃗=2b⃗+3c⃗\vec a=2\vec b+3\vec ca=2b+3c, a⃗⋅b⃗=(2b⃗+3c⃗)⋅b⃗=2∣b⃗∣2+3(c⃗⋅b⃗).\vec a\cdot \vec b=(2\vec b+3\vec c)\cdot \vec b=2|\vec b|^2+3(\vec c\cdot \vec b).a⋅b=(2b+3c)⋅b=2∣b∣2+3(c⋅b). Now,

and 3(b⃗⋅c⃗)=3(−12)=−32.3(\vec b\cdot \vec c)=3\left(-\frac12\right)=-\frac32.3(b⋅c)=3(−21​)=−23​. Therefore, a⃗⋅b⃗=12−32=−1.\vec a\cdot \vec b=\frac12-\frac32=-1.a⋅b=21​−23​=−1. If a⃗=−(2b⃗+3c⃗)\vec a=-(2\vec b+3\vec c)a=−(2b+3c), then this becomes 111; in either case, the square is same.

So, (a⃗⋅b⃗)2=1.(\vec a\cdot \vec b)^2=1.(a⋅b)2=1.


  1. Compute ∣a⃗×c⃗∣|\vec a\times \vec c|∣a×c∣

Again using a⃗=2b⃗+3c⃗\vec a=2\vec b+3\vec ca=2b+3c, a⃗×c⃗=(2b⃗+3c⃗)×c⃗=2(b⃗×c⃗)+3(c⃗×c⃗)=2(b⃗×c⃗).\vec a\times \vec c=(2\vec b+3\vec c)\times \vec c=2(\vec b\times \vec c)+3(\vec c\times \vec c)=2(\vec b\times \vec c).a×c=(2b+3c)×c=2(b×c)+3(c×c)=2(b×c). Thus,

Now, ∣b⃗×c⃗∣=∣b⃗∣∣c⃗∣sin⁡2π3=12⋅2⋅32=32.|\vec b\times \vec c|=|\vec b||\vec c|\sin\frac{2\pi}{3}=\frac12\cdot 2\cdot\frac{\sqrt3}{2}=\frac{\sqrt3}{2}.∣b×c∣=∣b∣∣c∣sin32π​=21​⋅2⋅23​​=23​​. Hence, ∣a⃗×c⃗∣=2⋅32=3.|\vec a\times \vec c|=2\cdot \frac{\sqrt3}{2}=\sqrt3.∣a×c∣=2⋅23​​=3​. So, ∣a⃗×c⃗∣2=3.|\vec a\times \vec c|^2=3.∣a×c∣2=3.


  1. Required value

The expression means

=∣a⃗×c⃗∣2(a⃗⋅b⃗)2.=\frac{|\vec a\times \vec c|^2}{(\vec a\cdot \vec b)^2}.=(a⋅b)2∣a×c∣2​.

Therefore, 31=3.\frac{3}{1}=3.13​=3.

Final Answer

3\boxed{3}3​

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