JEE TRAINER

Preparing You For Both JEE MAIN and ADVANCED

VECTORS AND 3D
By Nitin Jain

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 Preface

Dear Students
Ativeer feels privileged to serve you with its best seller JEE TRAINER SERIES for JEE Main and
Advanced. These books have been designed by the expert visionaries of the field and aim at providing the
best assistance to the students.
JEE TRAINER is designed with the vision of providing knowledge and guidance for the JEE preparation
along with excellent performance at the board level.
The book fulfills all tutorial needs of the students and is in itself a complete package which will help the
students to achieve their goal.
The book has been developed in such a way that while going through it, you will feel that teacher is present
in front of you, and sequencing of the topics has been done after intensive research.
We hope you will enjoy the JEE TRAINER SERIES, and this will lead you towards your aim.
Lastly, we have tried our level best to provide you the perfect material but still some errors might have
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Structure of JEE TRAINER

1. The entire Chapter is divided into various topics and sub-topics in a very sequential manner.
2. Topic wise, well explained theory along with Concept Reckoners (practical situations used to explain a
particular concept) have been incorporated.
3. Solved Examples at the end of every topic will help you to boost your knowledge and expertise in
solving questions.
4. Make Concepts Clear (MC2) - This section is developed to give you more practice and gain the
expertise on every topic. Here you will have a number of questions on the topic just covered, whose
solutions are given in last.
5. For more rigorous practice - (PS-1 for JEE MAIN and PS-2 for JEE ADVANCED) are given sepa-
rately including all possible types of questions which are fully solved.

Nitin Jain
 Contents
Chapter Vectors and 3D 1.1 – 1.281
1.1 Introduction and Algebra of Vectors 1.1
1.2 Product of Two Vectors 1.43
1.3 Multiple Product of Vectors 1.78
1.4 Vector Equation and Tetrahedron 1.102
1.5 Basics of 3D and 3D Co-ordinate System 1.127
1.6 Direction cosines, Ratios and Projections 1.138
1.7 Plane 1.154
1.8 Straight line 1.177
1.9 Sphere and other Miscelleneous concepts 1.198
Practice Session - 1 for JEE MAIN 1.210
Practice Session - 2 for JEE ADVANCED 1.217
Answer Key 1.230
Explanations to Mc2 1.231
Explanations to PS - 1 1.250
Explanations to PS - 2 1.258
Vectors and 3D
Chapter
Vectors and 3D
1.1 Introduction and Algebra of Vectors
1.2 Product of Two Vectors
1.3 Multiple Product of Vectors
1.4 Vector Equation and Tetrahedron
1.5 Basics of 3D and 3D Co-ordinate System
1.6 Direction cosines, Ratios and Projections
1.7 Plane
1.8 Straight line
1.9 Sphere and other Miscelleneous concepts
 Vectors and 3D
1.1 Introduction and Algebra of
Vectors
Introduction
Vectors constitute one of the several mathematical system
which can be usually used to handle the problems involving
Geometry, mechanics and other branches of applied
mathematics.
Vectors facilitate mathematical study of such physical
objects which possess direction in addition to magnitude.
It is true that the set of real numbers also provides
mathematical tool for the study of various types of physical
problems for which vectors are found to be useful, but the
use of vectors is more efficient and direct.
Vectors are basically studied in both physics and
mathematics and in the begining. The difference in two
approaches is quite confusing. In physics, a vector is a
physical quantity which has both magntiude and direction.
Eg :- Velocity, acceleration are vector quantities while speed,
mass are not the vector quantities (generally knows as
scalars).
While in mathematics, a vector is a directed line segment
and scalar is simply a real number.
So, we can say that it is better if physicists says that vector
is a physical quantity which can be represented by directed
line segment.
In mathematics there is yet one another approach to
represent a vector, i.e., it can be represented as an ordered
pair (or ordered triplets of real numbers). Here the first
approach is geometric while second approach is algebraic.
Evaluation of vector concept
In our daily life, we come across many situation in which
we have to answer the questions like ‘what is the height of
Qutab Minar ?’ or ‘How should the hockey player hit the
ball to pass the ball to another player of his team ?’ The
answer of first question is just the numerical real value
(magnitude), such quantities are scalar. So answer of first
question is scalar quantity. While for second question to
pass the ball to another member of his team, the player
has to hit the ball with appropriate force in proper direction.
In this case force is the magnitude and direction is position
of another player, who get the ball after hitting. Such
quantities are called vectors.
In mathematics, Physics, Engineering and aerospace we
come across both types of quantities, i.e., scalar quantities
such as length, perimeter, area, distance, volume, money
etc., and vector quantities such as velocity, displacement,
force, vector area, intensity etc.,
Basic Definitions
1) Line Segment
A line segment is defined by two equivalent points as its
end points. A line segment with end points A and B is
denoted as [AB] or [BA] or AB (where A and B are
distinct points).
If A and B coincides then [AA] is a single point.
Basically line segment is set of points, which consist of points
A and B and all those points C which lie an the line AB
between A and B.
B
C
A
The length of line segment is the distance between the points
A and B.
If A  B , the point C of the line segment [AB] different
from its end points is called interior point of line segment.
Vectors and 3D

Its position on the line can be uniquely determined by the

B
ratio   | AC | : | CB |, which is the ratio in which the
point C divides the line segment AB, measuring from point
A.
2) Ray A

It is a line which is fixed from one and, while other end of The directed line segment BA is opposite to that of directed
ray is not fixed, it goes upto infinite. So, length of ray can’t  
line segment AB , as in BA , B is origin and A is terminus
be determined. 
which is just reverse as that of AB . Symbolically
In the adjoining figure the point O is fixed while the other
end of ray goes to infinite.  
BA = – AB
If the points A and B are distinct then directed line segment

AB is non zero , whose length (or magnitude) is distance

between points A and B. So directed line segment AB has
magnitude as well as direction.
O   
Directed line segments A1 B1 , A 2 B 2 ,......... A n B n are said
Any point O, lying on straight line L, divides this line into to be collinear if there exist a straight line L to which each
rays L+ and L– with origin at point O. These two rays are of these line segments are parallel.
said to be complementary to each other.
 
Two directed line segments AB and CD are said to be in
  
same direction (symbolically AB   CD or AB
  
  CD ) if either one of them is zero or AB and CD are
O  
collinear and rays AB and CD are in same direction.
 
Two directed line segments A1B1 and A 2 B 2 are said to
Two rays lying on the same straight line are said to be in
the same direction if their intersection is a ray and they are be equal if mid point of line segments A1B2 and A2B1
said to be in opposite direction if their intersection is not a coincide.
ray.    
i.e., A1B1  A 2 B2  A1 A 2  B1B 2
In adjoining figure [AB) and [CB) are in same direction, so
intersection is a ray while [BA) and [CB) have opposite Directed line segment is uniquely associated by its three
direction and hence, intersection is not a ray. characteristics which are

B B
C
A A

3) Directed Line Segment i) Length : - The length of directed line segment AB is
 
A directed line segment AB is defined as an ordered pair distance between the point A and B, denoted by | AB |.
of points A and B. The point A is called initial point (or  
origin) and point B is terminal point (or terminus) of directed | AB |  | BA |
line segment.
ii) Support : - A line of unlimited length of which directed
As shown in figure the directed line segment is represented 
line segment AB is a part is called its line of support or
by arrow in direction from origin to terminus.
simply the support.

1.2
 Vectors and 3D

For all collinear directed line segment there is same line of arrowhead indicates the direction of vector.
support.
As vector is a directed line segment so each vector is uniquely
 associated with its three characteristics i.e.,
iii) Sense : - The sense of directed line segment AB is
 i) Length
from A to B and that of BA is from B to A, i.e., sense of
directed line segment is from its origin to terminus. ii) Line of support
Comparison of senses of two directed line segments in iii) Sense
possible only if they have same or parallel line of support.
Magnitude of Vector
note 
  The magnitude of a vector AB is length of line segment
The directed line segments AB and BA have same representing it, i.e., the distance between initial point and
lengths, same line of support but have different senses. terminal point. Magnitude of vector is non negative real
 
Physical Quantities number magnitude of vector AB is denoted by | AB | (or
The quantities which can be measured are called physical simply AB).
quantities. These are divided in two categories. Negation of Vector
1) Scalars Two vectors are said to be negation of each other if they
A quantity characterised by magnitude only is called a have same length, same line of support but senses are in
scalar. It is not related to any definite direction in space. opposite direction.
Thus the volume of body can be described completely by
a specified single real number i.e., the number of cubic
B B
units.
E.g. : Density, mass, temperature etc.,
2) Vectors
A A
The quantity which has magnitude as well as direction is
called vector.    
Here BA is negation of AB , i.e. BA   AB
E.g. : Force, Velocity, Displacement etc.,
Equality of Vectors
E.g. : A person covered a distance of 100 m from origin is
scalar as it can be covered in any direction while distance Two vectors are said to be equal if they have same lengths,
100 m covered in N45E is vector, because distance is same or parallel line of support and same sense. Two equal
100 m while direction is NE. vectors need not have same initial point.

Representation of Vector B
A
The simplest geometrical representation of vector in space
is by directed line segment. If A is origin and B is terminus
  C D
of directed line segment AB then AB is a vector whose
direction is from A (initial point) to B (terminal point) and So, two different directed line segments may correspond to
magntiude is length of line segment AB. Vectors are usually same vector.
denoted by lower case letters a, b, c, ...    
In the adjoining figure | AB|  |CD|, also as AB || CD
so two vectors have same line of support and also senses
B (or directions) are same, so
 
AB  CD

A  
  |a |  | b|
Thus a  b    
 a and b have same direction
So, AB is a vector where initial point (or origin or tail) is
point A and terminal point (or terminus or head) is B. Also Thus, in parallelogram

1.3
Vectors and 3D

    So, generally OX, OY and OZ are considered as positive
AB  DC and AD  BC
co-ordinate axis while OX ', OY ' and OZ ' are negative
D C
co-ordinate axes.
Let P be any point in space, to determine co-ordinates of P
in space draw planes through P which are parallel to co-
ordinate planes. If these planes intersect X, Y and Z axes
at A, B and C respectively then lengths OA, OB and OC
are co-ordinates of point P. Usually OA, OB and OC are
A B denoted by x, y and z respectively and so the point P is
denoted by P (x, y, z).
note
It is obvious from the definition of equality of two
 Y
vectors that a vector a can be represented by infinitely
many directed line segment drawn in space and so

vector a has no fixed position in space. B P(x, y, z)

Co-ordinate system in 3 – Dimensional space

Let XOX ' and YOY ' are two perpendicular straight lines
intersecting at O. Let through O third straight line ZOZ' in
space be drawn perpendicular to both XOX ' and YOY ' .
Now we have three mutually perpendicular lines XOX ' ,
YOY ' and ZOZ' called rectangular carterian co-ordinate
axes and are refferred as X, Y and Z axes respectively. These
three co-ordinate axes framed three mutually perpendicular
planes i.e., XOY, YOZ, ZOX called co-ordinate planes
denoted by XY, YZ and ZX planes respectively. The point
where these three planes (or three axes) intersect is known
as origin.
If we take XOZ plane as a plane of paper than ZOZ' is line
perpendicular to plane XOZ.
Y'
Z'
B the space into 8 parts known as octants. As sign of x, y, z in
L
M
P octants.
X
O A
N
M
Z
Co-ordinates of point P can also be determined by drawing
perpendicular PM on XZ plane with M as foot of this
perpendicular, then from M, draw perpendicular MN on
Y – axis which meet Y axis at N.
Then, co-ordinates of point P are denoted by lengths MN
(or OA), PM (or OB) and ON. If MN, PM and ON are
denoted by x, y and z respectively then co-ordinates of point
P in space are P(x, y, z). Or simply we can say that co-
ordinates of point P are the perpendicular distances from P
on co-ordinate planes YOZ, ZOX, XOY respectively.
The three co-ordinate planes i.e., xy, yz and zx plane divide
P(x, y, z) is either positive or negative, so accordingly by the
sign of x, y and z we are able to divide the space into

X' O A X The sign of co-ordinates of point P(x, y, z) and name of

octants is given by following table.
Octant Name Octant Sign of Sign of Sign of
C N
Number x y z
Z Y XOYZ I + + +
The distances measured from XY – plane upwards in the II – + +
X ' OYZ
direction of OZ are considered to be positive while those
measured downwards in the direction of OZ ' is considered XOY ' Z III + – +
to be negetive. Similarly, distances measured along OX and IV + + –
XOYZ '
OY are considered to be positive while distance measured
along OX ' and OY ' are considered to be negative. X ' OY ' Z V – – +

1.4
 Vectors and 3D

X 'OYZ ' VI – + – 4) Co-terminal Vectors

VII + – – If two or more vectors have same terminal point then they
XOY ' Z'
are said to be co-terminal vectors.
X ' OY ' Z ' VIII – – –

note B
1. The co-ordinates of origin O are O (0, 0, 0)
A
2. The co-ordinates of any point on x – axis, y – axis
P
and z – axis are (x, o, o), (o, y, o) and (o, o , z)
respectively.
3. The co-ordinates of any point on xy plane, yz plane
and zx plane are (x, y, o), (o, y, z) and (x, o, z) C
respectively.
  
4. The 3D space can be visualized easily by comparing Hence, the vectors AP, BP and CP are co-terminal vectors
it with the room of house, in which P is any point in as they have same terminal point P.
space of room, and we take one corner of room as
origin and three adjacent edges emanating from that 5) Unit Vector
corner as co-ordinate axis. A vector whose magnitude is unity is called a unit vector.

Types of Vectors The unit vector in the direction of a , is denoted by â and
1) Zero - Vector 
it can be obtained by dividing a by its magnitude (i.e.,
A vector whose magnitude is zero i.e., a vector whose initial 
point and terminal point coincide is called a zero vector (or |a | )

null vector) and is denoted by O . 
a  
As null vector is of zero magnitude, so there is no specific  a    a  |a| a
ˆ ˆ
|a|
direction of null vector or alternatively we can say that any
direction can be assigned to null vector. 
where â is unit vector in the direction of a .
  
Thus O, AA, PP are representations of null vector.. unit vector are also known as direction vector.
2) Proper Vector note
Any vector whose magnitude is non - zero and has specific i) The concept of unit vector is just used to impart a
direction is called a proper vector. direction to physical quantity.
3) Co- initial Vectors ii) Number of distinct unit vectors in space normal to
fixed plane is two i.e., if we consider plane of paper as
If two or - more vectors have same origin (initial point) then
a fixed plane, then unit vector normal to it will be
they are said to be co-initial vectors.
either a vector of unit magnitude outside the plane of
B paper or inside the plane of paper.
iii) Number of distinct unit vectors perpendicular to
A
the line in space is infinite.
P
6) Free Vectors
Free vectors are those vectors which when transformed into
space from one point to another point without affecting
C their magnitude and direction, can be considered as equal
   i.e., the physical effects produced by them remains unaltered.
Hence, the vectors PA, PB and PC are coinitial vectors
as they have same initial point P. Or a vector whose initial point or terminal point or both are
not fixed.

1.5
Vectors and 3D

note In general, position vectors of points A, B and C with respect

  
 to origin is denoted by a , b and c respectively..
A vector a means a vector whose initial point and
terminal point is not fixed, so we can choose any point note
as initial point or terminal point. But once we have Remember once the origin of reference has been
fixed the initial point at A then terminal point is uniquely chosen we have to stick to the same origin in the entire
 
fixed at B such that AB  a . problem.

7) Localised Vector 9) Parallel (Collinear) Vectors

If a vector is specified by fixing atleast one of its end points Two or more vectors are said to be parallel if they have
i.e., initial point or terminal point is called a localised vector. same or parallel line of support. Parallel vectors may be of
different lengths and also of different senses.
Or a vector is said to be localised vector if it passess through
a fixed point in space and has unique direction.
a
So, a localised vector can not be shifted parallel to itself.

B
b
a B a
a
c
A A

Above figures represents localised vector as in 1st, 2nd and   

3rd vector initial point A, terminal point B and both ends A In the above figure the vectors a , b and c all are parallel,
and B respectively are fixed. but length of all vectors are different and also direction of
  
note a and c are same which differ from b .
1) If not mentioned in the question all vectors are If we shift the vector without changing the direction, then
considered to be free vectors. vector remains uneffected, so in the above figure if we shift
 
2) Two free vectors can be considered as a localised a and c (without changing direction) such that they
vector. 
coincide with the vector b , then all three vectors become
8) Position - Vector collinear. So, we can say that parallel vectors are also
To associate a vector to a point, we take any arbitrary point collinear vector.
as the origin of reference, but for sake of convenience, we
consider origin as origin of reference. b
If P is any point in space, then position vector of point P,

with respect to the origin O is vector OP . Thus, if O be the a
origin and P is any point, then position vector of P with

respect to origin is OP , where P is terminal point and origin
is initial point.
10) Non Collinear Vectors
So, position vector of a point specify the position of object
in dimensional system. Two vectors having non parallel line of support are called
Y non collinear vectors. So, we can say that non collinear
vectors have different directions.
C
B Non collinear vectors are oftenly known as independent
b vector.
a A
c Two non collinear vectors always describe a fixed plane.
X
O 11) Like Vectors
Two parallel vectors having same sense are said to be like
vectors.
Z

1.6
 Vectors and 3D

a
Multiplication of vector by Scalar
 
If a is a vector and  is any scalar, then the product  a is
b defined as a vector whose magnitude is |  | times that of
 
a & direction is parallel to that of a .
12) Unlike Parallel
 
Two parallel vectors having different senses (or opposite i) If  is positive then direction of a is same as that of a .
directions) are said to be unlike vectors. 
ii) If  is negative then direction of  a is opposite to that

a of a .
This multiplication is also known as scalar multiplication.
b
Properties of Scalar Multiplication
1) Associative law
13) Coplanar Vectors

Vectors are said to be coplanar if they lie on same plane. In If a is any vector and m, n are any two scalars, then
other words we can say, that a given number of vectors are   
m(n a)  n(ma)  (mn)a
said to be coplanar if all vectors are parallel to the same
plane. Proof
c       
Let |a|  a, na  b and ma  c then m(na)  mb and
 
b n(ma)  nc

a
 
Now, |b|  |n a| |n| a
 
Two vectors (collinear or non collinear) are always coplanar. |c|  |ma| |m| a
And also all parallel vectors are coplanar.
  
A set of vectors is said to be coplanar, if their supports are |m(na)|  |m b| |m|| b|  | mn |a
parallel to the same plane i.e., if their exist a plane parallel   
to the supports of each of the vectors. |n(ma)|  |n c| |n|| c |  | mn |a

The support of coplanar and co-initial vectors are coplanar. and | m n a|  |m n| a
Algebra of vectors   
As, magnitude of each of m(n a), n(ma) and (mn) a is
Algebra of vectors is very useful in the study of geometry
same and also direction of all are same (i.e., along direction
(both 2D and 3D), mechanics and other branches of applied 
mathematics. of a ) hence
By the help of ‘algebra of vectors’ we combine vectors and   
m(n a)  n(ma)  (mn)a
scalars which satisfy some laws known as laws of
composition. 2) Distributive Law
The following operations will be introduced in this book at  
appropriate places. If a and b are any two vectors and m, n are any two
scalars then
1) Multiplication of vectors by scalar
  
2) Addition of vectors i) (m  n) a  ma  n b

3) Subtraction (Difference) of vectors    

ii) m(a  b)  ma  m b
4) Scalar product of vectors
Proof
5) Vector product of vectors
i) Let m and n both scalars be positive

1.7
Vectors and 3D

  in order, then the third side taken in reverse order will
Let OA  a
represent the resultant of the two vectors.

A2 C
A1
A
a
O
b a

Let A1 and A2 be two points on OA (on producing) such
that
  B
OA1  ma and A1 A 2  na A
a +b
    
Then, OA 2  OA1  A1 A 2 If a and b are represented in magnitude and direction by
   
   BC and CA respectively, then a  b will be represented
 (m  n) a  ma  na

in magnitude and direction by BA .
Similarly, we can prove for the situation when m and n are
negative or are of opposite sign.      
If BA  a  b then AB   a  b
Addition of Vectors    
 Thus AB  BC  CA  0
A vector AB simply means the displacement from point A
to point B. Now consider a situation where a boy moves Hence, sum of vectors represented by sides of triangle in
from A to B and then from B to C. The net displacement particular direction is always zero.
made by the boy from point A to point C is given by vector  
    If a and b are position vectors of vertices A and B of
AC and expressed as AC  AB  BC triangle OAB (where O is refrence point).
   
C Then OA  a and OB  b

By triangle law of addition

   
OA  AB  BO  0
   
A
a  AB  b  0
B
  
Sum or resultant of two vectors  AB  b  a
  
Let a and b be the two given vectors, such that AB   P.V. of B  P.V. of A 
   
geometrically OA  a and AB  b , so that terminal point Parallelogram law of addition
  
of a is the initial point of b . Then the vector OB is defined If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction
    by two adjacent sides of parallelogram, then their resultant
as resultant of vectors a and b , and is denoted by a  b .
will be represented by the diagonal of the parellelogram
   passing through the point of intersection of the two adjacent
 OB  OA  AB sides.
      
OB  a  b If a and b are represented by AB and AD respectively,,
  
Triangle law of addition then a  b will be represented by AC .
If two vectors are representing two sides of a triangle taken

1.8
 Vectors and 3D


D C   
A1 A n 1  A n 1 A n  A1 A n
On adding all the above equations we get the required result.

note
b
Sum of all vectors represented by sides of polygon
taken in order is a null vector.
B Theorem
A a
Vector addition is independent of choice of reference point
(origin).
:
note Proof
A
Triangle law of addition and parallelogram law of
addition are equivalent i.e., triangle law of addition b
a
 parallelogram law of addition.
     B
As by triangle law AC  AB  BC  a  b and also O
   a + b
c
BC  AD  b c
c A'
By Parallelogram law a b

    

AC  AB  AD  a  b
O' B'
a + b
Polygon law of addition
By polygon law of addition,
Let O and O ' be any two points.
    
A1 A 2  A 2 A 3  A 3 A 4  ......  A n 1 A n  A1 A n   
Further let OA  a  O ' A '
A7
  
and AB  b  A ' B'
A8 A6
A5  OA  O' A '

A9 and OA || O ' A ' (Same sense)

A 10 A4
 OO ' A ' A is a parallelogram.

A3  OO '  AA ' ... (1)

An-1
and OO' || AA ' ... (2)
A2
Similarly, we can show that
An A1
Proof AA '  BB ' ... (3)
By triangle law of addition and AA ' ||BB ' ... (4)
  
A1 A 2  A 2 A 3  A1 A 3
   From (1) and (3), we get OO '  BB '
A1 A 3  A 3 A 4  A 1 A 4
   From (2) and (4), we get OO '|| BB '
A1 A 4  A 4 A 3  A1 A 5
 OO ' B ' B is a parallelogram


1.9
Vectors and 3D

   

 OB  O' B ' and OB || O' B ' AC  CB  BA  0
      
Thus, OB  O 'B '  a  b CB   BA  AC
Hence vector addition is independent of the choice of the   
point O. CB  AB  AC

Difference of two vectors   

CB  a  b

As we know that  b is a vector whose magnitude is same note
  
as b but direction is opposite to that of b . The subtraction 
If a and b are two adjacent sides of parallelogram
   
of b from a is same as addition of  b to a . Hence. then their sum and difference will be represented by
two diagonals of parallelogram.
   
a  b  a  ( b) Eg :

So, triangle law of addition and parallelogram law of addition If a boat has to go from one bank of river to other bank in
both can be used to determine subtraction of two vectors. a direction perpendicular to the flow of river, then the boat
is acted upon by two velocity vectors. One the velocity
By triangle law imparted to boat by its engine and other the velocity of
      flow of river water.
In ABC, if AB  a and BC  b then BC1   b .
C
B C

a
A B b
boat
-b
flow
A f

C1 So, the boat starting from point A on one bank, reach the
   opposite bank at point C (which is displaced from the point
 AC1  AB  BC1
B just opposite to A). So, resultant of these two velocities is
   
AC1  AB  BC in the direction of AC and resultant displacement is AC.

   Properties of Vector Addition

AC1  a  b
1. Commutative law
  
If two co-initial vector a and b represents sides AB and    
Addition is commutative, i.e., a  b  b  a for any pair of
  
AC respectively of ABC then third side represents the vectors a & b .
difference of two vectors.
C       
Let OA  a, AB  b so that OB  a  b . Complete the
parallelogram OABC with OA and AB as adjacent sides.
Then, since OC and CB are equal and parallel to AB and
OA respectively.
b a - b
   
OC  b and CB  a .
    
 OB  OC  CB  b  a
A B
a
1.10
 Vectors and 3D

        
Hence a  b  b  a . a 0  0  a  a

2. Associative law Proof

Addition is associative,  
Let a  AB then
        
i.e., a  (b  c)  (a  b)  c where a, b , c are any three      
a  0  AB  BB  AB  a
vectros.
     
0  a  AA  AB  AB  a
R
c
    
Q a 0  0a a
b+ c 4. Additive Inverse
 
a+ b+ c If a is any vector and their exist a vector b such that
    
b a  b  0 , then b is said to be additive inverse of a .
a + b
Proof
   
O Let a  AB and b  BA
a P
     
      Now a  b  AB  BA  AA  0
Let OP  a, PQ  b and QR  c
     
     b  a  BA  AB  BB  0
Then b  c  PQ  QR  PR
    
      a b  ba 0
so that, a  ( b  c)  OP  PR  OR ....(1)
     note
Again, a  b  OP  PQ  OQ 
If a is any vector then its additive inverse is given by
      
so that, a  b  c  OQ  QR  OR ....(2) – a.

Thus from (1) and (2), 5. If A, B and C are three collinear points then also
  
       AB  BC  AC
a  ( b  c)  OR  (a  b)  c
even though no triangle law or parallelogram law of addition
Hence, the result. is used.
note
As vectors addition follows associative law i.e., C
     
   
a  b  c  a  b  c , So we can denote each of
     B
these by a  b  c . Hence, sum of three vectors a ,b

and c is independent of the order in which they are A
added.
     
3. Additive Identity 6. If a and b are two vectors then |a  b|  |a||b|
  Proof
If a is any vector then 0 (null vector) is additive identity of
   
a i.e., if 0 is added to any vector then their is no effect on Let A, B and C be three points such that AB  a and
  
a. BC  b .

1.11
Vectors and 3D

Case I From the above property, we can say that

If A, B, and C are three collinear points then    
|a  ( b)|  | a||  b|
  
AB  BC  AC    
|a  b|  | a||b|
     
b C 8. If a and b are two vectors then |a  b|  (| a||b|)

Proof
a B
   
As |a|  | a  b  b|
A
   
|a|  |(a  b)  b| ....... (1)
  
 AC  a  b      
As |(a  b)  b|  |a  b|  |b| ....... (2)
  
Also | AB|  | BC|  |AC| From (1) and (2) we get
       
So, |a|  | b|  |a  b | | a|  |a  b| |b|
   
Case II  | a|  |b|  |a  b | ...... (3)

If A, B, and C are vertices of triangle then    
Similarly, | b|  |(b  a)  a|
  
AB  BC  AC    
| b|  |b  a|  |a|
   
C  | b|  |a |  |a  b| ...... (4)

From equation (3) and (4) we get

b    
|a  b|  |a| |b|

note
A B
a In all the above three properties equality hold if the
 
two vectors a and b are collinear..
  
 AC  a  b Vector Equation
But, by using the property that sum of two sides of triangle  
If a and b are two given vectors, then the vector equation
must be greater than the third side so   
   a  x  b is satisfied by one and only one vector
| AB|  |BC|  | AC|   
i.e., x  b  a
   
 |a|  |b|  | a  b| Proof
Hence from above two cases we can say that   
We have a  x  b
   
|a|  |b|  | a  b| 
Adding negation of a to both sides of above equation, we
      have
7. If a and b are two vectors then |a  b|  | a||b|
    
Proof (a)  (a  x)   a  b
   
|a  b|  | a  ( b)|

1.12
 Vectors and 3D

    
 a  a  x  b  ( a)
A B
  
 x  b a
a  b
Angle Between Two Vectors
   O
If a and b are two non zero vectors, such that they are co-

initial. -a
    -b
Let OA  a and OB  b then AOB is said to be angle
  B' A'
between two vectors a and b .

ii) As vertically opposite angles are same, so

B    
(a ^ b)  ( a ^ b)  
b  

iii) Angle between a and – b =  – (angle between a and

b ).
 A
   
O  (a ^  b)    (a ^ b)    
a
Also AOB ' and BOA ' are vertically opposite angles,
In general angle between two vectors lie in  0, 180 0  .    
so (a ^  b)  (  a ^ b)     .
And also angle between two vectors is denoted by
note
   
 or (a, b) or (a ^ b) If m and n are two positive scalars then
   
(ma ^nb)  (a ^ b) .
note
  Section Formulae
If a or b is a zero vector then angle between the
  Internal Division
vectors a and b is not defined.
 
Theorem Let A and B be two points with position vectors a and b ,
  respectively and C be a point dividing AB internally in the
If a and b are two non zero vectors, then ratio m : n. Then the position vector of C is given by
     
i) (a ^ b)  (b ^ a)  mb  na
OC  .
mn
   
ii) (a ^ b)  ( a ^ b)
Proof
     
iii) (a ^ b)  ( a ^ b)    (a ^ b)
n C m
Proof B A
 
Let angle between two vectors a and b be .
c
  b
i) From, figure we can say that angle between a and b is a
 
same as angle between b and a .
    O
 (a ^ b)  ( b ^ a)  
    
Let O be the origin. Then OA  a and OB  b . Let c

1.13
Vectors and 3D

be the position vector of C which divides AB internally in  n(P.V. of C  P.V. of A)

AC m
the ratio m : n. Then  .  m(P.V. of C  P.V.of B)
CB n
   
   n(c  a)  m(c  b)
 nAC  mCB
   
 nc  n a  m c  mb
 m(P.V. of C  P.V. of A)
  
 c (m  n) mb  na
 m(P.V. of B  P.V. of C)
   
     mb  na  mb  na
 c or OC 
 
 n c  a  m(b  c) mn mn
    note
 nc  na  mb  mc
 
    ab
 c (n  m)  mb  na 1) If c is mid point of AB then c  .
2
         
 mb  na  mb  na where c  OC , a  OA and b  OB
 c or OC 
m n mn
 
 ma  nb m  n 
External Division 2) As c   a b
mn mn mn
 
Let A and B be two points with position vectors a and b ,   
  c  1 a  2 b where
respectively, and C be a point dividing AB externally in the
ratio m : n. Then the position vector of point C is given by m n
  1  and 2 
 mb  na m n mn
OC 
mn So, if c is any point on AB then we can assume
  
c  1 a  2 b where 1  2  1
Proof
     Linear Combination of Vectors
Let O be the origin. Then OA  a , OB  b . Let c be

the position vector of point C dividing AB externally in the A vector r is said to be linear combination of vectors
ratio m : n.   
a1 , a 2 , ......., a n if there exist scalars 1, 2, .... n such

n
that
A m     
B C r  1 a1   2 a 2   3 a 3  .......   n a n
      
E.g. : 2a  b  3c, 5a  3b  2c  4d are linear
a    
b c combinations of a, b , c and d .

A linear combination of vector involves addition OR

subtraction of vectors and multiplication of vectors by
O
scalars.
Linearly dependent and independent system of
AC m
Then,  vectors
BC n
  
  A system of vectors a1 ,a 2 ,.......a n is said to be linearly
 nAC  mBC  nAC  mBC
dependent if one of them can be expressed as linear
combination of the other vectors.

1.14
 Vectors and 3D

While if the system of vectors are not linearly dependent a 2x + b2y + c 1z = 0

then they are said to be linearly independent vectors.
a 3x + b3y + c 3z = 0
Theorem
   a1 b1 c1
A system of vectors a1 ,a 2 ,.......a n are said to be linearly
Now, Let   a 2 b2 c2
dependent if there exists scalars 1 ,  2 , .......  n such that a3 b3 c3
   
1 a1   2 a 2  ...   n a n  0 and out of all scalars atleast Now, if  = 0 then vectors are linearly dependent, while if
one scalar is non zero.   0 then vectors are linearly independent.

Proof note
1) A super set of linearly dependent set of vectors is
Let out of all scalars,  r  0 then
linearly dependent.
  
1 a1   2 a 2  ...   n a n  0 2) A subset of linearly independent set of vectors is
linearly independent.
   
   r a r  1 a1   2 a 2  ......   r 1 ar 1  3) Two vectors are linearly dependent if they are
  parallel.
 r 1 a r 1  ....   x a x Component of Vector in 2 D

         Y

 a r   1 a1  2 a 2  ...  r 1 a r 1  ...  n a n
r r r r
    N P(x, y)
 a r  k 1 a1  k 2 a 2  ...k n 1 a n
j

Hence ar can be expressed as linear combination of
O M X
   X' i
a1 , a 2 , .....a n .
  
So, a1 , a 2 , .....a n forms linearly dependent set of vectors.

To check whether the given three vectors are linearly Y'

dependent or independent.
Let î and ĵ are unit vectors along x and y axis respectively

a  a1ˆi  a 2ˆj  a 3 kˆ in 2D cartesian system.

 If P (x, y) is any point in 2D plane, such that PM and PN

b  b1ˆi  b 2ˆj  b 3 kˆ are perpendiculars from P on x and y axis respectively.
 
c  c1ˆi  c 2ˆj  c 3 kˆ Then, | OM |  x  OM  xiˆ

Now, for given three vectors, there are three scalars x, y, z | ON |  |MP|  y  |MP|  yjˆ
such that
   By triangle law of addition
xa  yb  zc  0   
OP  OM  MP
ˆ  y( b ˆi  b ˆj  b k)
x(a1ˆi  a 2ˆj  a 3 k) ˆ 
1 2 3

 OP  xiˆ  yjˆ
ˆ  0iˆ  0ˆj  0kˆ
z(c 1ˆi  c 2ˆj  c 3 k)
So, In 2D system any vector can be represented as addition
On comparing, coefficients of î , ĵ and k̂ we get of vector component of that vector on x axis and y axis.

a 1x + b1y + c 1z = 0 |OP| = Distance between O and P

1.15
Vectors and 3D

 In the above figure D, E, F are foot of perpendiculars from

|OP|  x 2  y 2 P on XOY, YOZ and ZOX planes respectively while A, B
and C respectively are feet of perpendiculars from D, E and
If A (x1, y1) and B (x2, y2) is a line segment in 2D, then
F on x, y and z axis respectively.
So, | OA | = x, |OB| = y and | OC | = z
Y
  
ˆ OB  yjˆ and OC  zkˆ
 OA  xi,
B 
By Parallelogram law of addition in OADB
  
A P OD  OA  OB

 OD  xiˆ  yjˆ ...(1)
X  
O M N
As DP || OC, So OC  DP  zkˆ

By triangle law of addition in ODP, we have

   
OA (a)  x1ˆi  y1ˆj and OB (b)  x 2ˆi  y 2ˆj   
OP  OD  DP

then |BP |  y 2  y1 and |AP|  x 2  x1 
 OP  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

 Component of AB on x axis = AP  (x 2  x1 )iˆ Hence, we can say that any point in space can be
represented as linear combination of triads.

 Component of AB on y axis = BP  (y 2  y1 )ˆj 
ˆ yjˆ and zkˆ are vector components of OP
As xi, on x, y
 
Hence, AB  (x 2  x1 )iˆ  (y 2  y1 )ˆj and z axis respctively. So OP is addition of vector
 components along co-ordinate axes.
| AB|  (x 2  x1 )2  (y 2  y1 )2 If A (x1, y1, z1) and B(x2, y2, z2) are two points in space,

Components of Vector in 3D then vector components of AB on x, y and z axis are

If P (x, y, z) be any point in 3 – Dimensional system and  x 2  x1 ˆi, (y 2  y1 )jˆ and  z 2  z1  kˆ respectively..
ˆi, ˆj, ˆk are unit vectors along x, y and z axis respectively 
As OD  xjˆ  yjˆ
(combination of ˆi, ˆj, ˆk is generally known as triads).

 |OD|  x 2  y 2
Y
  
Also OP  OD  PD

B Applying the Pythagoras theorem in OPD

D
OP 2  OD 2  PD2
E
P OP 2  (x 2  y 2 )  z 2
O A X 
 |OP |  x 2  y 2  z 2

C F 
is required length of OP

1.16
 Vectors and 3D

note    
Since a , ma are collinear it follows that a , b are
 
If a  a1ˆi  a2ˆj  a3 kˆ and b  b1ˆi  b2ˆj  b3 kˆ then collinear. Hence the theorem.

  note
i) a  b  (a1  b1 )iˆ  (a2  b2 )ˆj  (a3  b3 )kˆ  
 
1) If a   b then a and b are parallel, if  > 0 then
 
ii)  a  (  a1 )iˆ  (  a2 )ˆj  (  a3 )kˆ  
a and b are like parallel while if  < 0 then a and

  b are like parallel.
iii) a  b if a1 = b1, a2 = b2 and a3 = b3.
2) Null vector is always collinear to any non zero
Collinear Vectors    
vector. if a  0 then in a   b , the value of  is zero
o
Any number of vectors are said to be parallel or collinear if 
they are parallel to same line of support, whatever may be 
then also a and b are collinear..
their magnitude.
Theorem
 
If a and b are two non zero parallel vectors then     
    Two non zero vectors a and b are collinear, if ma  nb  0
(a^ b)  00 or (a^ b)  18 00
for some scalar m and n (not both zero simultaneously).
  Proof
If (a^ b)  00 then the vectors are like parallel while if
      
(a^ b)  180 0 then the vectors are unlike parallel. If xa  yb  0 then xa   yb

Theorem 
 y  y
     a   b  a  b (where    )
If a and b are two non zero parallel vectors then a   b x x

for some scalar .  

 The two given vectors a and b are collinear. Hence, if
Proof  
two vectors a and b are collinear then they are linearly
Case I
dependent.
 
ˆ.
If a, b are like vectors, then â  b Theorem
   
    | b|   If two vectors a and b are non zero, non - collinear vectors
ˆ  | b| aˆ  | b ||a|
b  | b| b  aˆ   a  ma
|a| |a | and x, y are two scalars such that
   
| b| x a  yb  0 then x = y = 0
where m =  .
|a | Proof
Case II   
It is given that xa  yb  0 ...... (1)
 
ˆ   aˆ .
If a, b are unlike vectors, then b
Suppose that x  0 , then dividing both sides of (1) by the
  scalar x, we get
    |a | | b|  
ˆ
b  | b | b  | b| a   | b|  a   a  ma
ˆ ˆ
|a | |a |  y
a b ...... (2)
 x
| b|
where m = –  .
|a | y
Now is a scalar, because x and y are scalars.
  x
 b  ma for some scalar m.
 
  Hence (2) expresses a as product of b by a scalar, so that
Conversely suppose that b  ma for some scalar m.  
a and b are collinear..

1.17
Vectors and 3D

     
Thus we arrive at a contradiction because a and b are  1.a  b (  1)  c  0
given to be non - collinear. 
 
Which can be written as xa  yb  zc  0
Thus our supposition that x  0 is wrong.
Where x = 1, y = –  – 1 and z = 
Hence x=0 
 
Similarly, y=0  Points A, B and C are collinear iff xa  yb  zc  0
such that x + y + z = 0 and x, y, z simultaneously all are
Corollary :
not zero.
 
If a and b are two non - parallel vectors, then Method II
     
x1 a  y1 b  x 2 a  y 2 b  x1  x 2 and y1  y 2 As three point A, B and C are collinear. So AB and AC
are also collinear.
Proof
 
     AB   AC
x1 a  y1 b  x 2 a  y 2 b
   
   b  a   (c  a)
 (x1  x 2 )a  ( y1  y 2 )b  0
   
 a (  1)  1.b   .c  0
 x1  x 2  0 and y1  y 2  0
  
Which can be written as xa  yb  zc  0 where
 x1  x 2 and y1  y 2
x + y + z = 0 and x, y, z simultaneously not zero.
note   
 Hence we can say that three points A(a), B(b) and C(c)

If a  a1ˆi  a 2ˆj  a3 kˆ and b  b1ˆi  b2ˆj  b3 kˆ    
 are collinear iff xa  yb  zc  0 for some scalars x, y and

are two collinear vectors then a  b z not all zero at a time such that x + y + z = 0.
Plane Generated by two non collinear Vectors
ˆ ˆ ˆ
 a1ˆi  a2ˆj  a3 kˆ =  b1i  b2 j  b3 k   
If a and b are two non collinear non zero vectors, then
a1 a2 a3  
   there exists a unique plane through a and b . This plane is
b1 b2 b3
   
known as plane generated by a and b . If a  OA and
 
is required condition for two vectors a and b to be   
b  OB then this plane is denoted by AOB .
collinear.
Condition for three points to be Collinear note
 
If A, B and C are three points whose position vectors are If a and b are non collinear then unique plane is
    
a, b and c respectively then these will be collinear if generated while if a and b are collinear then infinite
   planes can be drawn.
xa  yb  zc  0 such that x + y + z = 0 and x, y, z
simultaneously all are not zero . Decomposition of a vector in a plane
 
Method I If a and b be two given non - collinear vectors, then every
Let B divides AC in ratio  : 1 internally.   
vector r in the plane of a and b can be uniquely
    
c  a represented as the sum of two vectors parallel to a and b
So, b 
 1   
i.e., r  xa  yb where x and y are scalars.
  
 b (  1)  c  a    
Let a and b be two given vectors and let r  OC be any

1.18
 Vectors and 3D

 
other vector in their plane (or in the plane parallel to a Let P be a point in the plane AOB so that OLPM is a

and b ) parallelogram.
 
   LP  OM
Through O and C draw lines parallel to a and b to form
the parallelogram OACB.        
r  xa  yb  OL  OM  OL  LP  OP
 
Since OA is parallel to a , it may be expressed as some 
   P lies in the plane AOB
multiple of a . Let OA  x a where x is a scalar..
  
   r lies in the plane generated by a, b .
Similarly, OB  x b , where y is a scalar..  
Hence, any vector in the plane containing a and b can
      
Now, OC  OA  AC  OA  OB be written as linear combination of a and b .
  
 r  xa  yb where x, y are scalars note
    
To verify that relation is unique In the relation r  xa  yb the vectors xa and yb

   are components of the vector r .
If possible, let r  x1 a  y1 b
Coplanar Vectors
   
Then, we have xa  yb  x1 a  y1 b ; A system, of vectors is said to be coplanar if they lie on the
  same plane or on parallel planes.
i.e., (x  x1 ) a  (y  y1 )b  0
Theorem
   
Since a and b are non - collinear vectors, we have from If a and b are two non collinear vectors, then the vector
theorem      
c is coplanar with a and b if c  xa  yb for some
x – x1 = 0, y – y1 = 0 ;
scalar x and y.
i.e., x = x1 ; y = y1
Proof
The theorem is thus proved.  
If a and b are non collinear vectors, then the unique
Converse  

   plane AOB is generated, if vector c lies on plane AOB
Let a, b be two non collinear vectors. If r is any vector   
then a , b and c are coplanar..
   
such that r  xa  yb for some real numbers x, y then r 
  As we know that any vector in the plane generated by a
lies in the plane generated by a, b .       
and b is given by xa  yb , so if C  xa  yb then C lies
Proof    
in the plane generated by a and b and hence a , b and
  
Since a, b are two non collinear vectors, they generate a c are coplanar..
plane. note
          
Let a  OA, b  OB , xa  OL, yb  OM 1) If three vectors a , b and c are coplanar then
any vector can be represented as linear combination
   
a , xa are collinear  OA , OL are collinear of other two.
  
 L lies in the line OA 2) Two vectors a and b are always coplanar..
      
b , yb are collinear  OB , OM are collinear 3) Vectors a , b and 0 are always coplanar..

 M lies in the line OB .

1.19
Vectors and 3D

Theorem  y z
   a  b  c ... (2)
 x x
Three vectors a , b , c are coplanar if they are linearly
  
dependent i.e., xa  yb  zc  0 for some scalars x, y and y z
Now and are scalars because x, y and z are scalars.
z not all zero at a time. x x
  
Proof Thus (2) expresses a as a linear combination of b and c .
  
Case I Hence a is coplanar with b and c which is contrary to
  
   our hypothesis because a , b and c are given to be non -
If any of the vector out of a , b or c is null vector then
the vectors are always coplanar. coplanar.

      Thus our supposition that x  0 is wrong.

If a  0 then xa  0.b  0.c  0 and so the three vectors
are linearly dependent. Hence x = 0

Case II Similarly, we can prove that y = 0 and z = 0.

     Corollary
a , b and c are non zero, but a , b are collinear, then
   
 If a, b, c are any three non - coplanar vectors in space,
a  b . Under this case three vectors are identical to two
vectors and so vectors are coplanar. then
     
Then for some scalar  x1 a  y1 b  z1 c  x 2 a  y 2 b  z 2 c
     x1  x 2 , y1  y 2 , z1  z 2
a  b  0c  0
Proof
and so three vectors are linearly dependent.      
x1 a  y1 b  z1 c  x 2 a  y 2 b  z 2 c
Case III
  
    (x1  x 2 ) a  (y1  y 2 )b  (z1  z 2 )c  0
If a , b , c are non collinear and non zero coplanar
  x1  x 2  0, y1  y 2  0, z1  z 2  0
vectors, then c can be expressed as linear combination of
 
a and b  x1  x 2 , y1  y 2 , z1  z 2
   Theorem
i.e., c  xa  yb
    
 If vectors a  a1ˆi  a 2ˆj  a 3 kˆ , b  b1ˆi  b2ˆj  b3 kˆ and
 xa  yb  c  0

 Vectors are linearly dependent. c  c 1ˆi  c 2ˆj  c 3 kˆ are coplanar, then
Hence from all the above we can say that three coplanar
vectors are always linearly dependent. And its converse is Proof
also true.   
If vectors a, b and c are coplanar, then there exist scalars
Theorem   
A triad of non zero, non coplanar vectors is linearly dependent  and  such that c  a   b .
  
system, i.e., if a , b , c are three non zero, non - coplanar Now as ˆi, ˆj and k̂ are non - coplanar and hence
vectors and x, y, z are three scalars such that
    independent, so on equating coefficients, we get
xa  yb  z c  0 then x = y = z = 0.
 a1  b1 , c 2  a 2  b2 c 3  a 3  b3
Proof
The above system of equations in terms of  and  is
  
It is given that xa  yb  zc  0 ... (1) consistent.

Suppose that x  0 a1 b1 c1
    a2 b2 c2  0
Then, (1) can be written as xa   yb  zc
a3 b3 c3

1.20
 Vectors and 3D

Similarly, if vectors       
u(a  d)  v(b  d)  w(c  d)  0
     
x1 a  y1 b  z1 c, x 2 a  y 2 b  z 2 c and    
uAD  vBD  wCD  0
  
x 3 a  y3 b  z3 c
  v    w  
   AD     BD     CD
are coplanar (where a , b and c are non - coplanar).  u  u
  
x1 y1 z1  AD , BD and CD are coplanar and hence point A, B,
Then x 2 y2 z 2  0 can be proved with the same C and D are coplanar.
x3 y3 z3
note
arguments. 1) Three coplanar vectors are linearly dependent.
    2) Three Non coplanar vectors are linearly
  
To prove that four points A a , B b , C(c) and D d aree   independent.
 
coplanar, it is just sufficient to prove that vectors AB, BD Theorem

and CD are coplanar.. More than three vectors are always linearly dependent

Coplanarity of four points Proof

   
Let A, B, C, D be four coplanar points whose position Let a, b, c, d be four vectors.
   
vectors are a , b , c and d respectively..           
If a  0 then a  0b  0c  0d  0 and hence a, b, c, d
 
As four points are coplanar, so the vectors AB, AC and are linearly dependent.
     
AD must be coplanar. Hence Suppose a  0 . if a, b are collinear, then b   a for
   some scalar .
AB  x AC  y AD
      
       a  b  0  a  1b  0c  0d  0
 b  a  x(c  a)  y(d  a)
   
      a, b, c, d are linearly dependent.
 a (1  x  y)  1.b  xc  yd  0 ...... (1)
     
Let 1 – x – y = u, –1 = v, x = w , y = t then equation (1) Suppose a, b, c are not collinear. If a, b, c are coplanar
can be written as   
then c  xa  yb for some scalars x, y..
    
ua  vb  wc  td  0         
 xa  yb  c  0  xa  yb  1c  od  0
Where u + v + w + t = 0 and u, v, w, t all together not
   
zero.  a, b, c, d are lineraly dependent.
Converse   
    Suppose a, b, c are non coplanar
If a , b , c and d are position vectors of four points A,
   
B, C and D respectively such that  d  xa  yb  zc for some scalars x, y, z
         
ua  vb  wc  td  0 where u + v + w +t = 0 and u, v,,  xa  yb  zc  d  0
w, t all together not zero.
   
Then t = – u – v – w  a, b, c, d are linearly dependent.

Put this value of t in given relation. We get  Any four vectors are linearly dependent.
    
ua  vb  wc  (u  v  w)d  0

1.21
Vectors and 3D

Right handed system of Non Coplanar vectors (Bases)   

 xa  yb  zc ...... (i)
  
If a, b, c are three non coplanar vectors, then ordered pair   
   Thus r can be represented as a linear combination of a, b
of a, b, c is said to be bases (or right handed system) if 
  and c .
angle of rotation from a to b in anticlockwise direction
ii) To prove that this representation is unique
does not exceed 1800 when observing from the point whose
    
position vector is c . Else the triad is said to be left handed Let r  x 'a  y ' b  z 'c ..... (ii)
system.

   be another representation of r as a linear combination of
If the triad a, b, c forms a right handed system then the   
      a, b and c .
triads b , c , a and c , a , b also form a right handed
         Then from (i) and (ii), we have
system while the triads b , a , c ; a , c , b ; c , b , a
      
forms a left handed system. xa  yb  zc  r  x ' a  y ' b  z 'c
Decomposition of Non Coplanar Vectors    
   i.e. (x  x ') a  (y  y ') b  (z  z ') c  0
If a, b and c are non - coplanar vectors, then any vector
  
 Since a, b and c are independent, x  x '  0, y  y '  0
r can be uniquely expressed as a linear combination
   and z  z '  0 or x  x ', y  y ' and z  z ' .
xa  yb  z c , x, y and z being scalars.
Components and Co-ordinates of a vector
Proof
  
      We have seen that any vector r in the plane of a and b
Take any point O so that OA  a, OB  b, OC  c and   
  can be represented as r  xa  yb .
OP  r .
  
On OP as diagonal, construct a parallelpiped having edges The vectors xa , yb are said to be components of r and

OA ' , OB ' and OC ' along OA, OB and OC, respectively.. the scalars x, y are said to be the co-ordinates of r relative
Then there exist three scalars x, y and z such that  
to the vectors a , b .
   
C Similarly, in the case of a space vector r  xa  yb  zc ;
   
C' the vectors xa , yb , zc are said to be components of r
E

and the scalars x, y, z are said to be the co-ordinates of r
  
F P relative to the vectors a , b ,c .
r

i)
O
B' B Right handed system of orthonormal vectors
  
A'
If the triad a , b , c form a right handed system such
D
     
A
   
that a^b  b^c   c^a   900 then this system of
vectors is said to be orthonormal vectors.
         Rectangular Resolution of Vector
OA '  x OA  xa, OB '  yOB  yb, OC '  zOC  zc
The easiest system of resolution of non coplanar vectors is
   
 r  OP  OA '  A ' P that in which the triads are mutually perpendicular (system
is orthonormal).
     
 OA '  A ' D  DP  OA '  OB '  OC ' These perpendicular vectors are choosen in such a manner,
that they form a right handed system. For understanding,

1.22
 Vectors and 3D

we can consider room of a home (shape of room is cuboid), This vector is oftenly used to represent the point P of co-
whose one corner is consider as reference point and three ordinates x, y and z.
edges starting from refrence point are considered as three
Direction Cosines of a Vector (DC’s)
orthonormal vectors.
Detailed view of this topic is studied in 3D
If the directed line makes an angle  with positive
Y
direction of x, y and z axis respectively then cos , cos 
and cos  are known as direction cosines of directed line
segment.
B
L
DC’s are generally denoted by l, m, n i.e.,

M cos  = l, cos  = m, cos  = n

P
j
The angles  which the directed line makes with co-
O A X
i ordinate axes is known as direction angles.
k
Theorem
C N
If (l, m, n) are DC’s of a line than l2 + m2 + n2 = 1
Z Proof
If P is a point in space whose co-ordinates are P(x, y, z)
Let OX, OY and OZ be the right handed system of then
co-ordinate axes. Let unit vectors along OX, OY and OZ be 
ˆi, ˆj and k̂ respectively. Let O is origin (reference point) OP  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

and P is any point in space whose co-ordinates are 

If OP makes angle  with positive direction of x, y, z
P(x, y, z). axis respectively, Then
L, M and N are feet of perpendicular from P on XY, YZ 
and ZX planes respectively. A, B and C are feet of Projection of OP on x, y and z axis are
perpendiculars from L, M and N respectively on OX, OY r cos  (= x),r cos  (= y) and r cos  (= z) respectively.
and OZ axis respectively. 
Then (where r  |OP |)

OA = x = BL = MP x y z
 cos    l , cos    m , cos    n
OB = y = AL = NP r r r

OC = z = AN = LP x 2  y2  z2 r 2
 l 2  m2  n2   2 1
r2 r
As ˆi, ˆj and k̂ are unit vectors along OX, OY and OZ
   note
respectively, So, OA  xiˆ , OB  yjˆ and OC  zkˆ .
 
1) If r  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ then DC’s of r are
In Parallelogram OALB, by parallelogram law of addition,
  
we have OL  OA  OB  x y z 
  .  .   . So, if (l, m, n) are DC’s of line then
 |r | |r | |r | 
 OL  xiˆ  yjˆ ..... (1)
unit vector along line is r̂  liˆ  mjˆ  nkˆ .
In OLP, by triangle law of addition, we get
2) DC’s of any line parallel to x, y and z axis are
   (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0) and (0, 0, 1) respectively.
ˆ  zkˆ
OP  OL  LP  (xiˆ  yj)
3) DC’s of two parallel vectors are same.
 
 OP (r)  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

1.23
Vectors and 3D

Direction Ratios (DR’s) By triangle law of addition in OAB,

If (l, m, n) are DC’s of a vector r , then the triad (a, b, c)      
OA  AB  OB i.e. AB  OB  OA
is said to be direction ratios (or direction numbers) of vector
   
r if a : b : c = l : m : n i.e., a = l , b = m, c = n where AB  b  a
 is non zero scalar.
  
So, we can say that from different values of  there can be  | AB| | b  a|
different DR’s of a line.
 
note If OA  x 1ˆi  y1ˆj  z1 kˆ & OB  x 2ˆi  y 2ˆj  z 2 kˆ then

1) If r  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ then DR’s of r are 
| AB|  |(x 2  x1 )ˆi  (y 2  y1 )jˆ  (z 2  z1 )kˆ
 x, y, z  or we can say that (x, y,z) are DR’s of r . 
| AB|  (x 2  x1 )2  (y 2  y1 )2  (z 2  z1 )2
So, if (a, b, c) are DR’s of line then vector along that
 2) Section Formulae
line is r  aiˆ  bjˆ  ckˆ .
If C is a point which divides the line segment AB internally
2) If A (x1, y1, z1) and B (x2, y2, z2) are two points in the ratio m : n.
on the line then DR’s of the line are
(x2 – x1, y2 – y1, z2 – z1).   
Let position vectors of A, B and C are a, b and c
3) DR’s of two parallel vectors are proportional, i.e., respectively and co-ordinates of points are A(x1, y1, z1),
if DR’s of two parallel vectors are(a1,b1, c1) and (a2, B(x2, y2, z2) and C(x, y, z).

b2, c2) then  a ˆi  b ˆj  c kˆ    a ˆi  b ˆj  c kˆ

1 1 1 2 2 2

Then a  x 1ˆi  y1ˆj  z1 kˆ

a1 b c 
  1  1 b  x 2ˆi  y 2ˆj  z 2 kˆ
a2 b2 c 2

4) The DC’s of line joining two points A and B are c  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

components of unit vector in the direction of AB .  
 mb  na
5) For a given vector direction cosines are unique but As, we know that c  i.e.,
mn
direction ratios are not.
Some Geometrical Applications ˆ  n(x ˆi  y ˆj  z k)
m(x1ˆi  y1ˆj  z1 k) ˆ
xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ  2 2 2
1) Distance Formulae m n
If A and B are two fixed points whose position vectors are
  On comparing coefficients of i, j and k, we get
a and b respectively. Then
     mx 1  nx 2 my1  ny 2 mz1  nz 2 
C(x, y, z)  C  , ,
OA  a and OB  b 
 mn mn mn 

If C divides AB externally in the same ratio m : n, then

B
 mx 1  nx 2 my1  ny 2 mz1  nz 2 
C(x, y, z)  C  , , 
 mn mn mn 
note
A 1) If Co-ordinates of point C are given, which divides the
line segment AB and ratio of division has to be determined,
then assume ratio to be  : 1.
O On solving if value of  is positive then internal division
while if  is negative then division is external division.

1.24
 Vectors and 3D

2) If C is mid point of AB then

A
 x  x 2 y1  y2 z1  z 2 
C( x,y,z)  C  1 , ,
 2 2 2  F
E
3) Centroid
The medians of a triangle are concurrent at a point, and
B C
the point of concurrence divides each median in the ratio D
2 : 1 (vertex to side ratio) and this point of concurrence is
known as centroid of triangle. Let AD, BE, CF be the internal bisectors of A, B, C
Proof respectively . Now D, E, F divide line segments BC, CA,
AB in the ratio c : b, a : b, b : a respectively.
Let ABC be a triangle and
           
OA  a, OB  b, OC  c  by  cz  cz  ax  ax  by
 OD  , OE  , OF 
b c ca ab
Let D, E, F be the mid points of BC, CA, AB respectively.
      Let I1, I2, I3 be the points which divide line segments AD,
 b  c  c  a  a  b BE, CF in the ratio (b + c) ; a, (c + a) : b, (a + b) : c
 OD  , OE  , OF 
2 2 2 respectively.

Let G1, G2, G3 be the points which divide line segments  

 by  cz  
AD, BE, CF in the ratio 2 : 1 respectively.  (b  c)    ax ax  by  cz
 OI1   bc  
  bca a bc
 bc  
  2    1a
 2 
 OG1 
2OD  1OA      
2 1

2 1 Similarly, OI 2  OI 3  ax  by  cz
a bc
     
abc  OI1  OI 2  OI 3  I1  I 2  I 3

3
 AD, BE, CF are concurrent.
  
  a  b  c And hence position vector of incentre of a triangle ABC is
Similarly, OG2  OG3    
3  aOA  bOB  cOC 
   given by I  
 a bc
 OG1  OG2  OG3  G1  G2  G3  

 AD, BE, CF are concurrent and the point of concurrence 5) Othocentre

divides them in the ratio 2 : 1. The altitutes of triangle of concurrent at a point, and point
And hence position vector of centroid of a triangle ABC is of concurrency is known as othocentre of triangle.
     
 a bc  If a, b, c be the position vectors of the vertices of a ABC,
given by G  
 3
  then the position vector of its orthocentre is
  
4) Incentre tan Aa  tan B b  tan C c
tan A  tan B  tan C
The internal bisectors of angles of triangle are concurrent at
a point, and point of concurrence is known as incentre of
Proof
triangle.
      Let AP  BC, BQ  AC and CR  AB
Let OA  x, OB  y, OC  z be position vectors of A, B,
C. Let AP, BQ and CR meet at H.
Then H is the orthocentre of the ABC.

1.25
Vectors and 3D

  
AH tan Aa  tan Bb  tan Cc
We first evaluate 
HP tan A  tan B  tan C

area of ABH AH 6) Circumcentre

For this, 
area of HBP HP The perpendicular bisectors of sides of triangle are concurrent
at a point and point of concurrency is known as circumcentre
1 of triangle.
AB  BH  sin ABH
AH
i.e.,  2
HP 1
BH  BP  sin HBP A
2

c sin  90 0  A  c cos A
  ..... (1)
BP sin  90 0  C  BP cos C
O
But from ABP, BP = AB cos B C
B D
i.e., BP = c cos B.
Hence from (1),

AH c cos A cos A   
  Let a, b, c be the position vectors of the points A, B, C
HP c cos B cos C cos B cos C
respectively.

a cos A cos A (b cos C  c cos B) Let O be the circumcentre.

 
a cos B cos C a cos B cos C Let OA = OB = OC = R be the circum radius.
Let AO, when produced meets BC at D.
tan B  tan C
 ..... (2) We first of all find out the position of D.
tan A
We have AOC  2B and so also AOB  2C
 H divides AP in the ratio of (tan B+tan C) : tan A
Again, BP = c cos B ; from ABP  DOC  180 0  2B and DOB  180 0  2C
and PC = b cos C ; from APC
Now from the ODC.
BP c cos B
  DC OC
PC b cos C 
sin DOC sin ODC
That is P divides BC in the ratio of
DC R DC R
c cos B sin C cos B tan C  0
  
  sin(180  2B) sin ODC sin 2B sin ODC
b cos C sin B cos C tanB
Similarly from the ODB.
 
tan B b  tan C c
Thus the position vector of P is BD R R R
tan B  tan C   
sin 2C sin ODB sin(1800  ODC) sin ODC
Hence using (2), the position vector of H will be
DC BD BD sin 2C
     
tanBb  tan Cc  sin 2B sin 2C DC sin 2B
(tan B  tan C)  tan Aa
tanB  tan C
i.e., D divides BC in the ratio of sin 2C : sin 2B.
tan B  tan C  tan A
Hence the position vector of the point D is

1.26
 Vectors and 3D

  7) Bisector of angle between two vectors

b sin 2B  c sin 2C
..... (1)     
sin 2C  sin 2B If OA  a and OB  b are two vectors, such that OP is

internal angular bisector of AOB and OQ is external
OD
Now we shall evaluate .
OA angular bisector of BOA .

In OBD, OB = OC (each = R) and BOC  2A

B( b ) P
 OBC  OCB  90 0  A
A(a )
Hence ODB  180 0  BOD  OBD
 
 180 0  (180 0  2C)  (90 0  A)
O
0 0 0
 180  180  2C  90  A
Q
= 2C + A – 900 = C + (1800 – B) – 900
= 900 – (B – C)
Now, from OBD, by using the sine formula, we get B1 ( - b )
OD OB

sin  OBD  sin  ODB   
As OP and OQ are angular bisectors of BOA . So P
OD R and Q divides AB and AB1 in ratio | OA | : | OB|.
 
sin  90  A 
0
sin  90  (B  C)
0
 
 AP : BP = |a| :|b| = AQ : B1Q

OD OA So, by using section formulae

 
cos A cos(B  C)  
 |a|
     
b  | b|a |a || b|  a b 
OP           
OD cos A 2 sin A cos A
|a | | b| |a | | b| |a | | b|
  
OA cos(B  C) 2 sin A cos(B  C)  
ˆ
 Internal angular bisector of a and b is  â  b  
sin 2A
        
sin(A  B  C)  sin(A  B  C)  |a|( b)  | b|(a) |a || b|  a b 
OQ           
|a | | b| |a| | b| |a | | b|
sin 2A

sin(1800  2C)  sin(1800  2B)   ˆ
 External angular bisector of a and b is  â  b  
sin 2A sin 2A Hence, unit vectors along internal and external angular
 
sin 2C  sin 2B sin 2B  sin 2C
ˆ
â  b ˆ
â  b
i.e., O divides AD in the ratio of bisectors of â and b̂ aree and respectively..
ˆ  ˆb|
|a ˆ  ˆb|
|a
sin 2B + sin 2C : sin 2A.
Alternate Method
Hence using the section formula, the position vector of the
circumcentre O will be We know that the diagonal in a parallelogram is not
necessarily the bisector of the angle formed by two adjacent
   sides. However, the diagonal in a rhombus bisects the angle
a sin 2A  b sin 2B  c sin 2C
between two adjacent sides.
sin 2A  sin 2B  sin 2C

1.27
Vectors and 3D

    Solution

Consider vectors AB  a and AD  b forming a
By using the concept of unit vector,
parallelogram ABCD as shown in the following figure.
D
C 

D' C'
C" 0


a 2 ˆi  ˆj  kˆ
 â   
|a| 2

 10 ˆi  ˆj  kˆ 
B
A B'   
now, |v |  | r  |
Consider the two unit vectors along the given vectors, which
 (x  y)2  (y  z)2  (z  x)2  4
from a rhombus AB ' C' D ' .
Example 3
  The sides of a parallelogram are 2i + 4j – 5k and
 a  b
Now AB '   and AD'   . Therefore, i + 2j + 3k. Find the unit vectors parallel to diagonals.
|a | | b| Solution
If OACB is a parrallelogram, then
    
 a b AB  OB  OA  (i  2j  3k)  (2i  4 j  5k)
AC '    
|a | | b| = – i + 2j + 8k
  
 OC  OA  OB (By law of addition of vectors)

 a b  = 3i + 6j – 2k
So any vector along the bisector is      
| a| | b|
  
Now unit vector along AB  i  2j  8k
69
Similarly, any vector along the external bisector is
  
  a b  Unit vector along OC  3i  6 j  2k
AC "        7
|a | | b|
  Example 4
 
If a, b are any two vectors, then give the geometrical
Solved Examples interpretation of the relation ;
Example 1    
|a  b|  |a  b|
Find unit vector of ˆi  2jˆ  3kˆ
Solution
Solution    
Let OA  a and AB  b completing the

Let a  ˆi  2jˆ  3kˆ
parallelogram OABC.
    
If a  a xˆi  a yˆj  a zkˆ then Then, OC  b and CB  a
   
|a| ax 2  a y 2  a z 2 From OAB, we have OA  AB  OB
  
  a  b  OB ...... (i)
 | a |  14

a 1 ˆ 2 ˆ 3 ˆ C a
â    i  j k B
|a| 14 14 14
Example 2 a + b
A block is rotating about its axis through origin with
 b a - b b
an angular velocity 10 3 radians/sec. If  points in

the direction of ˆi  ˆj  kˆ , then find the locus of the

points having tangential speed 20 m/sec. O A
a

1.28
 Vectors and 3D

    

From OCA, we have OC  CA  OA  a  tb for some scalar ‘t’
           
 b  CA  a  CA  a  b ...... (ii) 
 2i  5 j  k  t 4 i  m j  nk 
   
Clearly, |a  b|  |a  b| 1
   t  , 5  mt  m  10, and 1  nt  n  2
 |OB |  |CA | 2
Example 8
 diagonals of parallelogram OABC are equal.
 OABC is a rectangle. If the sum of two unit vectors â and b̂ is a unit
    vector, then find the magnitude of their difference
 OA  OC  a  b
and the angle between â and b̂ .
Example 5 Solution
ABCDE is a pentagon. Prove that the resultant of In figure OAB is an equilateral triangle, then angle
      
forces AB, AE, BC, DC, ED and AC is 3AC . 2
between â and b̂  and BOC  90 0 .
Solution 3
      
R  AB  AE  BC  DC  ED  AC
      B
 (AB  BC)  (AE  ED  DC)  AC 600
    a + b b
 AC  AC  AC  3AC
600 600 2/3
Example 6 O 0

  

30
a A
Forces PA , PB and PC diverge from the point P
-b
  
and other forces AQ , BQ , CQ converge to a point
a - b
Q. Show that the resultant of the six forces is C

represented in magnitude and direction by 3PQ .
Solution  OB 2  OC 2  BC 2
ˆ| 3
 OC2  3  OC  3  | aˆ  b
A
Example 9
B 
ABCDEF is a regular hexagon. Let AB  a and
Q

P BC  b . Find the vectors determined by the other
four sides taken in order. Also express the vectors
    
C AC, AD, AF, AE, CE in terms of a and b.
Resultant of six forces Solution
     
PA , PB , PC, AQ, BQ and CQ E D
     
 PA  PB  PC  AQ  BQ  CQ
     
 (PA  AQ)  (PB  BQ)  (PC  CQ) F
C
   
 PQ  PQ  PQ  3 PQ
Example 7 b
       
If a  2i  5 j  k and b  4 i  mj  nk a re a B
A
collinear vectors, find m and n.
Solution   
       AC  AB  BC  a  b

Given that a  2i  5 j  k , b  4 i  mj  nk are  AD is parallel and double of BC,
collinear 
 AD  2b

1.29
Vectors and 3D

In ACD,
N
     
AC  CD  AD  CD  AD  AC

= 2b – (a + b) = b – a. B A
  0 450
AF  CD  b  a r2 45 r1
  W E
Now, DE  BA   a O

 
EF  CB   b
 
FA  DC   (b  a)  a  b
S
  
Again, AE  AD  DE  2b  (a)  2b  a BA = OA + OB = 5 + 52 = 50
2 2 2 2

 
    |BA|  5 5 or | r1  r2 |  5 5
CE  CD  DE  b  a  ( a)  b  2a  
i.e., r1  r2 has magnitude 5 5 and points from West
Example 10
   to East.
a, b, c are non - zero vectors and no two of them are Example 12
     ABCD is a parallelogram. If L, M be the middle point
collinear. If a  2 b is collinear with c and b  3 c is   
of BC and CD, express AL and AM in terms of AB
   
collinear with a . Then find a  2 b  6 c .    3 
and AD . Also show that AL  AM  AC .
Solution 2
  
Given that a  2 b is collinear with c Solution
   Let the position vectors of points B and D be
 a  2 b  t c (for some scalar ‘t’) ..... (1)  
respectively b and d referred to A as origin of
  
Given that b  3 c collinear with a reference.
  
 b  3c  s a (for some scalar ‘s’) ..... (2) L C
B( b )
From (1) and (2)
   
a  2(sa  3c)  tc
 t  6 M
  
from (1) a  2 b  6 c
    D( d )
 a 2b 6c  0 A(0)
Example 11
      
Find the magnitude and direction of r1  r2 when Then AC  AD  DC  AD  AB
     
|r1 |  5 r1 direction is N45E while |r2 |  5 and  AC  d  b
direction is N45W. 
 AL  p.v. of L
Solution
    1 1   
Here, r1  OA pointing North - East and r2  OB 
2
[p.v.of B  p.v.of C] 
2
bd  b  
pointing North - West. Where |OA| = |OB| = 5.
 1 
As shown in figure BOA  90 0  AB  AD
   2
 r1  r2  BA | using triangle law |
 1    1
Clearly, BOA is right angled at O.. Similarly AM  d  d  b  AD  AB
2  2

1.30
 Vectors and 3D

   1   1 Solution

 AL  AM  b  d  d  b Let point A be taken as origin. Then the position vectors
2 2     
of B, C and D are a, a  b and b  a respectively..
3  3 3   3 

2
b  d
2 2

b  d  AC
2
   
aba  b

P.V. of M  a
Example 13 2 2
 
Two forces AB and AD are acting at the vertex A of D
 
a quadrilateral ABCD and two forces CB and CD

at C. Prove that their resultant is given by 4EF , where
E and F are the midpoints of AC and BD, respectively. N C
Solution
   b- a
AB  AD  2AF , where F is the midpoint of BD. b
a+ b
  
CB  CD  2CF M

C
D A B
o a

F E  DN : NM  4:1

 b  
B 4  a    b  a
A 2 3  
P.V. of N    ab  
      5 5
 AB  AD  CB  CD  2 AF  CF  
 3 
  AN  AC

  2 FA  FC  5
 Example 16
 
  2 2FE , where E is the midpoint of AC A man walks 1 km due south, then 5 km due north -
 east and then 3km due east
 4 EF i) Represent these displacements graphically and
Example 14 determine the resultant diplacement
  ii) Represent these displacements in component form
If A and B are two vectors and k be any scalar and determine the resultant displacement.
quantity greater than zero, then prove that iii) Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant
    1  displacement.
|A  B|2  (1  k)|A|2   1  |B|2 Solution
 k
i) Let OP = a = 1 km due south
Solution PQ = b = 5 km due north - east
   1  QR = c = 3 km due east
|A|2  |B|2  k| A|2  |B|2 The resultant displacement = a + b + c is shown in
k
 2  2   the figure alongside.
 |A|  |B|  2| A||B|  A.M.  G.M.  N
    R
 |A|2  |B|2  2|A||B| cos  O
= L.H.S.
+c
Hence proved. a+b
Example 15
       O 
In quadrilateral ABCD, AB  a, BC  b, AD  b  a . M
0
If M is the mid - point of BC and N is a point on DM 45
P
4  3 
such that DN  DM , then prove that AN  AC . ii) Let i and j be unit vectors along the east and north
5 5

1.31
Vectors and 3D

directions respectively. Thus, we have Solution

a = – j, b = 5 cos 450 i + 5 sin 450 j and c = 3i   
Hence, resultant displacement is   
AB  OB  OA  5iˆ  3jˆ  2kˆ  2iˆ  4ˆj  3kˆ 
 5
a bc  
  5
 3i

 1 j  3iˆ  7ˆj  5kˆ
 2   2    
iii) The magnitude of the resultant displacement, is   
BC  OC  OB  2iˆ  2jˆ  3kˆ  5iˆ  3ˆj  2kˆ 
given by
  7iˆ  ˆj  5kˆ
2 2
 5   5    
OR  OM 2  MR 2    3    1   
and CA  OA  OC  2iˆ  4ˆj  3kˆ  2iˆ  2ˆj  3kˆ 
 2   2 

 2.6 km  4iˆ  6jˆ

and its direction can be specified by giving the angle    
     AB BC CA 
that it makes with then direction, that is  S  P  Q R  15       
|AB| |BC| |CA|
 MR   5 2 
  tan1  1
  tan    21.2
0

 OM  53 2   3iˆ  7ˆj  5kˆ 7iˆ  ˆj  5k

ˆ 4iˆ  6ˆj 
 15    
Example 17  83 5 3 2 13 
The vectors a, b, c are of same length and taken Example 19
pairwise, they form angles. If a = i + j and b = j + k,      
find c. Show that the vectors 5a  6b  7c, 7a  8b  9c and
Solution      
Let c = (x, y, z). Then we have | c | = | a |=| b | 3a  20b  5c are coplanar (where a , b,c are three
[ equal magnitude] non - coplanar vectors).
i.e., x2 + y2 + z2 = 2 Solution
       
a.b b.c c.a Let A  5a  6b  7c, B  7a  8b  9c and
and |a|| b|  | b||c|  |c||a| [ equally ]
   
C  3a  20b  5c
0 1 0 yz xy      
i.e.,   A, B and C are coplanar  xA  yB  zC  0 must
2 2 2 2 2 2
i.e., 1 = y + z = x + y have a real solution for x, y, z other than (0, 0, 0).
     
Solving above equations we have Now x(5a  6b  7c)  y(7a  8b  9c) 
(1 – y)2 + y2 + (1 – y)2 = 2    
i.e., 3y2 – 4y = 0 z(3a  20b  5c)  0
4  
gives y  0, and corresponding  (5x  7y  3z)a   6x  8y  20z  b 
3
 
(7x  9y  5z)c  0
1 1
x = 1,  and z = 1,  5x + 7y + 3z = 0
3 3
6x – 8y + 20z = 0
1 4 1 7x + 9y + 5z = 0
Hence, C  (1, 0,1) or   , ,  
 3 3 3
5 7 3
Example 18 Now D  6 8 20  0
  
Three force vectors P,Q, R of 15 kg each act along 7 9 5
AB, BC and CA respectively. The position vectors of So the three linear simultaneous equation in x, y and

A, B and C are given by OA  2iˆ  4ˆj  3kˆ , z have a non - trivial solution.
  
  Hence A, B and C are coplanar vectors.
OB  5iˆ  3jˆ  2kˆ and OC   2iˆ  2jˆ  3kˆ . Find the
Example 20
   
resultant force vector S of the vectors P, Q and R . If O is the circumcentre and O ' the orthocentre of a
triangle ABC then prove that

1.32
 Vectors and 3D

    Then AB = OB – OA = 3i – 5j

i) OA  OB  OC  OO '
BC = OC – OB = 4j + 2k
    CA = OA – OC = – 3i + j – 2k
ii) O ' A  O ' B  O ' C  2O ' O
     and | AB|  32  5 2  34
iii) AO '  O ' B  O ' C  2 AO  AP
Solution |BC|  4 2  22  20
Let O is the circumcentre of the triangle and O ' is
orthocentre . Also from geometry we know that | AC|  3 2  12  22  14
2OD  AO' Now, | AC|2  |BC|2  | AB|2  ABC is a right
  angled triangle.
 2OD  AO ' ...... (1)
Example 22
P, Q, R are the points on the sides AB, BC and CA
A
respectively of ABC such that AP : PB=BQ : QC =
AR : RC = 1 : 2. Show that PBQR is a parallelogram.
Solution
O O’
A

B E C
D
P R
   
i) OA  OB  OC  OO '
   
Now OB  OC  2OD  AO '
      B C
 OA  OB  OC  OA  AO '  OO ' Q
   
ii) To prove O ' A  O ' B  O ' C  2O ' O
AP BQ AR 1
  Given,   
L.H.S. = 2DO  2O' D by (1) PB QC RC 2
      
 2(O ' D  DO)  2O ' O Let AB  3a and AC  3b
iii) We have to prove AP 1 AR 1
       and 
AO '  O ' B  O ' C  2AO  AP PB 2 RC 2
       
L.H.S. = 2AO '  AO '  O ' B  O ' C  AP  a and PB  2a
    
But  AO '  O ' A Also, AR  b and RC  2b
          
 2AO '  (O ' A  O ' B  O ' C) Now, BC  AC  AB  3b  3a  3(b  a)
 BQ 1   
 2(AO '  O ' O)  2AO '    BQ  b  a ..... (1)
QC 2
= 2 (The vector represented by the radius through A
    
of the circumcircle) Now, PR  AR  AP  b  a ..... (2)

 AP (Where AP is the diameter through A of the  
From (1) and (2), PR  BQ
circumcircle)
Example 21  PR = BQ and PR||BQ ..... (3)
The vertices of a triangle are A (–1, 2, 1), Again,
B(2, –3, 1) and C (2, 1, 3). Prove the triangle is a  
PB  2a,
right angled triangle.
     
Solution 
RQ  AQ  AR  AB  BQ  AR 
Let O be the origin. Then we have
OA = – i + 2j + k, OB = 2i – 3j + k and     
 3a  (b  a)  b  2a
OC = 2i + j + 3k

1.33
Vectors and 3D

  Example 24

Hence PB  RQ
If the vectors ˆ ˆi  yjˆ  kˆ and ˆi  ˆj  zkˆ are
xiˆ  ˆj  k,
 PB = RQ and PB || RQ ..... (4)
From (3) and (4), it follows that PBQR is a coplanar when x  1, y  1, z  1 then find value of
parallelogram.
1 1 1
Example 23  
1 x 1 y 1 z
If G is the centroid of the triangle ABC and if G' is
the centroid of another triangle A ' B ' C' then prove Solution
The vectors are coplanar if we can find two scalars 
that : AA ' BB ' CC'  3GG'  such that :
Solution
Here, G is centroid of ABC and G' is centroid of  xiˆ  ˆj  kˆ    ˆi  yjˆ  kˆ    ˆi  ˆj  zkˆ 
A ' B ' C' , shown as in figure  x    , 1  y  , 1    z
   
Clearly, AA '  AG  GG'  GA ' 1  1 
or x    , y  ,z
A'  

 1  1 
A or 1  x  1    , 1  y  , 1 z 
 
G'
1 1 1 1  
     
G
1 x 1 y 1  z 1      1 1
C'
B' D'
1    
 =1
C 1
B D
   
BB '  BG  GG'  G' B ' 1 1 1
   1
    1 x 1 y 1 z
CC '  CG  GG'  G' C' Example 25
Adding these : Show that the four points with position vectors
               

AA '  BB '  CC '  3GG'  AG  BG  CG   3i  5 j, 3 j  5k,5 i  19 j  3k, 6i  5 j are non
   coplanar.
 G' A '  G' B '  G' C '  Solution
   
 
OA  (3,5,0) OB  (0,3,  5)
  
 3GG'  AG  2DG  GA '  2G' D '   
  OC  (5,  19,  3) OD  (6,  5, 0)
[ Using AD and A 'D ' as the medians of ABC and
  
A ' B ' C' respectively) AB  OB  OA  (3,  2,  5)
       
  
 3GG'  AG  GA  G' A '  A ' G'  AC  OC . OA  2,  24,  3
   
 3GG'  O  O AD  OD  OA  (3,  10,0)
   
 AA '  BB '  CC '  3GG' 3 2 5
Alternate method : Consider 2 24 3
   3 10 0
We know by triangle law : AA '  OA '  OA
  
BB '  OB '  OB   3(0  30)  2(0  9)  5(20  72)
  = – 152  0
CC '  OC'  OC  A, B, C, D are non - coplanar..
      Example 26
 AA '  BB '  CC'  (OA '  OB '  OC ') 
OACB is a parallelogram. If D is the mid point of
   OA, prove that BD and CO intersect in the same ratio
(OA  OB  OC)
and find the ratio.
  
 3OG'  3OG  3GG'

1.34
 Vectors and 3D

Solution    
    determine whether the vectors r1  2a  3 b  c ,
Let OA  a, OB  b then        
    r2  3a  5 b  2c and r3  4a  5 b  c are linearly
AC  b, BC  a independent or dependent ?
     Solution
OC  OA  AC  a  b   
Consider the equation xr1  yr2  zr3  0 ...(1)
 1 
OD  a where x, y, z  R
2         
Let M be the point of intersection of OC and BD     
 x 2a  3b  c  y 3a  5b  2c  z 4a  5b  c  0 
suppose M divides CO in the ratio k : 1 and BD in the   
ratio l : 1.  (2x  3y  4z)a   3x  5y  5z  b   x  2y  z  c  0
       
OM 

 kO  1 a  b

ab
.... (1)
Since a, b, c are non - coplanar vectors.
k1 k 1  2x  3y  4z  0 ... (2)
 – 3x – 5y – 5z = 0 i.e., 3x + 5y + 5z = 0 ... (3)
a   x + 2y + z = 0 ... (4)
l  b  
 2 l a  2b
Also OM     ..... (2) 2 3 4
l 1 2(l  1)
Here   3 5 5
   
ab la  b 1 2 1
  2l  2  l k + 1, 2l  2  2k  2
k  1 2(l  1) = 2(5 – 10) – 3 (3 – 5) + 4 (6 – 5) = 0.
 lk  l - 2  0, l=k  The system of equations has non - trivial solution.
Here the vectors are linearly dependent.
k 2  k  2  0, k   1, 2  k  2(  0) Example 29
Required ratio is 2 : 1. Show that if a triad a, b, c is a base, then the triad a,
Example 27 a + b, a + b + c is also a base.
A unit vector of modulus 2 is equally inclined to Given that x, y, z are the co-ordinates of a vector
relatively to the case a, b, c what are its co-ordinates
 relatively to the base a, a + b, a + b + c,
x and y – axes at an angle . Find the length of
3 Solution
projection of the vector on z – axis. We write p = a, q = a + b, r = a + b + c and show
Solution that p, q, r is a linearly independent set.
Now

Given that the vector is inclined at an angle with lp + mq + nr = 0
3
 la + m (a + b) + n (a + b + c) = 0
both x – and y – axes.  (l + m + n) a + (m + n) b + nc = 0
1  l + m + n = 0, m + n = 0, n = 0
 cos   cos   [ a, b, c being a base and therefore a linearly
2
Also we know that cos2 + cos2 + cos2 = 1 independent set ]
 n = 0, m = 0, l = 0
1 1  p, q, r is a linearly independent set
 cos 2    cos   
2 2  p, q, r is a base.
Again we are given that u = xa + yb + zc. ... (i)

 Given vector is 2 cos ˆi  cos ˆj  cos kˆ  Let
u  x 'a  y '(a  b)  z '(a  b  c)
 ˆi ˆj kˆ  ˆ ˆ
 2  
2 2   i  j  2kˆ  (x '  y '  z ')a  (y '  z ')b  z 'c ... (ii)
 2 
The expression of u as a linear combination of a, b, c
 Length of projection of vector on z – axis is 2 being unique, we obtain
units. x '  y '  z '  x  z'z
Example 28  
   y '  z '  y   y '  y  z
If a, b, c are non - zero, non - coplanar vectors, then z' z  x '  x  y
 

1.35
Vectors and 3D

Thus, x – y, y – z, z are the required co-ordinates some scalar m.

relatively to the new base. Thus, we have    
 (2x  1)a  b  m[(x  2)a  b]
u = xa + yb + zc.
  
and u = (x – y) a + (y – z) (a + b) + z (a + b + c).  [(2x + 1) – m (x – 2) a – (m + 1) b  0
Example 30  (2x + 1) – m (x – 2) = 0 and – (m + 1) = 0
Show that the vector ˆi  ˆj  kˆ is equally inclined to 1
 m   1 and x 
the axes OX, OY and OZ. 3
Solution Example 33
 
Let a  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ Let A (t)  f1 (t)ˆi  f2 (t)ˆj and
 
 |a|  12  12  12  3 B(t)  g1(t)ˆi  g 2 (t)ˆj, t  [0,1]
Unit vector along where f1, f2, g1, g2 are continuous functions.
 ˆi  ˆj  kˆ  
 a 1 ˆ 1 ˆ 1 ˆ If A (t) and B(t) are non - zero vectors for all t and
a     i j k
|a| 3 3 3 3   
A(0)  2iˆ  3j,
ˆ A(1)  6iˆ  2j,
ˆ B(0)  3iˆ  2jˆ and
 1 1 1   
 Direction cosines of a are , , B(1)  2iˆ  6ˆj ; then show that A(t) and B(t) are
3 3 3
 parallel for some t.
If a makes angles    with x, y and z axes
Solution
respectively, then  
1 In order to prove that A(t) and B(t) are parallel vector
cos   cos   cos        for some value of t, it is sufficient to show that
3  
 A(t)   B(t) for some .
Hence a is equally inclined to the axes.
Example 31
  |f1 (t)ˆi  f2 (t)ˆj|   |g1 (t)ˆi  g 2 (t)ˆj|
A vector a has components 2p and 1 with respect to
a rectangular Cartesian system. The system is rotated  f1 (t)   g 1(t) and f2 (t)  g 2 (t)
through a certain angle about the origin in anticlockwise
 f1(t) g 1(t)
sense. If with respect to the new system a has  
f2 (t) g 2 (t)
components p + 1 and 1, then find possible values of p
Solution  f1(t)g 2 (t)  f2 (t)g 1(t)  0
  
As, a  2pi  j ..... (1) Let F (t) = f1(t)g2 (t) – g1(t) f2(t),
 a2 = 4p2 + 1 Since, f 1, f 2 , g1 get g 2 are continuous functions.
..... (2)
Let the axes be rotated through an angle  in Therefore, F(t) is also a continuous function.
anticlockwise direction. Also,
  F(0) = f1(0)g2(0) – g1(0)f2(0)
Again let i and j be the unit vectors along new = 2  2–3  3 =4–9=–5<0
axes, then and,
  
a  (p  1)i  j ..... (3) F(1)  f1 (1)g 2(1)  g1(1)f2 (1) = 6  6 – 2  21 > 0
Thus F(t) is continous function on [0 , 1], such that
 a 2  (p  1)2  12 ..... (4)
F(0) F(1) <0. Therefore, by intermediate mean value
As on rotation magnitute of vector does not change, theorem there exist some t such that F(t) = 0
from equation (2) and (4) we have  
2
 f1 (t)g 1(t)  f2 (t)g 2 (t)  0  A(t)  B(t)
 p  1  1  4p 2  1  p  1, 1 / 3  
Example 32 and hence the vectors A(t) & B(t) are parallel.
  Example 34
If a and b are non - collinear vectors, find the value Let OABCD be a pentagon in which the sides OA
  
of x for which the vectors   (2x  1)a  b and and CB are parallel and the sides OD and AB are
   parallel as shown in figure. Also, OA : CB = 2 : 1 and
  (x  2)a  b are collinear.. OD : AB = 1 : 3. If the diagonals OC and AD meet
Solution at X, find OX : OC.
   
Vectors  and  will be collinear, if   m for

1.36
 Vectors and 3D

Solution
Let O be the origin of reference. Let the position vectors  6      2  6   
  b  c  0
     3(  1)   3(  1)   1 
of A, B, C, D be a, b,c,d respectively..
6 2  6 
  0 and   0
3(  1) 3(  1)   1
C B
 
 b and c are non  collinear 
 

2
   6 and  
5
 OX : XC  2 : 5  OX : OC  2 : 7
D
Example 35
X If D, E and F are the mid - points of the sides, BC,
CA, AB respectively of a triangle ABC and O is any
point, show that :
     
i) OA  OB  OC  OD  OE  OF
O
A   
ii) AD  BE  CF  0
   
Then, OA : CB = 2 : 1 iii) OE  OF  DO  OA
    
 OA  2CB  a  2(b  c) ... (i)    
iv) AD  2 BE  1 CF  1 AC
and, OD : AB = 1 : 3 3 3 2
     Solution
 3OD  AB  3d  b  a ...(ii)
i) Consider the point O as origin, we have, using mid
From (i) we get - point formula ;
            
 3d  b  2(b  c)  3d   b  2c ... (iii)       b  c a  c b  a
OD  OE  OF  d  e  f   
Let OX : XC =  : 1 and AX : XD =  : 1 2 2 2
   
c
Hence, P.V. of X  ... (iv)  abc
 1
     
X also divides AD in the ratio  : 1.  OD  OE  OF  OA  OB  OC
 
d  a
P.V. of X  ...(v) A( a )
 1 O
  
c d  a
From (iv) and (v), we get 
 1 1

       1  F( f )
E( e )
 c   d   a
  1    1   1
 
         b  2c   1   
 
  1 
c     
  2 bc
   1  3     1
  B( b )
D( d )
C( c )

    2     2 2          

 c    b  c ii) AD  BE  CF  (d  a)  (e  b)  (f  c)
   1     1 3(  1)   3(  1)  1 
      
 (d  e  f)  (a  b  c)  0 (using (i))
     6      2  6  
 c   b c    
  1   3(  1)   3(  1)   AD  BE  CF  0
     
iii) Here, OE  OF  DO  e  f  d

1.37
Vectors and 3D

     
ca ab bc BI ac CI bc
   Similarly, BB '  a  b  c and CC '  a  b  c
2 2 2

= a AI.BI.CI (b  c)(a  c)(a  b)
  ... (i)
AA '.BB '.CC ' (a  b  c)(a  b  c)(a  b  c)
= OA
    As we know A.M. > G.M. we get
OE  OF  DO  OA
bc ca ab 1
 2  1   
abc abc abc  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)  3
iv) Here, AD  BE  CF  
3 3 3  (a  b  c)3 
  2   1  

 d a  
3
  
eb  f c
3
 2(a  b  c)  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)  3
1

  
      3(a  b  c)  abc 
bc  2  c a   1  ab 
  a    b     c  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a) 8
2 3 2  3 2   
(a  b  c) 27
... (ii)
 1 1  1 2 1  1 1 1 from (i) &(ii)
 a  1     b      c    
 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 3 AI.BI.CI 8

1 1 1   1  AA '.BB '.CC ' 27
  a  c  (c  a)  AC Example 37
2 2 2 2
In a OAB, E is the mid - point of OB and D is a
 2  1  1  point on AB such that AD : DB = 2 : 1. If OD and
AD  BE  CF  AC
3 3 2 AE intersect at P, determine the ratio OP : PD.
Example 36 Solution
In a ABC internal angle bisectors AI, BI and CI are Let O be the origin. Let position vectors of the points
    
produced to meet opposite sides in A ', B ' and C ' A, B, D, E and P be a, b,d,e and p respectively..
respectively. Prove that the maximum value of
AI .BI.CI 8 O
is .
AA '.BB '.CC ' 27
Solution
Since angle bisectors divides opposite side in the ratio
of sides containing the angle. E( e = b )
P 2
( P)
A
2 : 1
A( a ) B( b )
D( d )
C' B'
  
 b  a  2b
 e ,d 
2 3

B Let OP : PD   : 1 and AP : PE  : 1
A' C

  a  2b   

    b  
ac ab 3   a

 BA '  , CA '  P   and P  2 
bc ac  1    1 
   
Now BI is also angle bisector of B for triangle ABA ' .    
 
AI bc AI bc
   
AI ' a AA ' a  b  c

1.38
 Vectors and 3D

   
 a  2b    OR  l OC
   b  a  OS 
1l
Hence,  3   2
1  1   
 OA  6OB  (4  11l)OC
OS  ...... (3)
On comparing coefficient we get   4 and   3 / 2 11( l +1)
Example 38 
Let S divides AB in the ratio k : 1
In ABC, P is a point on the side BC such that
3BP = 2PC. Q is a point on the side CA such that  
 KOB  OA
4CQ = QA. The lines AP and BQ intersect in R.  OS  ...... (4)
Produce the line CR to meet the side AB in S. Find K 1
the ratio in which S divides AB.
1 1
Solution From (3) and (4)  ...... (5)
11(l  1) k  1
A
6 k
 ...... (6)
11(l  1) k  1
By solving (5) and (6) we can get k = 6
S 
Q  S divides AB in the ratio AS : SB = K :1 = 6 : 1
Shortcut method:
R using ceva’s theorem,
B C
P  BP   CQ   AS   2   1   AS 
    1    1
 PC   QA   SB   3   4   SB 
Given that BP : PC = 2 : 3
   AS : SB  6 : 1
 2OC  3OB
 OP  Example 39
5
Given that CQ : QA = 1 : 4 The vector  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ bisects the angle between the
  
 OA  4OC vector c and 3ˆi  4ˆj . Determine the unit vector
 OQ  
5 along c
 Solution
Let R divides AP in the ratio m : 1

  We know that b   aˆ  ˆc 
 mOP  OA
 OR 
m 1
 3iˆ  4ˆj 
  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ   ˆc  
1  3m  2m   5 
OR  OA  OB  OC
m 1 5(m  1) 5(m  1)
...... (1)  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ 3iˆ  4ˆj
   ĉ
  5
Let R divides BQ in the ratio n : 1
  1 3 1 4
2
1
2 2
 nOQ  OB ˆ 2  1             
 |c|
 OR    5    5    
n1
 n  1  4n  15
OR  OA  OB  OC ...... (2) On solving we get  
5(n  1) n1 5(n  1) 2

1  ˆ
5  ĉ   11i  10ˆj  2kˆ 
From (1) & (2) we can get n  15  
6
Example 40
  
 OA  6OB  4OC Prove that the line segment joining the mid - points of
 OR  diagonals of trapezium is parallel to the parallel sides
11
 and half of their difference.
Now, Let S divides CR in the ratio 1 : l

1.39
Vectors and 3D

Solution orthocentre of triangle ABC, prove that O, G, H are

    collinear and G divides OH in the ratio 1 : 2.
Let a, b, c and d be the position vectors of the
Solution
vertices of a trapezium.Let M and N are mid points of Let O, the circumcentre of the ABC be chosen as
AC and BD respectively. origin and position vector of A, B, C be taken a, b, c.
 
 b  d a  c Hence position vector of G the centroid is
MN    a  b  c
2 2
OG  .... (1)
3
1      1  

2    
b  a  cd  
 2
  AB  DC 
  Since O is circumcentre  OA = OB = OC
  
 OA 2  OB 2  OC 2 or a2 = b2 = c2
1
 [ difference of parallel sides ] a2 – b2 = 0, b2 – c2 = 0, c2 – a2 = 0
2
or (a + b) (a – b) = 0
1     or (a + b + c – c) (a – b) = 0 .... (2)

2
 DC  DC   AB || DC
    Let P be the point whose position vector is a + b +c
   
1   (OP  OC) . (OA  OB)  0
 (  1) DC (  1)  
2 or CP  BA or CP  BA
 
 MN  DC (  0) In similar manner we can show that BP is
  perpendicular to AC and AP is perpendicular to CB.
 MN and DC are collinear or parallel vectors. Hence P is the orthocentre which is H.
Example 41   
 OP  OH  a  b  c  3OG .... (3)
   
Let r1, r2, r3 ....rn be the position vectors of points P1,
 OH  3OG
P2, P3 .... Pn relative to an origin O. Show that if the or OG + GH = 3OG or GH = 2OG
   
vector equation a1 r1  a 2 r2  a 3 r3  ....  a n rn  0 holds, OG 1
or 
then a similar equation will also hold good with respect GH 2
to any other origin P if a1+a2 +..an = 0 Above show that O, G, H are collinear and G divides
Solution OH in the ratio 1 : 2.

Let the position vector of point P be p with respect Example 43
to origin O, then the position vector of P1 w x t P is The mid points of two opposite sides of a quadrilateral
    and the midpoint of the diagonals are the vertices of a
PP1 i.e., PP1 = r1 – p . If the given relation is written parallelogram. Justify the statement.
with respect to P as origin, then Solution
   
Let a, b, c and d be the position vectors of vertices
P1( r1 ) A, B, C and D respectively.
Let E, F, G and H be the midpoints of AB, CD, AC
and BD, respectively.

D( d )
F

O1( o ) P( p ) C( c )
H

n
G
 a (r  p)  0
i 1
i i

A( a ) E
n n n n
B( b )
  ai ri  p a i  0   a iri  0 if  a i  0
i 1 i 0 i 1 i0    
Example 42 ab cd
P.V.of E  , P.V. of F= ,
If O be the circumcentre ; G, the centroid and H, the 2 2

1.40
 Vectors and 3D

   
ac bd OL OM ON
P.V. of G = and P.V. of H =   
2 2 OA OB OC
      Example 45
 ac ab cb
EG  P.V. of G  P.V.of E    Prove that the straight line joining the middle points
2 2 2 of two non - parallel sides of a trapezium is parallel to
      the parallel sides and half of their sum.
 c d bd c b
HF  P.V. of F  P.V.of H    Solution
2 2 2 Let ABCD be a trapezium with AB || CD. Let P and
  Q be the middle points of AD and BC respectively.
 EG  HF  EG || HF and EG = HF
 EGHF is a parallelogram. D C
Example 44
d
A transversal cuts the sides OL, OM and diagonal
ON of a parallelogram at A, B, C respectively. Prove P Q
OL OM ON
that  
OA OB OC A B
Solution
b
         
Let OL  xOA , OM  yOB and ON  zOC . Then Consider A as origin and let AB  b and AD  d .
       
|OL |  x|OA|,|OM|  y|OB| and |ON|  z|OC| Since DC || AB  DC  tb
OL OM ON     
x ,y  , z  AC  AD  DC  d  tb ;
OA OB OC  
Taking O as the origin, let the position vectors of A, i.e., the position vector of C is d  tb .
   
B, C be a, b and c respectively.. The position vector of B is b .
Since Q is the middle point of BC,
M  the position vector of Q is
N
1     
2
 
b  d  tb   12 (1  t)b  d 
B
 1    1 
i.e., AQ  (1  t)b  d  . Also AP  d .
2 2
C
   1    1 
 PQ  AQ  AP  (1  t)b  d  d   (1  t)b
A L 2 2
O
This means that PQ || AB (or CD)

   1

In OLN, we have OL  LN  ON Also PQ  (1  t)AB
2
  
 ON  OL  OM PQ 1 1 DC  1  AB  DC 
  (1  t)  1  
   AB 2 2 AB  2  AB 
 z.OC  xOA  y OB
    1
 x.OA  yCB  z OC  0  PQ  (AB  DC)
2
   
 xa  yb  ( z)c  0 Make Concepts Clear 1.1
But points A, B, C are collinear. 1. If a1  a 2, b1  b 2 and c 1  c 2 be the position
   
Therefore, xa  yb  ( z)c  0 vectors of points A, B and C respectively, then show
 x  y z0 a1 a2 1
 x  yz that the points will be collinear if b1 b2 1  0
c1 c2 1

1.41
Vectors and 3D

2. If M, N are the mid - points of the sides AB, CD of a 12. Find all values of  such that x, y, z  (0, 0, 0) and
parallelogram ABCD, prove that DM and BN cut the
diagonal AC at its points of trisection which are also ˆi  ˆj  3kˆ  x   3iˆ  3jˆ  kˆ  y  (4ˆi  5ˆj)z
the points of trisection of DM and BN respectively.
        ˆ where ˆi , ˆj, kˆ are unit vectors along
 (xiˆ  yjˆ  zk)
3. If a  i  j k , b  4 i  3 j  4k and
    the co-ordinate axes.
c  i   j k are linearly dependent vectors and 13. ABC is a triangle, the point P is on side BC such that
  
 3BP  2PC , the point Q is on the line CA such
| c|  3 then find value of  and  .
     
4. In a quadrialteral PQRS, PQ  a, QR  b , 4CQ  QA . Find the ratio in which the line joining
    
SP  a  b . If M is the mid - point of QR and X is a the common point R of AP and BQ and the point S

4 divides AB .
point of SM such that SX  SM then prove that
5 14. In ABC, A  300 P is the orthocentre and D the
the points P, X and R are colinear. middle point of BC. Segment PD is produced to Q
      such that PD = DQ. Prove by vector method that
5. Let p  4q  3r and 3p  2q  3r then prove that
    AQ = 2BC.
i) p and q are like vectors and | p |  | q | 15. O is any point in the plane of the triangle ABC. AO,
    BO and CO meet the sides BC, CA and AB in D, E,
ii) p and r are unlike vectors and | p |  | r |
6. Let AC be an arc of a circle, subtending a right angle OD OE OF
F respectively. Show that   1 .
at the centre O. The point B divides the arc AC in the AD BE CF
    16. A particle, in equilibrium is subjected to four forces:
ratio 1 : 2. If OA  a and OB  b , then calculate
 
   ˆ F  U  4 ˆi  12 ˆj  3 kˆ 
F1   10k,
OC in terms of a and b . 2  13 13 13 

7. Find vector c, directed along the internal bisector of
the angle between the vectors a = 7i – 4j – 4k and   4 12 3 ˆ
F3  V   ˆi  ˆj  k
b = – 2i – j + 2k with | c | = 5 6  13 13 13 
    
8. If a, b, c, d be the position vectors of points A, B, C, F4 = W  cos  ˆi  sin  ˆj 
   
D respectively and b  a  2(d  c) , show that the Solve for U, V and W as functions of .
point of intersection of the straight lines AD and BC 17. Unit vectors î and ĵ are parallel to adjacent edges of
divides these line segments in the ratio 2 : 1.
9. A man travelling towards east at 8 km/h finds that the a large square table. The directions of î and ĵ are
wind seems to blow directly from the north. On referred to as east and north. An ant walking on the
doubling the speed, he finds that it appears to come table makes the following movement successively.
from the north - east. Find the velocity of the wind. i) 4 cm 300 east of north
            ii) 12 cm south - west
10. If a  2i  j  k, b  i  3 j  2k , c   2i  j  3 k
iii) 6 cm east,
        iv) 9 cm west - north
and d  3 i  2 j  5 k and if d  pa  qb  rc then
Find the magntiude and direction of ant’s resultant
p displacement.
show that q, , r are in A.P. 18. In ABC, P, Q, R are points on BC, CA and AB
2
respectively dividing them in the ratio 1 : 4, 3 : 2 and
11. Given four points P1, P2, P3 and P4 on the coordinate
3 : 7. The point ‘S’ divides AB in the ratio 1 : 3, then
plane with origin O which satisfy the condition   
  |AP  BQ  CR|
3  find  .
OP n1  OP n1  OP n . |CS|
2 

i) If P1 and P2 lie on the curve xy = 1, then prove that 19. If A and B be points with position vectors a and b
P3 does not lie on the curve. with respect to origin O. If the point C on OA is such
ii) If P1, P2 and P3 lie on the circle x2 + y2 = 1, then that 2AC = CO, CD is parallel to OB and
prove that P4 also lies on this circle.   
|CD|  3|OB|, then find |AD|.

1.42
 Vectors and 3D

20. A, B, C are three non - collinear points with position Scalar product of two vectors are also known as Dot product
   or inner product of two vectors.
vectors a, b, c respectively. Given P, Q, R are points
on BC, CA and AB respectively such that : Angle between two vectors
BP : PC = CQ : QA = AR : RB = 1 : 2.  
Find the position vectors of the vertices of the triangle The angle between two non zero vectors a  AB and
 
XYZ formed by the lines AP, BQ, CR. Hence show b  CD is defined as angle between two rays [AB) and
that the centroid of ABC is same as that of XYZ.    
[CD). Hence, if the vectors OA  a and OB  b are laid
21. Prove that if cos   1, cos   1 and cos   1 , then
  off from the point ‘O’, then size of convex angle AOB is
the vectors a  ˆi cos   ˆj  k, ˆ b  ˆi  ˆj cos   k,
ˆ  
defined as angle between two vectors a and b is symbolized
 
c  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ cos  can never be coplanar..
 
as a  b .

Answer Key 1. If any of the vector is null vector then angle between
  two vectors is not defined.
3.    1,   1 6. 2b  3a
2. Angle between two vectors lie between [0,). If two non
5
7.  (i  7 j  2k ) 9. 8 (iˆ  ˆj) zero vectors are parallel then angle between them is 0 or
3
. 0 if vectors are like parallel while if two vectors are
11 unlike parallel then angle between them is .
12.0, –1 13.
10 3. If angle between two vectors is 900 then the two vectors
65 are said to be orthogonal.
16. U  65
(1  3cot  ) , V  (1  3cot  ) and
3 3 note
W = 40 cosec  
If a and b are two non zero non collinear vectors
2 63 
17. 301  168 2  6 6 & tan   then â  bˆ forms equal angles with both vectors a and
8 (2 )  21  
b because â  bˆ is internal bisector of vectors a and
2  1 
18. 19. 3b  a b.
5 3
Solutions Are On Page No. 1.231 Scalar product of two vectors
 
If a and b are two non zero vectors then their scalar
1.2 Product of Two Vectors product is defined as product of length of two vectors by
the cosine of angle between the two vectors. Scalar product
Uptill now we have studied about addition, subtraction,
 
multiplication of scalar and vector and some other concepts of two vectors is denoted by a.b or a.b . Then  
of vector. Now as we know that product of two scalars is
scalar, product of two matrices is matrix but it is not so in     
the case of vectors. Vector product of two vectors may be a 
a.b |a |.| b|cos a  b 
vector quantity or scalar quantity. These two types of product
of vectors is widely used in geometry, mechanics as well as b
engineering.
Scalar Product 
O
The concept of scalar product of two vectors is introduced a
as a result of which a unique scalar is associated to any If one of the vectors is zero, then the scalar product is
given pair of vectors. The justification for the use of the also equal to zero. By definition
word product lies in the fact that the so called scalar product      
of two vectors is a scalar proportional to the length of each 
a .0 | a |.| 0| cos a  0 
of the two vectors and also obey distributive law like product  
of real numbers. Scalar product is widely used in metric a.0  0
geometry and also by the help of it we are able to derive
various formulae of three dimensional geometry.

1.43
Vectors and 3D

   Projection of a vector on another vector

In scalar product of two vectors a.b , the vectors a and b
are pre and post vector respectively. So, we can say that
dot product of two vector is product of three real numbers B
a
i.e. magnitude of pre vector, magnitude of post vector and
A
cosine of angle between the two vectors.

Sign of scalar product

     P

As we know that a.b |a |.| b|cos a  b  Q b

   
 
 
So, sign of a.b depends upon the cos a  b i.e. angle is Projection of a on b is PQ .

acute, right angle or obtuse.  

Projection of a on b may be positive or negative. It is
 
    positive if angle between a and b is acute.
1) If angle between a and b is acute then cos a  b is     
so in the above case projection of a on b i.e. PQ is
positive and so a.b >0.
positive.
     
2) If angle between a and b is 900 then cos a  b   is While the angle between a and b is obtuse then projection
 
 of a on b is negative.
zero and so a.b  0 .

    B
3) If angle between a and b obtuse then cos a  b is   a
 A
negative and so a.b <0

note
 P Q b
1) Scalar product of two vectors is zero i.e. a.b  0
 
iff either out of two vectors a and b atleast one is   
Here projection of a on b – PQ
zero or the two vectors are perpendicular to each
other. Physical significance of scalar product

    

i.e. a.b  0 iff |a | 0 or |b| 0 or a  b  90
0
 B

 b
 
2) If a and b are two non zero vectors then a.b  0 O 
    C a A

only if a and b are orthogonal i.e., a  b  900 
 
Let OA  a represents a force acting on a particle situated
Angle between two vectors in terms of scalar product  
 at O and let OB  b represents the displacement of the

If a and b are two non zero vectors, such that angle particle from O to B.
between the vectors is , then Then the displacement of particle in the direction of force is
 
 |OC|| b|cos 
   a.b
a.b |a|.| b|cos   cos    
| a|| b| Therefore the work done by a force is scalar quantity equal
to the product of the magnitude of the force and the resolved
 part of the displacement in the direction of force
 a.b 
   cos    
1
Work done by the force on particle at O is in moving its
|a ||b|
  point of application from O to B

1.44