Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

Let $\vec a =\hat i+\hat j+\hat k, \vec b=\hat i-\hat j+\hat k$ and $\vec c=\hat i-\hat j-\hat k$ be three vectors. A vector $\vec r$ in the plane of $\vec a$ and $\vec b$, whose projection on $\vec c$ is $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$, is given by

Options:

$\hat i -3\hat j+ 3\hat k$

$-3\hat i -3\hat j-\hat k$

$3\hat i -\hat j+3\hat k$

$\hat i +3\hat j-3\hat k$

Correct Answer:

$3\hat i -\hat j+3\hat k$

Explanation:

Let $\vec r$ be the required vector. Then,

$\vec r = x\vec a+y\vec b$

$⇒\vec r=(x+y)\hat i+(x-y)\hat j+(x+y)\hat k$

It is given that the projection of $\vec r$ on $\vec c$ is $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$.

$∴\vec r.\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}(\hat i-\hat j-\hat k)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$

$⇒x+y-(x-y)-(x + y) = 1$

$⇒-x+y=1$

$⇒y=x+1$

$∴\vec r= (2x+1) \hat i−\hat j + (2x+1)\hat k, x∈ R$

For $x = 1$, we get $\vec r =3\hat i -\hat j+3\hat k$.