Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:


If \(x\) and \(y\) are unit vectors and \(\phi\) is the angle between them, then \(\frac{1}{2}\left|x-y\right|\) is equal to

Options:

\(0\)

\(\frac{\pi}{2}\)

\(\sin \left(\frac{\phi}{2}\right)\)

\(\cos \left(\frac{\phi}{2}\right)\)

Correct Answer:

\(\sin \left(\frac{\phi}{2}\right)\)

Explanation:
\(\begin{aligned}|x-y|^{2}&=1+1+2\cos \phi\\ &=4\sin^{2}\frac{\phi}{2}\\ |x-y|&=2\sin \frac{\phi}{2}\\ \sin\left(\frac{\phi}{2}\right)&=\frac{1}{2}|x-y|\end{aligned}\)