Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

Let $\vec a=\hat i+2\hat j+\hat k, \vec b =\hat i-\hat j+\hat k, \vec c=\hat i+\hat j-\hat k$. A vector coplanar to $\vec a$ and $\vec b$ has a projection along $\vec c$ of magnitude $1/\sqrt{3}$, then the vector is

Options:

$4\hat i -\hat j+4\hat k$

$4\hat i +\hat j-4\hat k$

$2\hat i +\hat j+\hat k$

none of these

Correct Answer:

$4\hat i -\hat j+4\hat k$

Explanation:

A vector $\vec r$ coplanar to $\vec a$ and $\vec b$ is given by

$\vec r=\vec a+λ\vec b$

$⇒\vec r=(\hat i+2\hat j+\hat k)+λ(\hat i-\hat j+\hat k)$

$⇒\vec r=(λ+1)\hat i+(2-λ)\hat j+(λ+1)\hat k$

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

$⇒|2-λ|=1⇒2-λ=±1⇒λ=1,3$

For $λ = 1$, we have $\vec r=2\hat i+\hat j+2\hat k$

For $λ = 3$, we have $\vec r=4\hat i -\hat j+4\hat k$