Q.If a=i^+j^+2k^ and b=2i^+j^−2k^, find the unit vector in the direction of
Concept understanding — Unit Vector Scaling
Unit Vector Scaling: From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you're drawing an arrow on graph paper. It has a direction and a length. Now suppose you want to keep the direction exactly the same, but make the arrow exactly one unit long. That's the core idea of unit vector scaling: take any vector and shrink or stretch it so its length becomes 1, without changing where it points.
The Intuition First
Think of a vector as a "directed step." A step of 3 metres north-east is a vector of length 3 in the north-east direction. To get a unit vector in the same direction, you'd take a step of exactly 1 metre north-east — scaling the original down by a factor of 3.
The key insight: direction is independent of length. A vector pointing north-east at length 5 and one at length 1 share the same direction. Unit vector scaling isolates that direction by forcing the length to be exactly 1.
The Precise Statement
v^=∥v∥v
Here v is any non-zero vector, ∥v∥ is its magnitude, and v^ ("v-hat") is the unit vector in the same direction. The operation: divide each component by the vector's length.
Example in 2D
Take v=(3,4). Its length is:
∥v∥=32+42=25=5
The unit vector is v^=(53,54).
Check: (3/5)2+(4/5)2=25/25=1. Direction unchanged — the ratio 3:4 is preserved.
Example in 3D
For v=(2,−1,2):
∥v∥=22+(−1)2+22=9=3
v^=(32,−31,32)
Why This Matters
Unit vectors are the building blocks of direction. In physics they represent pure directions for forces, velocities, or fields; in computer graphics, camera orientations and light directions. In mathematics they simplify dot products and projections — the dot product of a unit vector with another vector directly gives the component of that vector along the unit vector's direction.
You cannot scale the zero vector to a unit vector — division by zero is undefined. The zero vector has no direction to preserve.
The One-Line Summary
Unit vector scaling takes any non-zero vector and divides it by its own length, producing a vector of length 1 that points exactly where the original pointed.
Normalising a vector into a unit vector is a routine computation throughout the NCERT Class 12 Vector Algebra chapter and appears constantly in CBSE board numericals and JEE Main problems. "Unit vector formula class 12 with examples" is a common search among students building up to direction-cosine and dot-product questions.
A unit vector in the direction of v is ∣v∣v. Note 6b points the same way as b.
a=i^+j^+2k^, b=2i^+j^−2k^.
(i) 6b=12i^+6j^−12k^, ∣6b∣=144+36+144=18.
Unit vector =1812i^+6j^−12k^=31(2i^+j^−2k^).
(ii) 2a−b=(2−2)i^+(2−1)j^+(4+2)k^=j^+6k^, ∣2a−b∣=0+1+36=37.
Unit vector =37j^+6k^.
- 31(2i^+j^−2k^);
- 371(j^+6k^)
6b has the same direction as b, giving unit vector 31(2i^+j^−2k^); and 2a−b=j^+6k^ gives unit vector 371(j^+6k^).
The idea
A unit vector in the direction of a non-zero vector v is v^=∣v∣v. Multiplying a vector by a positive scalar (like 6) does not change its direction, only its length — so 6b and b share the same unit vector.
Part (i): direction of 6b
6b=6(2i^+j^−2k^)=12i^+6j^−12k^
∣6b∣=122+62+(−12)2=144+36+144=324=18
6b=1812i^+6j^−12k^=31(2i^+j^−2k^)
Part (ii): direction of 2a−b
2a=2i^+2j^+4k^
2a−b=(2−2)i^+(2−1)j^+(4−(−2))k^=0i^+j^+6k^
Mind the sign on the k^ term: 4−(−2)=6.
∣2a−b∣=02+12+62=37
unit=37j^+6k^
- 31(2i^+j^−2k^);
- 371(j^+6k^)
Method: Unit vectors of scaled and combined vectors
Use this for "find the unit vector in the direction of kb / ma+nb" type parts.
Steps
Step 1: Exploit that a positive scalar does not change direction.
A vector like 6b points the same way as b, so it has the same unit vector as b — you may normalise b directly and skip multiplying by 6. This shortcut applies only to a single positive multiple, not to a genuine combination.
Step 2: Form each target vector by component arithmetic, watching signs.
For a combination such as 2a−b, compute component by component and be careful subtracting a negative coordinate (e.g. 4−(−2)=6).
Step 3: Divide each target vector by its own magnitude.
v^=∣v∣v.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Computing the unit vector of 6b as ∣b∣6b.
Why it's wrong: you must divide by the magnitude of the same vector, ∣6b∣=6∣b∣=18; dividing by ∣b∣ leaves a length-6 vector. Correct approach: divide 6b by ∣6b∣ — or just note 6b shares b's unit vector.
Mistake 2: Sign slip in 2a−b on the k^ term.
Why it's wrong: 4−(−2)=6, not 2; subtracting a negative adds. Correct approach: substitute the sign explicitly before subtracting.
Mistake 3: Writing j^+6k^ as the final answer for part (ii).
Why it's wrong: that is the direction vector, not yet a unit vector. Correct approach: divide by ∣2a−b∣=37.
Showing the 12 most recent of 40 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set V11 markMCQQ.If a is a nonzero vector of magnitude a and λ, a nonzero scalar then λa is a unit vector if(a) λ=1(b) λ=−1(c) a=∣λ∣(d) a=∣λ∣1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Requiring ∣λa∣=1 gives ∣λ∣a=1, i.e. a=∣λ∣1; answer (d).
The magnitude of λa is
∣λa∣=∣λ∣∣a∣=∣λ∣a.
For it to be a unit vector we need ∣λ∣a=1, which rearranges to
a=∣λ∣1.
✓Final answer(d) a=∣λ∣1
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The unit vector in the direction of the vector a=i^+j^+2k^ is(a) 5i^+j^+2k^(b) 6i^+j^+k^(c) 62i^+j^+k^(d) 6i^+j^+2k^
›Reveal solutionSolution
A unit vector along a is a/∣a∣.
∣a∣=12+12+22=6.
Unit vector =6i^+j^+2k^.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) 6i^+j^+2k^.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If a=2i^−7j^−3k^ then a^=(a) 622i^−7j^−3k^(b) 2i^−7j^−3k^(c) 621(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
A unit vector in the direction of a is a^=∣a∣a.
∣a∣=22+(−7)2+(−3)2=4+49+9=62.
a^=622i^−7j^−3k^.
✓Final answer(a) 622i^−7j^−3k^.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector a=i^+j^+2k^.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Compute the magnitude of a, then divide the vector by its magnitude to get the unit vector.
Given a=i^+j^+2k^.
Step 1: Find the magnitude.
∣a∣=12+12+22=1+1+4=6
Step 2: Divide by the magnitude.
a^=∣a∣a=6i^+j^+2k^
a^=61i^+61j^+62k^
Check: ∣a^∣=(61)2+(61)2+(62)2=61+61+64=66=1 ✓
✓Final answera^=61i^+61j^+62k^
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If a=i^+7j^+4k^ and b=3i^+j^+k^, then what is the unit vector in the direction of a−b?(i) 71(2i^+6j^−3k^)(ii) 71(−2i^+6j^+3k^)(iii) 71(−2i^−6j^+3k^)(iv) 71(2i^−6j^+3k^)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find a−b, its magnitude, then divide by the magnitude.
a−b=(1−3)i^+(7−1)j^+(4−1)k^=−2i^+6j^+3k^
Magnitude:
∣a−b∣=(−2)2+62+32=4+36+9=49=7
Unit vector:
(a−b)=∣a−b∣a−b=71(−2i^+6j^+3k^)
✓Final answer(ii) 71(−2i^+6j^+3k^).
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If a is a non-zero vector of magnitude 'a' and 'λ' is a non-zero scalar, then λa is a unit vector if OR The value of i^⋅(j^×k^)+j^⋅(i^×k^)+k^⋅(i^×j^) is(a) 0(b) -1(c) 1(d) 3(a) λ=1(b) λ=−1(c) a=∣λ∣(d) a=∣λ∣1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A vector is a unit vector when its magnitude equals 1; use ∣λa∣=∣λ∣∣a∣.
Given ∣a∣=a (=0) and scalar λ (=0), the magnitude of λa is
∣λa∣=∣λ∣∣a∣=∣λ∣a.
For λa to be a unit vector we need ∣λa∣=1:
∣λ∣a=1 ⇒ a=∣λ∣1.
Checking the options: (a) λ=1 and (b) λ=−1 force a specific λ but ignore a; (c) a=∣λ∣ is the reciprocal of the correct relation. Only (d) a=∣λ∣1 works.
✓Final answer(d) a=∣λ∣1
Alternative (Or):
Evaluate each scalar triple product using j^×k^=i^, etc.
Compute term by term:
i^⋅(j^×k^)=i^⋅i^=1,
j^⋅(i^×k^)=j^⋅(−j^)=−1,
k^⋅(i^×j^)=k^⋅k^=1.
Adding: 1+(−1)+1=1.
✓Final answer(c) 1
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The unit vector in the direction of the vector a=i^+j^+2k^ is(a) 21i^+21j^+k^(b) 31i^+31j^+32k^(c) 51i^+51j^+52k^(d) 61i^+61j^+62k^
›Reveal solutionSolution
Unit vector =a/∣a∣; here ∣a∣=6.
Given a=i^+j^+2k^.
∣a∣=12+12+22=1+1+4=6
The unit vector in the direction of a is:
a^=∣a∣a=61i^+61j^+62k^
✓Final answer(d) 61i^+61j^+62k^
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If a⃗ is a non-zero vector of magnitude 'a' and λ is a non-zero scalar, then λa⃗ is a unit vector if –(i) λ = 1(ii) λ = −1(iii) a = 1/|λ|(iv) a = |λ|
›Reveal solutionSolution
A unit vector has magnitude 1; set ∣λa∣=1 and solve for a=∣a∣.
a has magnitude a=∣a∣. Then ∣λa∣=∣λ∣∣a∣=∣λ∣a.
For λa to be a unit vector: ∣λ∣a=1⇒a=∣λ∣1.
✓Final answera=∣λ∣1 — option (iii).
- CBSE 2024Set A11 markMCQQ.The unit vector in the direction of a=i^+j^+2k^ is(a) 6i^−j^−2k^(b) 6i^+j^+2k^(c) 6i^−j^+2k^(d) 6i^+j^−2k^
›Reveal solutionSolution
Divide a by its magnitude 6 to get the unit vector, so (b).
The magnitude is ∣a∣=12+12+22=6. The unit vector is a^=∣a∣a=6i^+j^+2k^.
✓Final answer(b) 6i^+j^+2k^
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the value of x for which x(i^+j^+k^) is a unit vector.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Set the magnitude of x(i^+j^+k^) equal to 1 and solve for x.
The vector is xi^+xj^+xk^. Its magnitude is:
x(i^+j^+k^)=x2+x2+x2=∣x∣3
For this to be a unit vector:
∣x∣3=1⟹∣x∣=31⟹x=±31
✓Final answerx=±31
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.If a=i+j+2k, then the corresponding unit vector a^ in the direction of a is(a) 6i+j+k(b) 6i+j+2k(c) 6i+j+2k(d) 6i+j+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
Unit vector =a/∣a∣.
∣a∣=∣i+j+2k∣=12+12+22=6. Hence
a^=∣a∣a=6i+j+2k.
✓Final answer(B) 6i+j+2k
- CBSE 2024Set A1 markQ.If x⋅(i^+j^+k^) is a unit vector, write the value of x.
›Reveal solutionSolution
If x(i^+j^+k^) is a unit vector then x=±31.
The magnitude of i^+j^+k^ is 12+12+12=3. For x(i^+j^+k^) to be a unit vector we need ∣x∣3=1, i.e. ∣x∣=31, so x=±31.
✓Final answerx=±31.
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