Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

Let $\vec a,\vec b$ and $\vec c$ be three vectors having magnitudes 1, 1 and 2 respectively such that $\vec a × (\vec a×\vec c) + \vec b = \vec 0$, then the acute angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec c$ is

Options:

$\frac{π}{3}$

$\frac{π}{4}$

$\frac{π}{6}$

$\frac{π}{2}$

Correct Answer:

$\frac{π}{6}$

Explanation:

Let θ be the angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec c$. Then,

$\vec a × (\vec a×\vec c) + \vec b = \vec 0$

$⇒(\vec a.\vec c)\vec a-(\vec a.\vec a)\vec c+\vec b= \vec 0$

$⇒(2\cos θ)\vec a-\vec c+\vec b= \vec 0$  $[∵\vec a.\vec c=\cos θ\,and\,|\vec a|=|\vec b|=1,|\vec c|=2]$

$⇒(2\cos θ)\vec a-\vec c=-\vec b$

$⇒|(2\cos θ)\vec a-\vec c|^2=|-\vec b|^2$

$⇒4\cos^2θ|\vec a|^2+|\vec c|^2-4\cos θ(\vec a.\vec c)=|\vec b|^2$

$⇒4\cos^2θ+4-4\cos θ(2\cos θ)=1$

$⇒4\cos^2θ=3⇒\cos θ=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}⇒θ=\frac{π}{6}$