SOLVED SUBJECTIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1:
        
Let a , b and c be non-coplanar vectors. Show that the vectors a  2b  3c,  2a  3b  4c
  
and a  3b  5c are coplanar vectors.
Solution :
  
Since a , b and c are non-coplanar, we have
 
[ a.b, c]  0 . . . . . (i)
           
Let p  a  2b  3c, q  2a  3b  4c and r  a  3b  5c . Then
       
q  r  ( 2a  3b  4c )  (a  3b  5c)
                  
= 6a  b  10a  c  3b  a  15b  c  4c  a  12c  b ( as a  a  b  b  c  c  0)
     
= 3a  b  6a  c  3b  c
     
= 3 [ a  b  2a  c  b  c ]
   
= [ p q r ]  p( q  r )
Therefore
        
= (a  2b  3c).3(a  2b  2a  c  b  c )
              
= 3[ a , a , b ]  6[a , a , c ]  [ 3a , b, c ]  6[ b, a , b ]  12[ b, a , c ]
          
 6 [ b, b, c ]  9[ c, a , b ]  18[ c, a , c ]  9[ c, b c ]
  
 as [ a, a, b ] etc. having two 
       
= 12[ a, b, c ]  12[ b, a, c ]  vectors equal are all zero and 
       
 [ c, a, b ]  [ a, b, c ] 
     
 as [ b, a , c ]  b.(a  c ) 
          
= 12[ a , b, c ]  12[ b, a , c ]  0    b.(c  a ) 
    
  [ a , b, c ] 
  
Hence, p, q and r are coplanar vectors.

Example 2:
The position vectors of the points P and Q are 5î  7 ĵ  2k̂ and  3î  3 ĵ  6k̂ respectively. A line

1 is parallel to A  3î  ˆj  k̂ and passes through the point P and a line  2 is parallel to

B  3î  2 ĵ  4k̂ and passes through the point Q. A third line  parallel to 2î  7ˆj  5k̂ intersects
lines 1 and  2 . Find the position vectors of the points of intersection.
Solution :

A B
2i + 7j – 5k
L(x1, y1, z1) M (x2, y2, z2 )
P(5, 7, – 2) (– 3, 3, 6)
Q

Let L and M denote the points of intersection of the line  with 1 and  2 .
Since vectors PL and A are collinear
we have
PL  1 A , for some real 1 .
i.e., ( x1  5) î  ( y1  7) ĵ  ( z1  2) k̂  1 (3î  ĵ  k̂ )
x 1  5 y 1  7 z1  2
    1
3 1 1
 L  (31  5, 7  1, 1  2)
Similarly vectors QM and B are collinear

 OM   2 B , for some real  2
M  (3 2  3, 2 2  3, 4 2  6)
Again vector LM and 2î  7 ĵ  5k̂ are collinear
x 2  x 1 y 2  y 1 z 2  z1
    3
2 7 5
 3 2  31  8 2 2  1  4 4 2  1  8
    3
2 7 5

 31  3 2  2 3  8 .........(i)

 1  2 2  7 3  4 .........(ii)

and  1  4 2  5 3  8 ..........(iii)

Solving (i), (ii) and (iii) we get 1   2   3  1

Hence position vectors of L and M are respectively 2î  8 ĵ  3k̂ and ĵ  2k̂ .
Example 3:
Using vector methods for any triangle ABC, prove that c2 = b2 + a2 - 2ab cos C.

Solution :
A

B C
–C

We have
AC  CB  AB
 AC  CB. AC  CB  AB.AB
 AC 2  CB 2  2AC.CB  AB2

 b2 + a2 - 2ab cos C = c2.

Example 4:
The base BC of a  ABC is divided at D so that mBD = nCD. Show that
mAB2 + nAC2 = mBD2 + nCD2 + (m + n) AD2.

Solution :
A

B C
D
With A as origin, let the position vectors of B and C be b and c.
mBD  n DC

 mDB  n DC  0
Now,
  2
 2
AB 2  AB  AD  DB  AD 2  DB 2  2AD.DB

 AC   AD  DC   AD  DC
2 2
AC 2 2 2
 2AD.DC
Multiplying by m and n respectively and adding, we get

mAB 2  nAC 2  (m  n )AD 2  mBD 2  nDC 2  2AD m DB  n DC 
= (m + n) AD2 + mBD2 + nDC2.
Example 5:
If a, b, c are mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude, show that a + b + c is equally
inclined to a, b, c.

Solution :
Given that :
b. a = a. b = b .c = c. b = a. c = c. a . . . (i)
and |a|=|b|=|c| . . . (ii)
Now,
|a + b + c|2 = (a + b + c). (a + b + c)
= a. a + a. b + a. c + b. a + b. b + b. c + c. a + c. b + c. c
= 3 | a |2
|a + b + c| = 3|a|
Let 1 ,  2 , 3 be angles at which a + b + c is inclined to a, b, c respectively, then

(a  b  c).a | a |2 1
cos 1   2

|a bc| |a | 3| a | 3
1
Similarly cos 2  cos 3   1  2  3
3
Example 6:
Determine a unit vector perpendicular to the plane of a and b, where a = 4i + 3j - k and
b = 2i - 6j - 3k. Also obtain sine of the angle between a and b.

Solution :
i j k
a × b = 4 3 1
2 6 3
= 15 i + 10 j + 30 k
As a × b is the vector perpendicular to the plane of a and b, hence a unit vector perpendicular to
the plane of a and b is
ab  15i  10 j  30k 3 2 6
=    i  j k
|ab| ( 15) 2  (10) 2  (30) 2 7 7 7
If  be the angle between the vectors, then

| ab| {(15) 2  10 2  (30) 2 }

sin   
| a || b | {4 2  32  (1) 2 } {22  (6) 2  (3) 2 }

35 5
= 
26 (49) 26
Example 7:
Show that the perpendicular distance of a point whose position vector is a from the plane through
three points with position vectors b, c, d is ([bcd] + [cad] + [abd] - [abc])/|b × c + c × d + d × b|

Solution :
A

h
B D

C
Let ABCD be the tetrahedron whose vertices A, B, C, D have position vectors a, b, c, d
respectively.
Volume of tetrahedron ABCD
1
= (area BCD)  h
3
where h is the perpendicular distance of A from the plane BCD
3  volume of tetrahedron ABCD
 h= Area of  BCD

1
6

AB, AC, AD 
[b  a , c  a , d  a ]
= 3 . 
1 | (c  b )  (d  b ) |
  BC  BD
2
 

(b  a ).[(c  a )  (d  a )]
=
| cd  c d  b d |

(b  a ).[c  d  c  a  a  d ]
=
| b c  c d  d  b |

[ b c d ]  [ b c a ]  [ b a d ]  [a c d ]
=
| b c  cd  d b |

[ b c d ]  [c a d ]  [a b d ]  [ a b c ]
=
| b c  c d  d b |
Example 8:
Examine whether the vectors 5a + 6b + 7c, 7a – 8b + 9c and 3a + 20b + 5c,
(a, b, c being non-coplanar vectors ) are linearly independent or dependent.

Solution :
If possible, let the linearly dependent. Then there exist scalars x1, x2, x3, not all zero, such that
x1(5a + 6b + 7c) + x2(7a – 8b + 9c) + x3(3a + 20b + 5c) = 0 ...........(i)
 (5x1 + 7x2 + 3x3)a + (6x1 – 8x2 + 20x3)b + (7x1 + 9x2 + 5x3)c = 0
As a, b, c are non-coplanar vectors,
 5x1 + 7x2 + 3x3 = 0
6x1 – 8x2 + 20x3 = 0
7x1 + 9x2 + 5x3 = 0
From first two equations, we get
x1 x 2 x 3
  k ( say )
2 1  1
 x1 = 2k, x2 = – k, x3 = – k
These values also satisfy the third equation
Hence, there exist scalars x1, x2, x3 such that (i) holds. Hence, given vectors are linearly dependent.

Example 9:
The straight line joining the mid-points of two non-parallel sides of a trapezium is parallel to the
parallel sides and half their sum.

Solution :

Let ABCD be a trapezium with parallel sides AB, CD. A as the origin of reference. Let
AB  b, AD  d ,
So that b, d are the position vectors of the points B and D respectively the mid point A as the origin
of reference.
As DC is parallel to AB, the vector DC must be a product of the vector AB by some scalar t.
Let DC  t AB  tb ........(i)
Now the position vector of C is
AC  AD  DC  d  tb
 1 1
The position vectors of the mid–points E and F of BC and AD are ( b  d  tb) and d
2 2
respectively.
We have

FE  AE  AF
1 1
= ( b  d  tb)  d
2 2
1 1
= (1  t )b  (1  t ) AB
2 2
1
 the vector FE is the product of the vector AB by a scalar (1  t )
2
1
 FE || AB and FE = (1  t ) AB
2
Also from (i), we have
DC = t AB
It follows that
AB + DC = (1 + t)AB = 2 EF.

Example 10:
If D, E, F are three points on the sides BC, CA, AB respectively of a triangle ABC such that the
BD CE AF
points D, E, F are collinear, then prove that . .  1 and conversely..
CD AE BF

Solution :

Let BE, CF at H
Let a, b, c, h be the position vectors of the four points A, B, C, H relative to any origin O of
reference.
These four points being coplanar, there exist four scalars x, y, z, t such that
xa + yb + zc + th = 0, x + y + z + t = 0
xa  zc xa  yb
The position vectors of the points E and F, therefore, are , respectively..
xz xy
 We now require the position vector of the point D. Writing e  xa  zc , f  xa  yb
xz xy
and eliminating, a, we have
(x + z) e – (x + y) f = zc – yb,
( x  z)e  ( x  y)f zc  yb
 
( x  z)  ( x  y) zy
zc  yb
This equality shows that is the position vector of the point D. Thus
zy
BD z CE x AF x
 ,  , 
CD y EA z FB y
BD CE AF
 . . 1
CD EA FB
BD CE AF
Conversely, let D, E, F be three points on the sides BC, CA, AB such that . . 1
CD EA FB
BD z CE x AF y
Suppose that  ,   , so that 
CD y AE z BF z
BD z CE x AF y
  ,  , 
DC y EA z EB x
Thus if a, b, c be the position vectors of the vertices A, B, C, then the position vectors of the points
zc  yb xa  zc xa  yb
D, E, F are , , respectively. Denoting these by d, e, f respectively,,
zy xz xy
we obtain – (z – y)d + (x + z)e – (x + y)f = 0, where – (z – y) + (x + z) – (x + y) = 0.
Thus, the points D, E, F are collinear.

Example 11:
Show that the circumcenter, the centroid and the orthocenter of a triangle are collinear and the
centroid divides the join of the circumcenter and the orthocenter in the ratio 1 : 2.
Solution :
Let O, G, H denote the circumcenter, centroid and orthocenter respectively of a triangle ABC.
Let a, b, c be the position vectors of the vertices A, B, C of the triangle with respect to the
circumcenter O, as the origin of reference.

We have
OA = OB = OC

 a2 = b2 = c2
1
Also the position vector of G is OG  (a  b  c)
3
 We have, by (i)
[(a + b + c) – a] . (b – c) = 0,
[(a + b + c) – b] . (c – a) = 0,
[(a + b + c) – c] . (a – b) = 0,

So that if H denotes the point with position vector

a + b + c,
We see that
HA  BC, H B  CA, HC  AB
So that H is the orthocentre of the triangle ABC
and we have OH  a  b  c
Thus, we have
OH  3 OG
 G divides OH in the ratio 1 : 2

Hence the result

Example 12:
P, Q are the mid-points of the non-parallel sides BC and AD of a trapezium ABCD. Show that
 APD   CQB .

Solution :

Let AB  b and AD  d

Now DC is parallel to AB
 there exists a scalar t such, that DC  t AB  t b

 AC  AD  DC  d  t b
1 1
The position vectors of P and Q are ( b  d  tb) and d respectively..
2 2
Now
2  APD  AP  AD
 1 1
= ( b  d  tb)  d  (1  t ) ( b  d)
2 2
1 
= 2  CQB  CQ  CB   d  (d  tb)  [b  (d  tb)]
2 
1
=  (1  t )d  b  tb  d
2
1 1
= (1  t ) b  d  tb  d  (1  t  2t ) b  d
2 2
1
= (1  t ) b  d  2  APD
2
Example 13:
Prove that [a  p, b  q, c  r ]  [ a  q, b  r , c  p]  [a  r , b  p, c  q]  0 .
Solution :
[a  p, b  q, c  r ]  (a  p).[(b  q )  (c  r )]
= (a  p).[{(b  q ).r}c  {b  q ).c}]
= (a  p).{[b q r ]  [a p r ][ b q c] ..........(i)
Also, [a  q, b  r , c  p]
= ( b  r ).[(c  p)  ( a  q)]
= ( b  r ).[{(b  q ).r}c  {( b  q).c}r ]
= ( b  r ).{[c p q]a  [c p a ]q}
= [ b r a ][ c p q ]  [ b q r ] [a p c ] ...........(ii)
[a  q, b  p, c  q]
= (c  q ).[(a  r )  ( b  p)]
= (c  q).[{(a  r ).p}b  {( a  r ).b}p]
= [ c q b ] [ a r p ] – [c q b ] [a r b ] ..........(iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii) the required result follows

Example 14:
In a  ABC, let M be the mid point of segment AB and let D be the foot of the bisector
Area  CDM C (origin)
of  C . Then find the ratio of .
)

Area  ABC
Area  CDM b a
Solution :
Area  CBA
 
1 a b  ba  a  b M
=  A    B a 
2(a  b) ba  b  D 
a b  ba
ab
2
a b
 
1 (a  b) b  a
= 
2(a  b) ba

ab 
= A()
2 (a  b)
sin A  sin B
=
2 (sin A  sin B) O
G
AB AB
2 cos sin  
= 2 2 B() C( )
 AB A  B
2  2 sin cos 
 2 2 

Example 15:
Prove using vectors that the distance of the circumcenter of the ABC from the centroid
1
is R 2  (a 2  b 2  c 2 ) where R is the circumradius.
9

 2 1   2
[ Hint: circumcenter is 'O' OG      
9

2
1  2 2      
Solution :         2     2     2    
9 

1

9
3R2  2R2 (cos 2A  cos 2B  cos 2C) 
1

9
 
3R2  2R2 (3  2 sin 2 A)

1 2 2 a
2
b2 c2  
  9R  4 R  2   
9   4R 4 R2 4 R 2  
 SOLVED OBJECTIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1:
If a, b, and c are unit vectors, then |a - b|2 + |b - c|2 + |c - a|2 does not exceed
(A) 4 (B) 9
(C) 8 (D) 6 (IIT-1995)
Solution :
We have
0  |a + b + c|2 = |a|2 + |b|2 + |c|2 + 2|a. b + b. c + c.a|
= 3 + 2|a. b + b. c + c. a|
So, a. b + b. c + c. a  - 3/2.
Now, |a - b|2 + |b - c|2 + |c - a|2
= 2 (|a|2 + |b|2 + |c|2 - (a. b + a. c + b. c)   2 (3 + 3/2) = 9.
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

Example 2 :
Let a = 2i + j - 2k and b = i + j. If c is a vector such that a. c = |c|, |c - a| = 2 2 and the angle
between a × b and c is 30°, then |(a × b) × c| =
2 3
(A) (B)
3 2
(C) 2 (D) 3
Solution :
i j k
a × b = 2 1  2 = 2i + 2j + k  |a × b| = 2
4  4  1 = 3. Also |c - a| = 8
1 1 0
So, |c|2 + |a|2 - 2a.c = 8  |c|2 + |a|2 - 2 |c| = 8
|c|2 + 9 - 2|c| = 8  |c|2 - 2|c| + 1 = 0
(|c| - 1)2  |c| = 1
1 3
Now, |(a × b) × c| = |a × b| × |c| sin 30° = 3.1. 
2 2
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

Example 3:
Let v = 2i + j - k and w = i + 3k. If u is a unit vector, then for the maximum value of the scalar triple
product [u v w], u =
1 1
(A) (3î  ˆj  2k̂ ) (B) (2î  ĵ  k̂ )
14 6
1 1
(C) (î  3k̂ ) (D) (3î  7ˆj  k̂ )
10 59
Solution :
v × w = 3i - 7j - k
Now, [u v w] = u. (3i - 7j - k)

= | u | |3i - 7j - k| cos  (where  is the angle between u and v × w)

= 59 cos 
1
Thus [u v w] is maximum if cos  = 1 i.e. = 0 or u = (3i - 7j - k)
59
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

Example 4:
Let there be two points A and B on the curve y = x2 in the plane OXY satisfying OA. i = 1 and OB.
i = - 2 then the length of the vector 2OA - 3OB is
(A) 14 (B) 2 51
(C) 3 41 (D) 2 41

Solution :
Let OA = x1i + y1j and OB = x2i + y2j. Since 1 = OA. i = x1 and - 2 = OB. i = x2.
Moreover,
y1 = x12 and y2 = x22 = 4, so
OA = i + j and OB = - 2i + 4j. Hence |2OA - 3OB| = |8i - 10j| = 164 = 2 41
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

Example 5 :
If A, B, C and D are four points in space satisfying AB. CD = k [|AD|2 + |BC|2 - |AC|2 - |BD|2]
then the value of k is
(A) 2 (B) 1/3
(C) 1/2 (D) 1

Solution :
Let A be the origin of reference and let the position vectors of B, C, D be b, c, d. So
AB = b, CD = d - c, AD = d, BC = c - b, AC = c and BD = d- b. The L.H.S. is equal to
b.(d - c). The R.H.S is

k[|d|2 + |c - b|2 - |c|2 - |d - b|2]

= k[d.d + c.c + b.b - 2c.b - c.c - d.d - b.b + 2d.b]

= 2k[b. (d - c)]. Hence k = 1/2 .

Hence (C) is the correct answer.

Example 6 :
For unit vectors b and c and any non-zero vector a, the value of
{{(a + b) × (a + c)} × (b + c)}. (b + c) is
(A) | a |2 (B) 2| a |2
(C) 3| a |2 (D) none of these.
Solution :
The given expression
= {{a × c + b × a + b × c} × (b × c)}. (b + c)
= {(a × c) × (b × c) + (b × a) × (b × c)}. (b + c)
= [(a.(b × c))c - (c.(b × c))a + (b.(b × c))a - (a.(b × c)b)]. (b + c)
= [(a. (b × c))(c - b). (b + c)] = (a. (b × c)) [|c|2 - |b|2] = 0 [ |b| = |c| = 1].
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

Example 7 :
Three non-coplanar vectors a, b and c are drawn from a common initial point. The angle between
the plane passing through the terminal points of these vectors and the vector a×b + b×c + c × a is
 
(A) (B)
4 2

(C) (D) none of these.
3
Solution :
Let the terminal points be A, B, C and the common initial point be the origin of reference so that
AB = b - a and AC = c - a. The vector AB × AC is perpendicular to the plane ABC.
AB × AC = (b - a) × (c - a) = b × c + c × a + a × b. Hence the angle between the plane and the
given vector is .
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

Example 8 :
If a + b + c = 0 and | a | = 3 | b | = 5 and | c | = - 7, then the angle between a and b is
 2
(A) (B)
6 3
 5
(C) (D)
3 3
Solution :
a+b+c=0  a+b=-c  (a + b). (a + b) = |c|2.
Thus | a |2 + | b |2 + 2 | a | | b | cos = | c |2, where  is the angle between a and b.
49  9  25 1
therefore cos  = 
2.3.5 2

 
3
Hence (C) is correct answer.
Example 9 :
    
b gb g b g b g
Given that x  a . x  a = 8 and x . a = 2, then the angle between x  a & x  a is :

F
G 3 I F3 I
(A) cos 1
H14 JK (B) cos 1 G
H21 JK
F
G5 I
(C) cos 1
H21 JK (D) none of these

 
Solution :  x  a  x  a = 8  x = 3

To determine  x  a  we have
 
 x  a .  x  a = 9 + 1  4 = 6 so that
 
x  a = 6 and similarly x  a = 14
 
Then  x  a  .  x  a = 14 x 6 cos 
8= 14 x 6 cos 
4
cos =
21
Example 10 :
   

e j
The vector a  3 b is perpendicular to 7 a  5 be j and ea  4 bj is pernendicular to
   
e j
7 a  2 b . The angle between a & b is :
(A) 30º (B) 45º
(C) 60º (D) none of these

Solution :
   
 
Given a  3 b . 7 a  5 b = 0 
 
 7 a2  15 b2 + 16 a . b = 0 ...... (1)
   
 
Also, a 4 b . 7 a  2 b = 0 
 
 7 a2 + 8 b2  30 a . b = 0 ...... (2)

    b2
Subtracting,  23 b2 + 46 a . b = 0  a . b =
2
Putting this in (1),
 
7 a2  7 b2 = 0  a  b .
 
Thus a . b = ab cos 

b2 1
 = b2 cos  cos  =
2 2
or  = 60º .
Example 11 :

Xcomponent of a is twice its Ycomponent . If the magnitude of the vector is 5 2 and
it makes an angle of 135º with zaxis then the vector is :
(A) 2 3 , 3 ,  3 (B) 2 6 , 6 ,  6

(C) 2 5 , 5 ,  5 (D) none of these

Solution :

Let a  2 x i  x j  z k

5 x 2  z2 = 5 2

z z 1
Also, cos 135º = 2 2
= =
5x  z 5 2 2
 z=5
then x = 5,

The required vector a  2 5 i  5 j  5 k

Example 12:
     
If a . b = a  b , then the angle between a & b is :

(A) 0º (B) 180º

(C) 135º (D) 45º

Solution :
   
We have a . b = a  b

   
 a b cos  = a b sin 

 cos  = sin  =  = 45º, 135º

Example 13:
 
If the non zero vectors a & b are perpendicular to each other then
  
the solution of the equation, r  a  b is :
  1     1  
(A) r  x a    a  b
a.a
e j 
(B) r  x b    a  b
b.b

  
e j
(C) r  x a  b (D) none of these
Solution :
 
Since a , b and are non coplanar
    
 r  xa  yb  z a  b   ...... (1)
for some scalars x, y, z
  
Now b  r  a
    
 
b  xa  yb  z a  b    a
      
= x a  a   y  b  a   z a  b  a
       
= 0  y  b  a   z a . a  b   a . b  a 
      
 b  y  b  a   z a . a  b  a . b  0
Comparing the coefficients, we get
1
y = 0 and z =  
a . a 
Putting the values of y and z in (1), we get
  1  
r  xa    a  b
a . a   
Example 14:
  
If a , b & c are non coplanar unit vectors such that
 
   bc  
e j
a bc =
2
, then the angle between a & b is :

3 
(A) (B)
4 4

(C) (D) 
2

Solution :
 
   bc
We have a bc =  2

 
      b c
  
a . c b  a . b c  
2 2

  1     1 
 a . c   b  a . b  c =0
 2  2
  1   1
 then a.c = 0 and a . b  =0
2 2
   1 
 a.b
2
 a , b , c are non coplanar
 
Let the angle between a & b be  then
  1
a.b
2
  1
 a b cos  
2
1
 1 . 1 cos  = 
2
3
 =
4

Example 15 :
 
Let a & b are two vectors making angle  with each other, then unit vectors along bisector of
 
a & b is :

a  b a  b
(A) ± (B) ±
2 2 cos 

(C) ±
a  b
(D)
ea  bj
2 cos  / 2 a  b

Solution :
Now in  ABC
BD a

DC b

 BD = ak, DC = bk

 BC = (a + b) k

(BC)2 = (AB)2 + (AC)2  2AB . AC cos 

 (a + b)2 k2 = a 2 + b2  2ab cos 

a 2  b 2  2 ab cos
 k2 =
a  b 2
In  ADC and  ABD
 2 2
 b 2  AD  b 2 k 2 a 2  AD  a 2 k 2
cos = 
2 2 b AD 2 a AD

 (AD)2 = ab (1  k)2

 a 2  b 2  2 ab cos 
 = ab  1   [from (1)]
 a  b 2 

4 a 2 b 2 cos 2 2
=
a  b 2

2 ab cos 2
 AD =
a  b

 


AD = ±
 a b  b a
a  b 

 
ab  a b
=±   
a  b   a b

ab
=± a  b
 
a  b 

a  b  

 AD
 AD = AD = ± 2 cos 
2