Q.(a) If vectors πβ = 2Δ±Μ + 2Θ·Μ + 3kΜ , πββ = β Δ±Μ + 2Θ·Μ + kΜ and πβ = 3Δ±Μ + Θ·Μ are such that πββ + Ξ»πβ is perpendicular to πβ , then find the value of Ξ». OR
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Perpendicular Vectors Condition
Two arrows that meet at a right angle β one east, one north β are perpendicular (or orthogonal) vectors. How do you check this without a protractor, especially in 3D where the angle is hard to draw?
The Idea: Zero Overlap
When two vectors are perpendicular, neither "borrows" any length from the other: walking along one makes zero progress in the direction of the other. The tool that measures this overlap is the dot product.
aβ₯bβΊaβ b=0
Why? Using aβ b=β₯aβ₯β₯bβ₯cosΞΈ, a right angle gives cos90β=0, so the dot product vanishes. In coordinates, for a=(a1β,a2β,a3β) and b=(b1β,b2β,b3β),
aβ b=a1βb1β+a2βb2β+a3βb3β,
and you simply check whether this sum is 0.
Examples
2D: a=(3,4), b=(4,β3): 3(4)+4(β3)=12β12=0 β perpendicular. (In general (x,y) and (y,βx) are always perpendicular.)
3D: pβ=(1,2,3), qβ=(2,β1,0): 2β2+0=0 β perpendicular.
Not every pair qualifies: (2,1)β (1,3)=2+3=5ξ =0, so those two are not perpendicular.
In dimensions above 3 we cannot picture the right angle, but the test is unchanged: dot product =0 still defines orthogonality.
Why It Matters β¦
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero, so set (b+Ξ»c)β a=0.
With a=2i^+2j^β+3k^, b=βi^+2j^β+k^, c=3i^+j^β:
b+Ξ»c=(β1+3Ξ»)i^+(2+Ξ»)j^β+k^
Dot with a: β¦
Setting (b+Ξ»c)β a=0 gives 8Ξ»+5=0, so Ξ»=β85β.
The idea
Two vectors are perpendicular precisely when their dot product is zero. We are told b+Ξ»c is perpendicular to a, so we build that combined vector, dot it with a, set the result to 0, and solve the resulting linear equation for Ξ».
Set up the vectors
a=2i^+2j^β+3k^,b=βi^+2j^β+k^,c=3i^+j^β+0k^
Form b+Ξ»c
Add component by component (note c has no k^ part):
b+Ξ»c=(β1+3Ξ»)i^+(2+Ξ»)j^β+k^
Apply the perpendicularity condition β¦
Method: Solving for an unknown scalar using the perpendicularity condition
Use this whenever a problem states one vector (often containing an unknown like Ξ») is perpendicular to another and asks you to find that unknown.
Steps
Step 1: Translate "perpendicular" into a dot product of zero.
The defining test is
pββ₯qββΊpββ qβ=0.
Seeing the word "perpendicular" should immediately trigger "set the dot product to 0" β not equal magnitudes, not a cross product.
Step 2: Build the compound vector, keeping the unknown symbolic. β¦
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting that c=3i^+j^β has zero k^-component.
Why it's wrong: treating a missing component as anything but 0 corrupts b+Ξ»c and the dot product. Correct approach: write c=3i^+j^β+0k^ explicitly.
Mistake 2: Setting magnitudes equal instead of the dot product to zero.
Why it's wrong: perpendicularity is (b+Ξ»c)β a=0, not β£b+Ξ»cβ£=β£aβ£. Correct approach: reach for the dot-product-zero condition whenever "perpendicular" appears. β¦
Showing the 12 most recent of 25 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-AN1 markMCQQ.The set of real values of Ξ» for which the vectors Ξ»iβ3jβ+5k and 2Ξ»iβΞ»jβ+k are perpendicular to each other is (A) {0,1} (B) {β2} (C) {2,β1} (D) Ο
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Perpendicular vectors have zero dot product; the resulting quadratic in Ξ» has no real roots, so the answer set is empty.
Concept and Intuition
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product vanishes. Setting up that equation converts a geometry condition into an algebraic one in Ξ».
Step-by-Step Solution
- The vectors are u=(Ξ»,β3,5) and v=(2Ξ»,βΞ»,1).
- Perpendicularity: uβ v=0: Β Ξ»(2Ξ»)+(β3)(βΞ»)+5(1)=0.
- Simplify: 2Ξ»2+3Ξ»+5=0.
- Discriminant =32β4(2)(5)=9β40=β31<0. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.aΛ=iΛβjΛβ+kΛ, bΛ=2iΛ+jΛβ+kΛ are two vectors and cΛ is a unit vector lying in the plane of aΛ and bΛ. If cΛ is perpendicular to bΛ then cΛ.(iΛ+jΛβ+2kΛ)= (A) 0 (B) 5 (C) 21β1β (D) 21β2β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
This tests finding a unit vector coplanar with two given vectors and perpendicular to one of them; the required dot product works out to 21β1β.
Concept and Intuition
Any vector in the plane spanned by aΛ and bΛ can be written as a linear combination maΛ+nbΛ. Imposing perpendicularity to bΛ gives one linear equation in m,n, pinning down the direction of cΛ up to a scalar (which is then fixed by the unit-length condition).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let cΛ=maΛ+nbΛ where aΛ=(1,β1,1),Β bΛ=(2,1,1).
- cΛβ bΛ=0βm(aΛβ bΛ)+n(bΛβ bΛ)=0.
- aΛβ bΛ=1(2)+(β1)(1)+1(1)=2β1+1=2. bΛβ bΛ=4+1+1=6.
- So 2m+6n=0βm=β3n.
- cΛβ₯β3naΛ+nbΛ=n(β3aΛ+bΛ)=n((β3,3,β3)+(2,1,1))=n(β1,4,β2).
- Direction vector (β1,4,β2) has magnitude 1+16+4β=21β, so the unit vector is Β±21β(β1,4,β2)β. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.aΛ,bΛ,cΛ are unit vectors. If aΛ,bΛ are perpendicular vectors, (aΛβcΛ).(bΛ+cΛ)=0 and cΛ=laΛ+mbΛ+n(aΛΓbΛ); (l, m, n are scalars), then n2= (A) l2+m2 (B) β2lm (C) 2lβ2m (D) lm+l+m
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Because aΛ,bΛ,aΛΓbΛ form an orthonormal triad, decomposing cΛ in this basis and using the given perpendicularity condition shows n2=β2lm.
Concept and Intuition
When aΛ and bΛ are perpendicular unit vectors, aΛΓbΛ is automatically a unit vector too (since β£aΛΓbΛβ£=β£aΛβ£β£bΛβ£sin90Β°=1) and is perpendicular to both aΛ and bΛ. So {aΛ,bΛ,aΛΓbΛ} is an orthonormal basis β any vector's components along these three directions are just its dot products with each, and its squared magnitude is simply the sum of squared components (Pythagoras in 3D).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Since aΛβ₯bΛ and both are unit vectors, aΛ.bΛ=0 and {aΛ,bΛ,aΛΓbΛ} is orthonormal.
- Expand (aΛβcΛ).(bΛ+cΛ)=0: aΛ.bΛ+aΛ.cΛβcΛ.bΛβcΛ.cΛ=0.
- Since aΛ.bΛ=0 and cΛ.cΛ=β£cΛβ£2=1 (unit vector): aΛ.cΛβbΛ.cΛβ1=0βaΛ.cΛβbΛ.cΛ=1.
- Given cΛ=laΛ+mbΛ+n(aΛΓbΛ), dot with aΛ: aΛ.cΛ=l(aΛ.aΛ)+m(aΛ.bΛ)+nβ aΛ.(aΛΓbΛ)=l(1)+m(0)+n(0)=l (since aΛ.(aΛΓbΛ)=0, a vector is always perpendicular to a cross product it's part of).
- Similarly, dot with bΛ: bΛ.cΛ=l(bΛ.aΛ)+m(bΛ.bΛ)+nβ bΛ.(aΛΓbΛ)=0+m(1)+0=m.
- From step 3: lβm=1. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If aΛ=2iΛ+3jΛβ,bΛ=3jΛβ+4kΛ and cΛ=5iΛ+4kΛ are three vectors, then a vector which is perpendicular to aΛ and bΛΓcΛ is (A) 45iΛβ30jΛβ+15kΛ (B) 3iΛβ2jΛβ+kΛ (C) β30iΛ+20jΛβ+4kΛ (D) β45iΛ+30jΛβ+4kΛ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
This tests the vector-triple-product idea: a vector perpendicular to both aΛ and bΛΓcΛ is simply aΛΓ(bΛΓcΛ).
Concept and Intuition
The cross product of any two vectors is perpendicular to both of them. So if we want a single vector perpendicular to aΛ AND to bΛΓcΛ, the natural candidate is aΛΓ(bΛΓcΛ) β it is perpendicular to aΛ by definition of cross product, and perpendicular to bΛΓcΛ for the same reason. No need to invoke the full triple-product expansion formula; we just compute it directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given aΛ=2iΛ+3jΛβ+0kΛ, bΛ=0iΛ+3jΛβ+4kΛ, cΛ=5iΛ+0jΛβ+4kΛ.
- Compute bΛΓcΛ=βiΛ05βjΛβ30βkΛ44ββ =iΛ(3β 4β4β 0)βjΛβ(0β 4β4β 5)+kΛ(0β 0β3β 5)=12iΛ+20jΛββ15kΛ.
- Compute aΛΓ(bΛΓcΛ)=βiΛ212βjΛβ320βkΛ0β15ββ β¦
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.A unit vector that is perpendicular to the vector 2iΛβjΛβ+2kΛ and coplanar with the vectors iΛ+jΛββkΛ and 2iΛ+2jΛββkΛ is (A) 6βiΛ+2jΛβ+kΛβ (B) 17β3iΛ+2jΛββ2kΛβ (C) 32iΛ+2jΛββkΛβ (D) 17β3iΛ+2jΛβ+2kΛβ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Write the general coplanar combination of the two given vectors as ap+bq, impose perpendicularity to the third vector to pin down a=0, then normalize the resulting direction.
Concept and Intuition
"Coplanar with p and q" means the target vector is some linear combination ap+bq (this spans exactly the plane through the origin containing both). Imposing perpendicularity to a third given vector is then just one linear equation in a,b β it typically forces a ratio (or here, forces one coefficient to vanish entirely), collapsing the family to a single direction, which we then normalize to a unit vector.
Step-by-Step Solution
- General coplanar vector: v=a(iΛ+jΛββkΛ)+b(2iΛ+2jΛββkΛ)=(a+2b)iΛ+(a+2b)jΛβ+(βaβb)kΛ.
- Require vβ₯(2iΛβjΛβ+2kΛ): 2(a+2b)β1(a+2b)+2(βaβb)=0.
- Simplify: (a+2b)(2β1)+2(βaβb)=(a+2b)β2aβ2b=βa.
- So the condition reduces to βa=0βa=0.
- With a=0: v=b(2iΛ+2jΛββkΛ), i.e. v is parallel to 2iΛ+2jΛββkΛ.
- Magnitude of 2iΛ+2jΛββkΛ is 4+4+1β=3. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.The vector of magnitude 2 lying in the plane of aΛ=2iΛβjΛβ+kΛ and bΛ=iΛ+3jΛββ5kΛ and perpendicular to the vector cΛ=iΛ+jΛβ+kΛ is (A) 61β2ββ(4iΛ+5jΛββ9kΛ) (B) 9β2ββ(2iΛ+3jΛββ5kΛ) (C) 31β2ββ(iΛ+5jΛββ6kΛ) (D) 13β2ββ(βiΛβ3jΛβ+4kΛ)
βΊReveal solutionSolution
This tests writing a vector "in the plane of aΛ,bΛ" as a linear combination Ξ±aΛ+Ξ²bΛ, using perpendicularity to cΛ to pin the ratio Ξ±:Ξ², and finally scaling the resulting direction to the required magnitude.
Concept and Intuition
Every vector lying in the plane spanned by aΛ and bΛ is some linear combination Ξ±aΛ+Ξ²bΛ β that's what "lying in the plane" means. The extra condition (perpendicular to cΛ) gives one linear equation in Ξ±,Ξ², which fixes their ratio (the direction is determined up to an overall scale). The magnitude condition then fixes that scale.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let dΛ=Ξ±aΛ+Ξ²bΛ for some scalars Ξ±,Ξ² (this covers every vector in the plane of aΛ,bΛ).
- Require dΛβ cΛ=0: Ξ±(aΛβ cΛ)+Ξ²(bΛβ cΛ)=0.
- aΛβ cΛ=(2)(1)+(β1)(1)+(1)(1)=2β1+1=2. bΛβ cΛ=(1)(1)+(3)(1)+(β5)(1)=1+3β5=β1.
- So 2Ξ±βΞ²=0βΞ²=2Ξ±. Taking Ξ±=1,Ξ²=2: direction =aΛ+2bΛ=(2+2,β1+6,1β10)=(4,5,β9).
- Magnitude of this direction: 42+52+(β9)2β=16+25+81β=122β. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.Let aΛ=3iΛβjΛββkΛ, bΛ=iΛ+jΛββ2kΛ and cΛ=2iΛ+2jΛβ+kΛ. Let dΛ be a vector such that β£dΛβ£=2β units. If the vector dΛ is coplanar with aΛ,bΛ and perpendicular to cΛ, then dΛ= (A) Β±51β(3iΛβ5jΛβ+4kΛ) (B) Β±51β(β4iΛ+5jΛββ3kΛ) (C) Β±51β(3iΛ+5jΛββ4kΛ) (D) Β±51β(β3iΛ+5jΛβ+4kΛ)
βΊReveal solutionSolution
dΛ coplanar with aΛ,bΛ means dΛ=xaΛ+ybΛ; perpendicularity to cΛ fixes the ratio x:y; the given magnitude fixes the scale. The answer is (A).
Concept and Intuition
"Coplanar with aΛ,bΛ" means dΛ lies in the plane spanned by aΛ and bΛ, so it can be written as a linear combination dΛ=xaΛ+ybΛ for some scalars x,y (this is exactly what "coplanar with two given vectors, through the origin" means). The perpendicularity condition dΛβ cΛ=0 then gives one constraint relating x and y, so dΛ is pinned down up to a single scalar multiple β which the given magnitude β£dΛβ£=2β finally fixes (up to sign, since both directions along that line satisfy all the stated conditions).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given aΛ=(3,β1,β1), bΛ=(1,1,β2), cΛ=(2,2,1).
- Since dΛ is coplanar with aΛ,bΛ, write dΛ=xaΛ+ybΛ=(3x+y,βx+y,βxβ2y).
- Perpendicularity to cΛ: dΛβ cΛ=0:
2(3x+y)+2(βx+y)+1(βxβ2y)=0
6x+2yβ2x+2yβxβ2y=0βΉ3x+2y=0βΉy=β23xβ.
- Substitute back:
dΛ=(3xβ23xβ,Β βxβ23xβ,Β βx+3x)=(23xβ,β25xβ,2x).
Let x=2t to clear fractions: dΛ=(3t,β5t,4t)=t(3,β5,4). β¦
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If a and b are two vectors such that β£aβ£=2, β£bβ£=3 and a+tb and aβtb are perpendicular, where 't' is a positive scalar, then (A) t=Β±32β (B) t=94β (C) t=32β (D) t=92β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Perpendicularity of a+tb and aβtb forces β£aβ£2=t2β£bβ£2, giving the positive value t=2/3.
Concept and Intuition
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero. Expanding (a+tb)β (aβtb) using the distributive property of the dot product collapses to a simple difference of squared magnitudes, since aβ b cancels.
Step-by-Step Solution
- (a+tb)β (aβtb)=aβ aβtaβ b+tbβ aβt2bβ b=β£aβ£2βt2β£bβ£2.
- Setting this to zero (perpendicularity): β£aβ£2=t2β£bβ£2.
- Substitute β£aβ£=2, β£bβ£=3: 4=9t2βt2=94β. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.If the vectors 2iΛ+3jΛβ+lkΛ, β3iΛβ2jΛββ4lkΛ and iΛβjΛβ+3lkΛ form a right angled triangle for a positive value of l, then the length of its hypotenuse is (A) 340ββ (B) 355ββ (C) 365ββ (D) 359ββ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Because the three given vectors sum to zero, they are the side vectors of a closed triangle; finding which pair is mutually perpendicular locates the right angle, and the third side (opposite that angle) is the hypotenuse whose length we compute.
Concept and Intuition
If three vectors u,v,w satisfy u+v+w=0Λ, they can be laid tip-to-tail to close a triangle β this is exactly the vector-polygon condition. The vertex where two of them (as drawn, not reversed) are mutually perpendicular is the right-angle vertex of the triangle, and the side "opposite" that vertex β i.e. the third vector β is the hypotenuse. So the whole problem reduces to (a) finding which pair dots to zero for some positive l, and (b) computing that third vector's magnitude.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=(2,3,l), v=(β3,β2,β4l), w=(1,β1,3l).
- Check closure: u+v+w=(2β3+1,3β2β1,lβ4l+3l)=(0,0,0) β confirmed, they form a triangle.
- Test each pair's dot product for a value making it zero (this locates the right angle):
- uβ v=β6β6β4l2=β12β4l2 β never zero for real l.
- vβ w=β3+2β12l2=β1β12l2 β never zero for real l.
- uβ w=2β3+3l2=3l2β1 β zero when l2=31β, i.e. l=3β1β>0. β (matches "positive value of l" in the problem.) β¦
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-AN1 markMCQQ.The number of vectors of unit length perpendicular to the two vectors a=(1,1,0) and b=(0,1,1) is (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) Infinite
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The cross product gives one direction perpendicular to both vectors, and its two unit multiples (+ and β) are the only unit vectors satisfying the condition.
Concept and Intuition
Any vector perpendicular to two given non-parallel vectors must be a scalar multiple of their cross product; normalizing gives exactly two opposite unit vectors.
Step-by-Step Solution
- a=(1,1,0), b=(0,1,1).
- aΓb=βi^10βj^β11βk^01ββ=i^(1β 1β0β 1)βj^β(1β 1β0β 0)+k^(1β 1β1β 0)=(1,β1,1). β¦
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If a=23βk^, b=22i^+2j^ββk^β, then angle between a+b and aβb is (A) 45β (B) 90β (C) 30β (D) 60β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Computing (a+b)β (aβb) gives zero, so the two vectors are perpendicular.
Concept and Intuition
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product vanishes. Rather than compute the angle via magnitudes and cosine, it's fastest to just test (a+b)β (aβb)=β£aβ£2ββ£bβ£2 or, more generally here, expand directly since a,b aren't simply given by magnitude alone (they have specific components).
Step-by-Step Solution
- a=23βk^=(0,0,23β).
- b=22i^+2j^ββk^β=i^+j^ββ21βk^=(1,1,β21β).
- a+b=(1,1,23ββ21β)=(1,1,1).
- aβb=(β1,β1,23β+21β)=(β1,β1,2).
- Dot product: (1)(β1)+(1)(β1)+(1)(2)=β1β1+2=0. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.Let a=2iβ3jββ5k and b=3i+2jββ5k be two vectors and r be a vector in the plane of a and b. If r is orthogonal to the vector 5iβ2jβ+3k and the magnitude of r is 94β, then β£rβ bβ£= (A) 36 (B) 38 (C) 42 (D) 46
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Since r is in the plane of a,b and perpendicular to n, it must be parallel to (aΓb)Γn; scaling this to the given magnitude 94β and dotting with b gives β£rβ bβ£=46.
Concept and Intuition
Two conditions pin down r's direction uniquely (up to sign and scale): (1) r lies in the plane of a,b, meaning rβ₯N where N=aΓb is the plane's normal; (2) rβ₯n (given). A vector perpendicular to both N and n must be parallel to NΓn.
Step-by-Step Solution
- a=(2,β3,β5), b=(3,2,β5). Compute N=aΓb: Niβ=(β3)(β5)β(β5)(2)=15+10=25 Njβ=β[(2)(β5)β(β5)(3)]=β[β10+15]=β5 Nkβ=(2)(2)β(β3)(3)=4+9=13 So N=(25,β5,13).
- n=(5,β2,3). Compute NΓn: i: (β5)(3)β(13)(β2)=β15+26=11 j: β[(25)(3)β(13)(5)]=β[75β65]=β10 k: (25)(β2)β(β5)(5)=β50+25=β25 So NΓn=(11,β10,β25).
- r=Ξ»(11,β10,β25) for some scalar Ξ». β£NΓnβ£2=121+100+625=846.
- β£rβ£2=Ξ»2(846)=94βΞ»2=84694β=91ββΞ»=Β±31β. β¦
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