Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

The vectors $\vec a =x\hat i +(x+1)\hat j+(x+2)\hat k, \vec b=(x+3)\hat i+(x+4)\hat j+(x+5)\hat k$ and, $\vec c=(x+6)\hat i+(x+7)\hat j+(x+8)\hat k$ are coplanar for

Options:

all values of x

x < 0 only

x > 0 only

none of these

Correct Answer:

all values of x

Explanation:

Vectors $\vec a,\vec b,\vec c$ will be coplanar, iff $[\vec a\,\vec b\,\vec c]=0$

We have,

$\begin{bmatrix}\vec a&\vec b&\vec c\end{bmatrix}=\begin{vmatrix}x&x+1&x+2\\x+3&x+4&x+5\\x+6&x+7&x+8\end{vmatrix}$

$⇒\begin{bmatrix}\vec a&\vec b&\vec c\end{bmatrix}=\begin{vmatrix}x&x+1&x+2\\3&3&3\\6&6&6\end{vmatrix}$   [Applying $R_2 → R_2-R_1, R_3 → R_3-R_1]$

$⇒\begin{bmatrix}\vec a&\vec b&\vec c\end{bmatrix}=0$ for all x  [$∵R_1$ and $R_2$ are proportional]

Hence, vectors are coplanar for all values of x.