Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

If G is the centroid of the triangle ABC, then $\frac{AG^2+ BG^2+CG^2}{AB^2 + BC^3+CA^2} =$

Options:

1/4

1/3

2/3

4/9

Correct Answer:

1/3

Explanation:

Taking G as the origin, let the position vectors of A, B and C be $\vec a,\vec b$ and $\vec c$ respectively. Then,

$\frac{\vec a+\vec b+\vec c}{3}=\vec 0⇒\vec a+\vec b+\vec c=\vec 0$

$⇒|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|=0⇒|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|^2=0$

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

$∴AB^2 + BC^2 + CA^2$

$=|\vec{AB}|^2 +|\vec{BC}|^2 +|\vec{CA}^2|$

$=|\vec b-\vec a|^2+|\vec c-\vec b|^2+|\vec a-\vec c|^2$

$=\{|\vec a|^2+|\vec b|^2+|\vec c|^2\}-(\vec .\vec b+\vec b.\vec c+\vec c.\vec a)$

$=3\{|\vec a|^2+|\vec b|^2+|\vec c|^2\}$  [Using (i)]

$=3\{AG^2+ BG^2+CG^2\}$

Hence, $\frac{AG^2+ BG^2+CG^2}{AB^2 + BC^3+CA^2} =\frac{1}{3}$