Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Vectors

Question:

The direction cosines of a vector equally inclined to the axes \(OX,OY\) and \(OZ\) are

Options:

\(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3}\)

\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\)

\(0,0,1\)

Correct Answer:

\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\)

Explanation:
\(\begin{aligned}l=\cos \alpha, m=\cos \alpha, n&=\cos \alpha\\ l^{2}+m^{2}+n^{2}&=1\\ 3\cos^{2} \alpha &=1\\ \cos^{2}\alpha &=\frac{1}{3}\\ \cos \alpha &=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\end{aligned}\)