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SCALAR PRODUCT OF VECTORS

OBJECTIVES
1. (r . i ) 2 + (r . j) 2 + (r . k ) 2 =

(a) 3r 2 (b) r 2
(c) 0 (d) None of these
2. If a, b, c are mutually perpendicular unit vectors, then | a + b + c | =

(a) 3 (b) 3
(c) 1 (d) 0
 a+b
3. If vectors a, b, c satisfy the condition | a − c | =| b − c | , then (b − a ) .  c −  is equal to
 2 

(a) 0 (b) –1
(c) 1 (d) 2
4. If | a | = 3, | b | = 1, | c | = 4 and a + b + c = 0, then a .b + b .c + c .a =

(a) – 13 (b) – 10
(c) 13 (d) 10
5. If a = i + 2j − 3k and b = 3 i − j + 2 k, then the angle between the vectors a +b and a −b is
(a) 30 o (b) 60 o
(c) 90 o (d) 0 o
θ
6. If θ be the angle between the unit vectors a and b, then cos =
2

1 1
(a) | a − b| (b) | a + b|
2 2

| a − b|
(c) (d) | a + b |
| a + b| | a − b|

i − 2 j + 2k − 4 i − 3k
7. A vector whose modulus is 51 and makes the same angle with a = ,b = and
3 5

c = j, will be
(a) 5i + 5 j + k (b) 5 i + j − 5 k

(c) 5i + j + 5k (d) ± (5 i − j − 5 k)

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8. Let a, b and c be vectors with magnitudes 3, 4 and 5 respectively and a + b + c = 0, then

the values
(a) 47 (b) 25
(c) 50 (d) – 25
9. If in a right angled triangle ABC, the hypotenuse AB = p, then AB . AC + BC . BA + CA . CB is
equal to
p2
(a) 2p 2 (b)
2

(c) p2 (d) None of these

10. The horizontal force and the force inclined at an angle 60 o with the vertical, whose
resultant is in vertical direction of P kg, are
(a) P, 2P (b) P, P 3

(c) 2 P, P 3 (d) None of these

11. If a is any vector in space, then
(a) a = (a . i ) i + (a . j) j + (a . k) k

(b) a = (a × i) + (a × j) + (a × k)
(c) a = j (a . i) + k (a . j) + i (a . k)

(d) a = (a × i) × i + (a × j) × j + (a × k) × k
12. A unit vector which is coplanar to vector i + j + 2k and i + 2j + k and perpendicular to i + j + k,

is
i−j  j−k 
(a) (b) ±  
2  2 

k −i i + j+ k
(c) (d)
2 3

1 2
13. If ABCDEF is regular hexagon, the length of whose side is a, then AB . AF + BC =
2

(a) a (b) a 2 (c) 2 a2 (d)0

14. If the angle between a and b be 30 o , then the angle between 3 a and – 4 b will be
(a) 150 o (b) 90 o
(c) 120 o (d) 30 o

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15. If the angle between two vectors i+k and i − j + ak is π / 3, then the value of a=

(a)2 (b)4
(c) – 2 (d) 0
16. If | a | = 3, | b | = 4, | c | = 5 and a + b + c = 0, then the angle between a and b is
π
(a) 0 (b)
6

π π
(c) (d)
3 2

17. a, b, c are three vectors, such that a + b + c = 0 , | a | = 1,| b | = 2,| c | = 3 , then a.b + b.c + c.a is equal to
(a) 0 (b) – 7
(c) 7 (d) 1
18. If a, b, c are non-zero vectors such that a . b = a . c, then which statement is true
(a) b = c (b) a ⊥ (b − c )
(c) b =c or a ⊥ (b − c ) (d)None of these
19. If p = i − 2j + 3k and q = 3i + j + 2k, then a vector along r which is linear combination of p and q
and also perpendicular to q is
(a) i + 5j − 4k (b) i − 5 j + 4 k
1
(c) − (i + 5 j − 4 k ) (d)None of these
2

20. If a, b, c are three vectors such that a = b+c and the angle between b and c is π / 2, then
(a) a2 = b 2 + c2 (b) b 2 = c2 + a2

(c) c2 = a2 + b 2 (d) 2 a 2 − b 2 = c2

21. The value of x for which the angle between the vectors a = − 3i + xj + k and b = xi + 2 xj + k is
acute and the angle between b and x-axis lies between π /2 and π satisfy
(a) x >0 (b) x <0

(c) x >1 Only (d) x < −1 only

22. A, B, C, D are any four points, then
AB . CD + BC . AD + CA . BD =

(a) 2 AB . BC . CD (b) AB + BC + CD

(c) 5 3 (d)0
23. If a, b, c are unit vectors such that a + b + c = 0, then a . b +b . c +c . a =

(a) 1 (b) 3 (c)– 3/2 (d)3/2

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24. The angle between the vectors i − j+ k and i + 2j + k is

 1   4 
(a) cos −1  

(b) cos −1  

 15   15 

 4  π
(c) cos −1   (d)
 15  2

1
25. If d = λ (a × b ) + µ (b × c ) + ν (c × a ) and [a b c ] = , then λ + µ +ν is equal to
8

(a) 8 d . (a + b + c ) (b) 8 d × (a + b + c )
d d
(c) . (a + b + c ) (d) × (a + b + c )
8 8

26. a, b and c are three vectors with magnitude | a | = 4, | b | = 4, | c | = 2 and such that a is
perpendicular to (b + c ), b is perpendicular to (c + a ) and c is perpendicular to (a + b ). It
follows that | a +b +c| is equal to
(a) 9 (b) 6
(c) 5 (d) 4
27. If a, b and c are unit vectors such that a + b − c = 0, then the angle between a and b is
(a) π /6 (b) π / 3
(c) π /2 (d) 2π / 3

28. If λ is a unit vector perpendicular to plane of vector a and b and angle between them is θ,
then a . b will be
(a) | a | | b | sin θ λ (b)| a | | b | cos θ λ

(c) | a | | b | cos θ (d) | a | | b | sin θ

29. If three vectors a, b, c satisfy a +b +c = 0 and | a | = 3, | b | = 5, | c | = 7, then the angle between a

and b is
(a) 30 o (b) 45 o

(c) 60 o (d) 90 o

30. If a = 4i + 6j and b = 3 j + 4 k, then the component of a along b is

18 18
(a) (3 j + 4 k ) (b) (3 j + 4 k )
10 3 25

18
(c) (3 j + 4 k ) (d) (3 j + 4 k )
3

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31. Let a and b be two unit vectors inclined at an angle θ , then sin (θ / 2) is equal to
1 1
(a) | a − b| (b) | a + b|
2 2

(c) | a − b | (d) | a + b |

32. The vectors 2i + 3 j− 4 k and ai + b j+ ck are perpendicular, when

(a) a = 2, b = 3, c = −4 (b) a = 4 , b = 4 , c = 5
(c) a = 4, b = 4, c = − 5 (d)None of these
33. The projection of vector 2i + 3 j − 2 k on the vector i + 2 j + 3k will be
1 2
(a) (b)
14 14

3
(c) (d) 14
14

34. The projection of the vector i − 2j + k on the vector 4i − 4 j + 7k

5 6 19
(a) (b)
10 9

9 6
(c) (d)
19 19

35. If a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0 and | a + b | =| a − b |, then the vectors a and b are

(a) Parallel to each other

(b) Perpendicular to each other
(c) Inclined at an angle of 60 o

(d) Neither perpendicular nor parallel

36. If the vectors ai + b j + ck and p i + q j + rk are perpendicular, then
(a) (a + b + c) ( p + q + r) = 0 (b) (a + b + c) (p + q + r) = 1
(c) ap + bq + cr = 0 (d) ap + bq + cr = 1
37. The angle between the vector 2i + 3 j + k and 2i − j − k is
(a) π /2 (b) π / 4
(c) π /3 (d) 0
38. If l a + m b + n c = 0, where l, m , n are scalars and a, b, c are mutually perpendicular vectors,
then
(a) l =m =n =1 (b) l + m + n = 1
(c) l=m =n=0 (d) l ≠ 0, m ≠ 0, n ≠ 0

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Projection of vector a on vector b
39. If vector a = 2i − 3 j + 6 k and vector b = −2 i + 2 j − k , then =
Projection of vector b on vector a

3 7
(a) (b)
7 3

(c) 3 (d) 7
40. If a and b are two unit vectors such that a + 2b and 5a − 4 b are perpendicular to each other,
then the angle between a and b
(a) 45 o (b) 60 o
1
(c) cos −1   (d) cos −1  2 
3 7 

41. The unit normal vector to the line joining i−j and 2i + 3 j pointing towards the origin is
4i−j −4 i + j
(a) (b)
17 17

2i−3j −2i +3 j
(c) (d)
13 13

42. If a = 2i + j + 2 k and b = 5 i − 3 j + k, then the projection of b on a is

(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 5 (d) 6
43. If in a right angled triangle ABC, the hypotenuse AB = p, then AB . AC + BC . BA + CA . CB is
equal to
p2
(a) 2p 2 (b) (c) p 2 (d)None of these
2

44. If a, b, c are non-zero vectors such that a . b = a . c, then which statement is true
(a)b = c (b) a ⊥ (b − c )

(c) b =c Or a ⊥ (b − c ) (d) None of these

45. If | a + b | > | a − b |, then the angle between a and b is
(a) Acute (b) Obtuse
π
(c) (d) π
2

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SCALAR PRODUCT OF VECTORS

HINTS AND SOLUTIONS

1. (b) Let r = x i + y j + z k ⇒ r . i = x , r . j = y, r. k = z

⇒ (r . i ) 2 + (r . j) 2 + (r . k ) 2 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = r 2 .

2. (a) Three mutually perpendicular unit vectors = a , b and c .

Therefore | a | =| b | =| c | = 1 and a.b = b.c = c .a = 0 .

We know that
| a + b + c | 2 = (a + b + c ) . (a + b + c ) = | a | 2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 +2(a . b + b . c + c . a ) = 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 3

Or | a + b + c | = 3.

 a+b a +b a
3. (a) (b − a ).  c −  = b .c − b .  − a . c + (a + b )
 2   2  2

and | a − c | =| b − c | ⇒ | a − c | 2 =| b − c | 2 ∴ a + b = 2c

 a+b
Therefore, (b − a ).  c −  = 0.
 2 

4. (a) (a + b + c )2 = 0

⇒ | a| 2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 +2 a .b + 2 b .c + 2 c .a = 0

⇒ 9 + 1 + 16 + 2(a .b + b .c + c .a ) = 0

⇒ a .b + b .c + c .a = −
26
= −13 .
2

5. (c) a + b = 4i + j − k and a − b = −2 i + 3 j − 5 k .

(a + b ) . (a − b ) = 0 . Hence (a + b ) ⊥ (a − b ).

θ θ 1
6. (b) (a + b ).(a + b ) =| a | 2 + | b | 2 + 2a . b Or | a + b | 2 = 2 . 2 cos 2 ⇒ cos = | a + b| .
2 2 2

7. (d) Verification

⇒ (a + b + c) = 0
2
8. (d) ∵ a +b +c =0

| a | 2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 + 2(a . b + b . c + c . a ) = 0

⇒ 2(a . b + b . c + c . a ) = − (9 + 16 + 25 )

⇒ a . b + b . c + c . a = −25 .

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9. (c) We have AB . AC + BC . BA + CA . CB

( AB ) ( AC ) cos θ + (BC ) (BA ) cos( 90 o − θ ) + 0

B

90o–θ

θ
A
C

 2
(BC )2 
= AB ( AC cos θ + BC sin θ ) = AB  ( AC ) + 

 AB AB 

= AC 2 + BC 2 = AB 2 = p 2 .

10. (c) Let OA = P1 i, CB = − P1 i, OB = − P1 i + Pj

Y

B C

60°
X
O A

OB . j (− P1i + Pj) . j 1
= cos 60 ° ⇒ =
OB P12 + P 2 2

⇒ 2 P = P 2 + P12 ⇒ P1 = P 3

| OB | = P 2 + P12 = P 2 + 3 P 2 = 2 P.

11. (a) Let a = a1i + a2 j + a3 k, then a .i = a1 , a .j = a 2 , a .k = a3

∴ a = (a . i )i + (a . j)j + (a . k)k .

12. (b) Verification

−1 2 1 2 1
13. (d) AB . AF =| a | | a | cos 120 ° = a and BC = a 2
2 2 2
E D

F C

120°
a
A a B

1 2 1 1
Therefore, AB . AF + BC = a 2 − a 2 = 0 .
2 2 2

14. (a) It is obvious from figure.

b

30°
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3a
– 4b 150°
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15. (d) cos π =

1+a
⇒a=0.
3 2 2 + a2

16. (d) a + b = − c ⇒ | a | 2 + | b | 2 +2 | a || b | cos θ =| c | 2

π
⇒ cos θ = 0 ⇒ θ = .
2

17. (b) a + b + c = 0 ⇒ (a + b + c ) . (a + b + c ) = 0

⇒ | a|2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 + 2(a.b + b.c + c.a ) = 0

−1 − 4 − 9
⇒ a.b + b.c + c.a = = −7 .
2

18. (c) a .b = a .c ⇒ a .b − a .c = 0 ⇒ a .( b − c ) = 0

⇒ Either b − c = 0 or a = 0 ⇒ b = c or a ⊥(b − c ).

19. (c) r = p + λ q ⇒ r. q = p . q + λ q . q

1
⇒ 0 = 7 + 14 λ ⇒ λ = −
2

1
Therefore, r=− (i + 5 j − 4 k).
2

π
20. (a) Given that a = b +c and angle between b and c is .
2

So, a2 = b2 + c2 + 2b.c

π
Or a 2 = b 2 + c 2 + 2 | b || c | cos
2

Or a 2 = b 2 + c 2 + 0, ∴ a2 = b2 + c2

i.e., a2 = b 2 + c 2 .

21. (b) For acute angle a.b > 0

i.e., − 3 x + 2 x 2 + 1 > 0 ⇒ ( x − 1)(2 x − 1) > 0

For obtuse angle between b and x-axis b .i < 0

⇒ x <0.

22. (d) AD = AB + BC + CD = a + b + c

AC = AB + BC = a + b Or CA = −(a + b )

BD = BC + CD = b + c

Therefore, AB . CD + BC . AD + CA . BD

= a . c + b .(a + b + c ) + (−a − b) . (b + c )

= a .c + b .a + b .b + b .c − a .b − a .c − b .b − b .c = 0 .

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23. (c) Squaring (a + b + c ) = 0 ,

We get a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2 a .b + 2 b .c + 2 c .a = 0

⇒ | a| 2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 +2(a .b + b .c + c .a ) = 0

⇒ 2(a .b + b .c + c .a ) = −3 ⇒ a .b + b .c + c .a = −
3
.
2

24. (d) (i − j + k). (i + 2 j + k) = 3 6 cos θ

0 π
⇒ cos θ = ⇒θ = .
3 6 2

25. (a) d . c = λ(a × b ) . c + µ(b × c ) . c + ν (c × a ) .c

λ
= λ [a b c ] + 0 + 0 = λ [a b c ] =
8

Hence λ = 8(d . c ), µ = 8 (d . a ) and ν = 8(d . b)

Therefore, λ + µ + ν = 8 d . c + 8 d. a + 8 d . b

= 8 d . (a + b + c ).

26. (b) Here |a|=4; | b | = 4 ; | c | = 2

And a .( b + c ) = 0 ⇒ a .b + a.c = 0 .....(i)
b .(c + a ) = 0 ⇒ b.c + b.a = 0 ..... (ii)
c .(a + b ) = 0 ⇒ c.a + c.b = 0 ..... (iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii), we get, 2[a.b + b.c + c.a ] = 0

∴ | a + b + c|= | a | 2 + | b | 2 + | c | 2 +2(a .b + b.c + c .a )

= | a | 2 +| b | 2 +| c | 2 = 16 + 16 + 4

⇒ | a + b + c|= 6 .

27. (d) Given condition is a + b = c.

Using dot product, (a + b ).(a + b ) = c .c

⇒ a .a + b.b + 2a .b = c .c

⇒| a | . | a | cos 0 °+ | b | . | b | cos 0 ° + 2 | a | . | b | cos α

=| c | . | c | cos 0 ° , (∵ | a | =| b | =| c | = 1)

1 2π
⇒ 1 + 1 + 2 cos α = 1 ⇒ cos α = − ⇒α = .
2 3

28. (c) Concept

29. (c) a + b + c = 0 ⇒ a + b = −c
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⇒ | a| 2 + | b | 2 +2 | a || b | cos θ =| − c | 2

⇒ 9 + 25 + 30 cos θ = 49 ⇒ cos θ =
1
⇒ θ = 60 ° .
2

(a . b )b 18
30. (b) The component of vector a along b is = (3 j + 4 k ).
| b| 2 25

31. (a) | a − b | = 1 2 + 1 2 − 2 .1 2 cos θ = 2 (1 − cos θ )

θ θ θ | a −b|
= 2 × 2 sin = 2 sin ⇒ sin = .
2 2 2 2

32. (b) To be perpendicular, 2a + 3 b − 4 c = 0 and option (b) satisfies this equation.

33. (b) (2i + 3 j − 2 k ). (i + 2 j + 3 k ) = 2

.
14 14

a.b a.b
34. (b) Projection of a on b =| a | cos θ =| a | =
| a || b | | b |

4 +8 +7 19 19
= = = .
16 + 16 + 49 81 9

35. (b) | a + b | =| a − b | ; Squaring both sides, we get 4 a.b = 0 ⇒ a is perpendicular to b.

36. (c) It is obvious.

37. (a) Let a = 2i + 3 j + k and b = 2i − j + k

a .b
Since cos θ =
| a || b |

(2 i + 3 j + k ) . (2 i − j − k )
=
(2) + (3) 2 + (1) 2 (2) 2 + (−1) 2 + (−1) 2
2

4 − 3 −1 π
= =0 ∴θ = .
(4 + 9 + 1) (4 + 1 + 1) 2

38. (c) la + m b + nc = 0
⇒ a 2 l 2 + m 2 b 2 + n 2 c 2 + 2l m a . b + 2 l n a . c + 2m n b . c = 0

But a, b, c are mutually perpendicular

So, a . b, b . c and c .a are equal to zero.
Therefore, a 2 l 2 + m 2 b 2 + n 2 c 2 = 0 i.e ., l, m , n are equal to zero because a2, b 2 and c2 cannot be equal to
zero.
b .a a .b | a | 7
39. (b) Required value = = = .
| b| | a| | b| 3

40. (b) (a + 2 b). (5 a − 4 b) = 0 or 5a 2 + 6a . b − 8 b 2 = 0

Or 6 a . b = 3, (∵ a 2 = 1, b 2 = 1)

1 1
∴a . b = Or | a || b | cos θ =
2 2

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1
∴ cos θ = , ∴ θ = 60 o .
2

41. (b) L = i + 4 j
Therefore, vector perpendicular to L = λ (4 i − j)

4i − j
∴ Unit vector is .
17

But it points towards origin

∴ Required vector = −4 i + j .
17

42. (a) Vectors a = 2i + j + 2 k and b = 5i − 3 j + k .

We know that the projection of b on
b . a (2 i + j + 2 k ).(5 i − 3 j + k ) 10 − 3 + 2 9
a= = = = = 3.
| a| (2)2 + (1)2 + (2)2 9 3

43. (c)We have AB . AC + BC . BA + CA . CB

( AB ) ( AC ) cos θ + (BC ) (BA ) cos( 90 o − θ ) + 0

B

90o–θ

θ
A
C

 2
(BC )2 
= AB ( AC cos θ + BC sin θ ) = AB  ( AC ) + 

 AB AB 

= AC 2 + BC 2 = AB 2 = p 2 .

44. (c) a .b = a .c ⇒ a .b − a .c = 0 ⇒ a .( b − c ) = 0

⇒ Either b − c = 0 or a = 0 ⇒ b = c or a ⊥(b − c ).

45. (a) | a + b | >| a − b |

Squaring both sides, we get
a 2 + b 2 + 2a . b > a 2 + b 2 − 2 a . b

⇒ 4 a.b > 0 ⇒ cos θ > 0 . Hence θ < 90 ° , (acute).

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