Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

Let $\vec a,\vec b,\vec c$ be three unit vectors such that angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec b$ is $α$, $\vec b$ and $\vec c$ is $β$ and $\vec c$ and $\vec a$ is $γ$. If $|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|=2$, then $\cos α + \cos β + \cos γ =$

Options:

1

$-\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{3}{2}$

$\frac{1}{2}$

Correct Answer:

$\frac{1}{2}$

Explanation:

We have,

$\vec a.\vec b = \cos α, \vec b. \vec c = \cos β$ and $\vec c. \vec a = \cos γ$

Now,

$|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|=2$

$⇒|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|^2=4$

$⇒|\vec a|+|\vec b|^2+|\vec c|^2+2(\vec a.\vec b+\vec b. \vec c+\vec c. \vec a)=4$

$⇒1+1+1+2(\cos α+\cos β+\cos γ)=4$

$⇒\cos α+\cos β+\cos γ=\frac{1}{2}$