Q.Let a, b, c be three vectors such that ∣a∣=3, ∣b∣=4, ∣c∣=5 and each one of them being perpendicular to the sum of the other two, find ∣a+b+c∣.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Perpendicular Vectors Condition
Perpendicular Vectors Condition
Two arrows that meet at a right angle — one east, one north — 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.
a⊥b⟺a⋅b=0
Why? Using a⋅b=∥a∥∥b∥cosθ, a right angle gives cos90∘=0, so the dot product vanishes. In coordinates, for a=(a1,a2,a3) and b=(b1,b2,b3),
a⋅b=a1b1+a2b2+a3b3,
and you simply check whether this sum is 0.
Examples
2D: a=(3,4), b=(4,−3): 3(4)+4(−3)=12−12=0 — perpendicular. (In general (x,y) and (y,−x) are always perpendicular.)
3D: p=(1,2,3), q=(2,−1,0): 2−2+0=0 — perpendicular.
Not every pair qualifies: (2,1)⋅(1,3)=2+3=5=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 …
Concept: Perpendicular Vectors Condition — if x⊥y, then x⋅y=0.
Given: each vector is perpendicular to the sum of the other two.
So:
a⋅(b+c)=0,b⋅(c+a)=0,c⋅(a+b)=0.
From the first: a⋅b+a⋅c=0.
From the second: b⋅c+b⋅a=0.
From the third: c⋅a+c⋅b=0.
Adding all three gives:
2(a⋅b+b⋅c+c⋅a)=0⇒a⋅b+b⋅c+c⋅a=0.
Now, …
The key idea is that each vector is perpendicular to the sum of the other two, which forces the three vectors to be mutually perpendicular. Using the Pythagorean theorem in vector form, the magnitude of the sum is 32+42+52=50=52.
The condition “each vector is perpendicular to the sum of the other two” is a compact way of saying three things at once:
- a⊥(b+c)
- b⊥(c+a)
- c⊥(a+b)
When two vectors are perpendicular, their dot product is zero. So this condition translates into three dot-product equations. Let’s see what they reveal.
Step 1: Write the perpendicularity conditions as dot products
a⋅(b+c)=0⇒a⋅b+a⋅c=0
b⋅(c+a)=0⇒b⋅c+b⋅a=0
c⋅(a+b)=0⇒c⋅a+c⋅b=0
These are three equations in the three unknown dot products. Let’s label them for clarity:
Let x=a⋅b, y=b⋅c, z=c⋅a.
Then the equations become:
x+z=0(1)
y+x=0(2)
z+y=0(3)
Step 2: Solve for the dot products
From (1): z=−x
From (2): y=−x
Substitute into (3): (−x)+(−x)=0⇒−2x=0⇒x=0
Then y=0 and z=0.
So all three dot products are zero:
a⋅b=b⋅c=c⋅a=0
The condition “each vector is perpendicular to the sum of the other two” forces the three vectors to be pairwise perpendicular. This is a neat logical leap — it’s not obvious at first glance, but the algebra confirms it.
Step 3: Use the pairwise perpendicularity to find ∣a+b+c∣
When vectors are mutually perpendicular, the square of the magnitude of their sum is simply the sum of the squares of their magnitudes. This is the vector version of the Pythagorean theorem.
∣a+b+c∣2=(a+b+c)⋅(a+b+c)
Expand: …
Method: Magnitude of a vector sum from perpendicularity conditions
Convert every "perpendicular" statement into a dot-product-equals-zero equation, deduce the pairwise dot products, then expand ∣a+b+c∣2.
Steps
Step 1: Turn each perpendicularity into a dot equation
"a perpendicular to b+c" means a⋅(b+c)=0, i.e. a⋅b+a⋅c=0. Write one such equation for each condition.
Step 2: Solve for the pairwise dot products
Adding or comparing the equations typically forces each pairwise dot product to zero — meaning the three vectors are mutually perpendicular.
Step 3: Expand the squared magnitude of the sum …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Adding the magnitudes directly, ∣a+b+c∣=∣a∣+∣b∣+∣c∣.
Why it's wrong: magnitude is not additive; the length of a sum depends on directions, captured by the cross terms. Correct approach: expand ∣a+b+c∣2 and take the square root at the end.
Mistake 2: Dropping the 2(a⋅b+b⋅c+c⋅a) cross terms.
Why it's wrong: the square of a three-term sum contains every pairwise product; ignoring them gives the wrong value whenever the vectors are not perpendicular. Correct approach: always write the full expansion, then use the perpendicularity results to zero out the cross terms. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 25 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If aˉ=2iˉ+3jˉ,bˉ=3jˉ+4kˉ and cˉ=5iˉ+4kˉ are three vectors, then a vector which is perpendicular to aˉ and bˉ×cˉ is (A) 45iˉ−30jˉ+15kˉ (B) 3iˉ−2jˉ+kˉ (C) −30iˉ+20jˉ+4kˉ (D) −45iˉ+30jˉ+4kˉ
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the vector-triple-product idea: a vector perpendicular to both aˉ and bˉ×cˉ is simply aˉ×(bˉ×cˉ).
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 aˉ AND to bˉ×cˉ, the natural candidate is aˉ×(bˉ×cˉ) — it is perpendicular to aˉ by definition of cross product, and perpendicular to bˉ×cˉ for the same reason. No need to invoke the full triple-product expansion formula; we just compute it directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given aˉ=2iˉ+3jˉ+0kˉ, bˉ=0iˉ+3jˉ+4kˉ, cˉ=5iˉ+0jˉ+4kˉ.
- Compute bˉ×cˉ=iˉ05jˉ30kˉ44 =iˉ(3⋅4−4⋅0)−jˉ(0⋅4−4⋅5)+kˉ(0⋅0−3⋅5)=12iˉ+20jˉ−15kˉ.
- Compute aˉ×(bˉ×cˉ)=iˉ212jˉ320kˉ0−15 …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.If the vectors 2iˉ+3jˉ+lkˉ, −3iˉ−2jˉ−4lkˉ and iˉ−jˉ+3lkˉ form a right angled triangle for a positive value of l, then the length of its hypotenuse is (A) 340 (B) 355 (C) 365 (D) 359
›Reveal 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=0ˉ, they can be laid tip-to-tail to close a triangle — 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 — i.e. the third vector — 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=(−3,−2,−4l), w=(1,−1,3l).
- Check closure: u+v+w=(2−3+1,3−2−1,l−4l+3l)=(0,0,0) — confirmed, they form a triangle.
- Test each pair's dot product for a value making it zero (this locates the right angle):
- u⋅v=−6−6−4l2=−12−4l2 — never zero for real l.
- v⋅w=−3+2−12l2=−1−12l2 — never zero for real l.
- u⋅w=2−3+3l2=3l2−1 — zero when l2=31, i.e. l=31>0. ✓ (matches "positive value of l" in the problem.) …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.Let aˉ=3iˉ−jˉ−kˉ, bˉ=iˉ+jˉ−2kˉ and cˉ=2iˉ+2jˉ+kˉ. Let dˉ be a vector such that ∣dˉ∣=2 units. If the vector dˉ is coplanar with aˉ,bˉ and perpendicular to cˉ, then dˉ= (A) ±51(3iˉ−5jˉ+4kˉ) (B) ±51(−4iˉ+5jˉ−3kˉ) (C) ±51(3iˉ+5jˉ−4kˉ) (D) ±51(−3iˉ+5jˉ+4kˉ)
›Reveal solutionSolution
dˉ coplanar with aˉ,bˉ means dˉ=xaˉ+ybˉ; perpendicularity to cˉ fixes the ratio x:y; the given magnitude fixes the scale. The answer is (A).
Concept and Intuition
"Coplanar with aˉ,bˉ" means dˉ lies in the plane spanned by aˉ and bˉ, so it can be written as a linear combination dˉ=xaˉ+ybˉ for some scalars x,y (this is exactly what "coplanar with two given vectors, through the origin" means). The perpendicularity condition dˉ⋅cˉ=0 then gives one constraint relating x and y, so dˉ is pinned down up to a single scalar multiple — which the given magnitude ∣dˉ∣=2 finally fixes (up to sign, since both directions along that line satisfy all the stated conditions).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given aˉ=(3,−1,−1), bˉ=(1,1,−2), cˉ=(2,2,1).
- Since dˉ is coplanar with aˉ,bˉ, write dˉ=xaˉ+ybˉ=(3x+y,−x+y,−x−2y).
- Perpendicularity to cˉ: dˉ⋅cˉ=0:
2(3x+y)+2(−x+y)+1(−x−2y)=0
6x+2y−2x+2y−x−2y=0⟹3x+2y=0⟹y=−23x.
- Substitute back:
dˉ=(3x−23x, −x−23x, −x+3x)=(23x,−25x,2x).
Let x=2t to clear fractions: dˉ=(3t,−5t,4t)=t(3,−5,4). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.aˉ,bˉ,cˉ are unit vectors. If aˉ,bˉ are perpendicular vectors, (aˉ−cˉ).(bˉ+cˉ)=0 and cˉ=laˉ+mbˉ+n(aˉ×bˉ); (l, m, n are scalars), then n2= (A) l2+m2 (B) −2lm (C) 2l−2m (D) lm+l+m
›Reveal solutionSolution
Because aˉ,bˉ,aˉ×bˉ form an orthonormal triad, decomposing cˉ in this basis and using the given perpendicularity condition shows n2=−2lm.
Concept and Intuition
When aˉ and bˉ are perpendicular unit vectors, aˉ×bˉ is automatically a unit vector too (since ∣aˉ×bˉ∣=∣aˉ∣∣bˉ∣sin90°=1) and is perpendicular to both aˉ and bˉ. So {aˉ,bˉ,aˉ×bˉ} is an orthonormal basis — 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 aˉ⊥bˉ and both are unit vectors, aˉ.bˉ=0 and {aˉ,bˉ,aˉ×bˉ} is orthonormal.
- Expand (aˉ−cˉ).(bˉ+cˉ)=0: aˉ.bˉ+aˉ.cˉ−cˉ.bˉ−cˉ.cˉ=0.
- Since aˉ.bˉ=0 and cˉ.cˉ=∣cˉ∣2=1 (unit vector): aˉ.cˉ−bˉ.cˉ−1=0⇒aˉ.cˉ−bˉ.cˉ=1.
- Given cˉ=laˉ+mbˉ+n(aˉ×bˉ), dot with aˉ: aˉ.cˉ=l(aˉ.aˉ)+m(aˉ.bˉ)+n⋅aˉ.(aˉ×bˉ)=l(1)+m(0)+n(0)=l (since aˉ.(aˉ×bˉ)=0, a vector is always perpendicular to a cross product it's part of).
- Similarly, dot with bˉ: bˉ.cˉ=l(bˉ.aˉ)+m(bˉ.bˉ)+n⋅bˉ.(aˉ×bˉ)=0+m(1)+0=m.
- From step 3: l−m=1. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.The vector of magnitude 2 lying in the plane of aˉ=2iˉ−jˉ+kˉ and bˉ=iˉ+3jˉ−5kˉ and perpendicular to the vector cˉ=iˉ+jˉ+kˉ is (A) 612(4iˉ+5jˉ−9kˉ) (B) 92(2iˉ+3jˉ−5kˉ) (C) 312(iˉ+5jˉ−6kˉ) (D) 132(−iˉ−3jˉ+4kˉ)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests writing a vector "in the plane of aˉ,bˉ" as a linear combination αaˉ+βbˉ, using perpendicularity to cˉ to pin the ratio α:β, and finally scaling the resulting direction to the required magnitude.
Concept and Intuition
Every vector lying in the plane spanned by aˉ and bˉ is some linear combination αaˉ+βbˉ — that's what "lying in the plane" means. The extra condition (perpendicular to cˉ) gives one linear equation in α,β, 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 dˉ=αaˉ+βbˉ for some scalars α,β (this covers every vector in the plane of aˉ,bˉ).
- Require dˉ⋅cˉ=0: α(aˉ⋅cˉ)+β(bˉ⋅cˉ)=0.
- aˉ⋅cˉ=(2)(1)+(−1)(1)+(1)(1)=2−1+1=2. bˉ⋅cˉ=(1)(1)+(3)(1)+(−5)(1)=1+3−5=−1.
- So 2α−β=0⇒β=2α. Taking α=1,β=2: direction =aˉ+2bˉ=(2+2,−1+6,1−10)=(4,5,−9).
- Magnitude of this direction: 42+52+(−9)2=16+25+81=122. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If a and b are two vectors such that ∣a∣=2, ∣b∣=3 and a+tb and a−tb are perpendicular, where 't' is a positive scalar, then (A) t=±32 (B) t=94 (C) t=32 (D) t=92
›Reveal solutionSolution
Perpendicularity of a+tb and a−tb forces ∣a∣2=t2∣b∣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)⋅(a−tb) using the distributive property of the dot product collapses to a simple difference of squared magnitudes, since a⋅b cancels.
Step-by-Step Solution
- (a+tb)⋅(a−tb)=a⋅a−ta⋅b+tb⋅a−t2b⋅b=∣a∣2−t2∣b∣2.
- Setting this to zero (perpendicularity): ∣a∣2=t2∣b∣2.
- Substitute ∣a∣=2, ∣b∣=3: 4=9t2⇒t2=94. …
- 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
›Reveal solutionSolution
The cross product gives one direction perpendicular to both vectors, and its two unit multiples (+ and −) 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).
- a×b=i^10j^11k^01=i^(1⋅1−0⋅1)−j^(1⋅1−0⋅0)+k^(1⋅1−1⋅0)=(1,−1,1). …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.Let a=2i−3j−5k and b=3i+2j−5k be two vectors and r be a vector in the plane of a and b. If r is orthogonal to the vector 5i−2j+3k and the magnitude of r is 94, then ∣r⋅b∣= (A) 36 (B) 38 (C) 42 (D) 46
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since r is in the plane of a,b and perpendicular to n, it must be parallel to (a×b)×n; scaling this to the given magnitude 94 and dotting with b gives ∣r⋅b∣=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 r⊥N where N=a×b is the plane's normal; (2) r⊥n (given). A vector perpendicular to both N and n must be parallel to N×n.
Step-by-Step Solution
- a=(2,−3,−5), b=(3,2,−5). Compute N=a×b: Ni=(−3)(−5)−(−5)(2)=15+10=25 Nj=−[(2)(−5)−(−5)(3)]=−[−10+15]=−5 Nk=(2)(2)−(−3)(3)=4+9=13 So N=(25,−5,13).
- n=(5,−2,3). Compute N×n: i: (−5)(3)−(13)(−2)=−15+26=11 j: −[(25)(3)−(13)(5)]=−[75−65]=−10 k: (25)(−2)−(−5)(5)=−50+25=−25 So N×n=(11,−10,−25).
- r=λ(11,−10,−25) for some scalar λ. ∣N×n∣2=121+100+625=846.
- ∣r∣2=λ2(846)=94⇒λ2=84694=91⇒λ=±31. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.Let ABC be an equilateral triangle of side a. M and N are two points on the sides AB and AC respectively such that AN=KAC and AB=3AM. If the vectors BN and CM are perpendicular, then K= (A) 51 (B) 52 (C) −51 (D) −52
›Reveal solutionSolution
Express BN and CM in terms of the two sides from A, use the 60∘ dot product of an equilateral triangle, and set the perpendicularity condition to zero to solve for K=51.
Concept and Intuition
Placing the vertex A at the origin turns every other point into a simple scalar multiple of the two side vectors AB and AC. Perpendicularity of two vectors becomes an algebraic condition: their dot product is zero. For an equilateral triangle, AB.AC=a2cos60∘=2a2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let A be the origin, cˉ=AB, bˉ=AC, with ∣bˉ∣=∣cˉ∣=a and bˉ.cˉ=2a2.
- Since AB=3AM, M=3cˉ. Since AN=KAC, N=Kbˉ.
- BN=N−B=Kbˉ−cˉ, and CM=M−C=3cˉ−bˉ.
- Perpendicularity: BN.CM=0: (Kbˉ−cˉ).(3cˉ−bˉ)=3K(bˉ.cˉ)−K∣bˉ∣2−31∣cˉ∣2+bˉ.cˉ=0.
- Substitute ∣bˉ∣2=∣cˉ∣2=a2, bˉ.cˉ=a2/2: …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.aˉ=iˉ−jˉ+kˉ, bˉ=2iˉ+jˉ+kˉ are two vectors and cˉ is a unit vector lying in the plane of aˉ and bˉ. If cˉ is perpendicular to bˉ then cˉ.(iˉ+jˉ+2kˉ)= (A) 0 (B) 5 (C) 211 (D) 212
›Reveal 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 211.
Concept and Intuition
Any vector in the plane spanned by aˉ and bˉ can be written as a linear combination maˉ+nbˉ. Imposing perpendicularity to bˉ gives one linear equation in m,n, pinning down the direction of cˉ up to a scalar (which is then fixed by the unit-length condition).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let cˉ=maˉ+nbˉ where aˉ=(1,−1,1), bˉ=(2,1,1).
- cˉ⋅bˉ=0⇒m(aˉ⋅bˉ)+n(bˉ⋅bˉ)=0.
- aˉ⋅bˉ=1(2)+(−1)(1)+1(1)=2−1+1=2. bˉ⋅bˉ=4+1+1=6.
- So 2m+6n=0⇒m=−3n.
- cˉ∥−3naˉ+nbˉ=n(−3aˉ+bˉ)=n((−3,3,−3)+(2,1,1))=n(−1,4,−2).
- Direction vector (−1,4,−2) has magnitude 1+16+4=21, so the unit vector is ±21(−1,4,−2). …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-FN1 markMCQQ.Let u=2i+3j+k, v=−3i+2j and w=i−j+4k. Then which of the following statement is true? (A) u is perpendicular to v but not w (B) v is perpendicular to w but not u (C) w is perpendicular to u but not v (D) u is perpendicular to both v and w
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct dot products show u⋅v=0 (perpendicular) and u⋅w=3=0 (not perpendicular), matching option (A).
Concept and Intuition
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero. Checking each pair's dot product directly settles every option — no need for angle or cross-product computation.
Step-by-Step Solution
- u⋅v=(2)(−3)+(3)(2)+(1)(0)=−6+6+0=0 — so u⊥v.
- u⋅w=(2)(1)+(3)(−1)+(1)(4)=2−3+4=3=0 — so u is not perpendicular to w.
- For completeness, v⋅w=(−3)(1)+(2)(−1)+(0)(4)=−3−2+0=−5=0 — v is also not perpendicular to w. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.If ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral with R as the radius of the circumcircle and (AB)2+(CD)2=4R2 then (A) bˉ.cˉ−aˉ.dˉ=0 (B) aˉ.cˉ−bˉ.dˉ=0 (C) aˉ.bˉ+cˉ.dˉ=0 (D) aˉ.cˉ+bˉ.dˉ=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expressing each chord-length in terms of position vectors from the circumcenter turns the given length condition directly into a dot-product identity — the answer is (C).
Concept and Intuition
For points on a circle of radius R centered at the origin, the squared distance between two points pˉ,qˉ on the circle is ∣qˉ−pˉ∣2=∣qˉ∣2+∣pˉ∣2−2pˉ⋅qˉ=2R2−2pˉ⋅qˉ, since ∣pˉ∣=∣qˉ∣=R.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let aˉ,bˉ,cˉ,dˉ be position vectors of A,B,C,D from the circumcenter, so ∣aˉ∣=∣bˉ∣=∣cˉ∣=∣dˉ∣=R.
- AB2=∣bˉ−aˉ∣2=∣aˉ∣2+∣bˉ∣2−2aˉ⋅bˉ=2R2−2aˉ⋅bˉ.
- Similarly, CD2=2R2−2cˉ⋅dˉ.
- Given AB2+CD2=4R2: (2R2−2aˉ⋅bˉ)+(2R2−2cˉ⋅dˉ)=4R2. …
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