Let $\vec a$ and $\vec b$ be two unit vectors. If the vectors $\vec c = \vec a + 2\vec b$ and $\vec d=5\vec a-4\vec b$ are perpendicular to each other, then the angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec b$, is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
Let θ be the angle between vectors $\vec a$ and $\vec b$. Then,
$\vec a.\vec b =|\vec a||\vec b|\cos θ = \cos θ$ $[∵|\vec a|=|\vec b|=1]$
Since $\vec c =\vec a + 2\vec b$ and $\vec d =5\vec a-4\vec b$ are perpendicular to each other. Therefore,
$\vec c.\vec d=0$
$⇒(\vec a + 2\vec b).(5\vec a-4\vec b)=0$
$⇒5(\vec a.\vec a)+6(\vec a.\vec b)-8(\vec b.\vec b)=0$
$⇒5|\vec a|^2+6\cos θ -8|\vec b|^2=0$
$⇒5+6\cos θ -8=0$ $[∵|\vec a|=|\vec b|=1]$
$⇒\cos θ=\frac{1}{2}$
$⇒θ=\frac{π}{3}$