VECTORS

1) Find the unit vector perpendicular to both the vectors

a = 4 i − j − 3k and b = 2 i + 2 j - k Ans :
1
3
(
− i + 2 j + 2k )
2) If α = 3 i − j and β = 2 i + j - 3 k . Express β as a sum of two vectors β1 & β2 , where β1 is parallel

to α and β2 is perpendicular to α .

3) If a + b + c = 0, show that a x b = b x c = c x a

4) Prove the triangle inequality a x + b ≤ a + b

5) Prove Cauchy - Schawarz inequality : a.b ( ) 2 2

≤ a .b
2

6) If a and b are vectors, prove that a x b + a.b

2
( )2
= a .b
2 2

7) Prove that angle in a semi-circle is a right angle.

8) ˆ are unit vectors inclined at an angle θ , then prove that

If aˆ and b

ˆ
ˆ−b
θ 1 ˆ θ a
a) cos = aˆ+b b) tan =
2 2 2 a ˆ
ˆ+b

ax b + b x c + c xa
9) Show that the perpendicular of the point c from the line joining a & b is
b−a

1
(Hint : use area of triangle = bh )
2

10) Show that the area of the parallelogram having diagonals 3 i + j − 2k and i - 3 j + 4 k is 5 3

11) Vectors 2 i − j + 2k and i + j - 3 k act along two adjacent sides of a parallelogram. Find the angle
between the diagonals of the parallelogram.
12) L and M are the mid-points of sides BC & DC of a paralellogram ABCD. Prove that

3
AL + AM = AC
2

13) Let a, b & c be three vectors such that a = 3, b = 4, c = 5 and each one of them being

perpendicular to sum of the other two, find a + b + c [Ans : 5 2 ]

1
14) Prove that the area of a paralellogram with diagonals a and b is axb
2

1 1 1
15) If , , are the p th, qth and r th terms of an AP and
a b c

1 1 1
u = (q − r )i + (r − p) j + (p − q)k & v = i + j + k then prove that u & v are orthogonal vectors.
a b c
 a b c
16) In a triangle ABC, prove that = =
sin A sin B sin C
17) Using vector method prove that :
a) sin(A+B) = sinAcosB + cosAsinB
b) sin(A-B) = sinAcosB — cosAsinB
c) cos(A+B) = cosAcosB — sinAsinB
d) cos(A-B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB

−1 1 
18) Using vector method, show that the angle between two diagonals of a cube is cos  
3
19) Prove that the altitudes of a triangle are concurrent.
20) Prove that the perpendicular bisectors of a triangle are concurrent.
21) Using vector method, prove that if the diagonals of a parallelogram are equal in length, then it is
a rectangle.
22) Using vector method, prove that if two medians of a triangle are equal, then it is an isosceles.
23) Using vector method, show that the diagonals of a Rhombus bisect each other at right angles.
24) Prove by vector method, that the parallelogram on the same base and between the same parallels
are equal in area.
25) If a, b & c are the lengths of the sides opposite respectively to the angles A, B & C of a ∆ABC ,
using vector method show that

b 2 + c2 − a 2
a) cos A = b) a = b cos C + C cos B
2bc
26) If D, E & F are the mid-points of the sides of a triangle ABC, prove by vector method that area of
1
∆DEF = (area of ∆ABC)
4
27) If a, b & C are the lengths of the sides of a triangle, using vector method, show that its area is
s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)

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