Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

If $\vec a,\vec b,\vec c$ are vectors such that $\vec a+\vec b+\vec c=0$ and $|\vec a| = 1,|\vec b|=2,|\vec c|= 5$, then the expression $\vec a.\vec b+\vec b.\vec c+\vec c.\vec a$ equals

Options:

30

-15

0

1

Correct Answer:

-15

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) → -15

Given: $\vec a+\vec b+\vec c=0 \;\Rightarrow\; \vec c=-(\vec a+\vec b)$

Substitute $\vec c=-(\vec a+\vec b)$:

$\vec a\cdot\vec b+\vec b\cdot[-(\vec a+\vec b)] +[-(\vec a+\vec b)]\cdot\vec a$

$= \vec a\cdot\vec b - \vec b\cdot\vec a - \vec b\cdot\vec b - \vec a\cdot\vec a - \vec b\cdot\vec a$

Since $\vec a\cdot\vec b = \vec b\cdot\vec a$:

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

Now use the given magnitudes:

$|\vec a|=1,\; |\vec b|=2,\; |\vec c|=5$

Also, $|\vec c|^{2} = |\vec a+\vec b|^{2}$

$25 = 1^{2}+2^{2} + 2(\vec a\cdot\vec b)$

$25 = 5 + 2(\vec a\cdot\vec b)$

$\vec a\cdot\vec b = 10$

So the required expression is:

$-(1^{2} + 2^{2} + 10) = -(1+4+10)= -15$

The expression equals $-15$.