Q.Show that the points A(2i^−j^+k^), B(i^−3j^−5k^), C(3i^−4j^−4k^) are the vertices of a right angled triangle.
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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 …
Key idea: two sides of a triangle meet at a right angle when their dot product is zero. Test the sides at each vertex.
Step 1 — Side vectors.
AB=B−A=−i^−2j^−6k^
BC=C−B=2i^−j^+k^
CA=A−C=−i^+3j^+5k^
Step 2 — Look for a zero dot product. At vertex C the two sides meeting there are CA and CB=−BC=−2i^+j^−k^:
CA⋅CB=(−1)(−2)+(3)(1)+(5)(−1)=2+3−5=0. …
The sides CA and CB have dot product 0, so they are perpendicular — the triangle is right-angled at vertex C.
To show three points make a right-angled triangle, we build the vectors along the sides and test whether any two sides that share a vertex are perpendicular. Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero.
1. Write the side vectors
With A(2i^−j^+k^), B(i^−3j^−5k^), C(3i^−4j^−4k^):
AB=B−A=−i^−2j^−6k^
BC=C−B=2i^−j^+k^
CA=A−C=−i^+3j^+5k^
2. Confirm a genuine triangle
AB and CA are not scalar multiples of one another (the component ratios −1/−1, −2/3, −6/5 disagree), so the points are non-collinear and a triangle really exists.
3. Test each vertex for a right angle
The dot product must be taken between the two sides that meet at the vertex being tested.
At A (sides AB and AC=−CA=i^−3j^−5k^):
AB⋅AC=(−1)(1)+(−2)(−3)+(−6)(−5)=−1+6+30=35=0.
At B (sides BA=i^+2j^+6k^ and BC):
BA⋅BC=(1)(2)+(2)(−1)+(6)(1)=2−2+6=6=0. …
Method: Proving three points form a right-angled triangle
Use this to test whether points A,B,C (given by position vectors) make a right triangle, and at which vertex.
Steps
Step 1: Build the side vectors.
Compute AB=B−A, BC=C−B, CA=A−C (head minus tail). Confirm they are non-collinear so a genuine triangle exists.
Step 2: Test each vertex with a dot product of the two sides that MEET there.
The right angle at a vertex is between the two sides emanating from that vertex. E.g. at C use CA and CB=−BC: …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dotting sides that do not meet at the tested vertex (e.g. AB⋅BC).
Why it's wrong: the angle at a vertex is between the two sides emanating from that vertex; AB and BC are not both based at one vertex, so their dot product is not the vertex angle's test. Correct approach: at C use CA and CB (both starting at C); a zero result locates the right angle. …
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If (a+b)⊥b and (a+2b)⊥a, then
(A) 2∣a∣=∣b∣ (B) ∣a∣=2∣b∣ (C) ∣a∣=∣b∣ (D) ∣a∣=2∣b∣›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the two perpendicularity conditions as dot-product equations. They give a⋅b=−∣b∣2 and ∣a∣2=2∣b∣2, so ∣a∣=2∣b∣ — option (D).
Concept & Intuition
Two vectors are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero. Expanding each condition and combining them relates the magnitudes of a and b.
Step-by-step solution
- (a+b)⊥b:
(a+b)⋅b=0 ⇒ a⋅b+∣b∣2=0 ⇒ a⋅b=−∣b∣2.
- (a+2b)⊥a: …
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-M1 markMCQQ.Let p and q be the position vectors of P and Q with respect to the origin. If points R and S divide PQ internally and externally in the ratio 2:3 respectively, then OR and OS are perpendicular when (A) 4∣p∣2=9∣q∣2 (B) 9∣p∣=4∣q∣2 (C) 9∣p∣2=4∣q∣2 (D) 4∣p∣2=9∣q∣
›Reveal solutionSolution
The condition for perpendicularity of the internal and external division vectors reduces to a simple relation between the squared magnitudes of p and q. The correct relation is 9∣p∣2=4∣q∣2, which corresponds to option (C).
Concept & Intuition
When a point divides a segment internally in a given ratio, its position vector is a weighted average of the endpoints. When it divides externally, the weights have opposite signs. Here, R divides PQ internally in the ratio 2:3 (meaning PR:RQ = 2:3), and S divides PQ externally in the same ratio (meaning PS:SQ = 2:3, but S lies outside the segment). The vectors OR and OS are perpendicular exactly when their dot product is zero. That dot product will involve p and q, and simplifying it yields a condition on their magnitudes.
Step-by-step solution
- Write the position vector of R (internal division) For internal division in the ratio m:n, the position vector is m+nnp+mq. Here m=2, n=3 (since PR:RQ = 2:3, the point is closer to Q). So
OR=53p+2q.
- Write the position vector of S (external division) For external division in the ratio m:n, the formula is m−n−np+mq (or equivalently n−mnp−mq). Using m=2, n=3:
OS=2−3−3p+2q=−1−3p+2q=3p−2q.
- Set the dot product to zero for perpendicularity
OR⋅OS=0.
Substitute:
51(3p+2q)⋅(3p−2q)=0.
Multiply both sides by 5:
(3p+2q)⋅(3p−2q)=0.
- Expand the dot product Using the distributive property:
- KCET 2026Set UNKNOWN1 markMCQQ.If a=2i^+2j^−k^, b=αi^+βj^+2k^ and ∣a+b∣=∣a−b∣, then α+β is equal to (A) 2 (B) −1 (C) 0 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
∣a+b∣=∣a−b∣ is a standard condition that forces a⋅b=0; expand this dot product to solve for α+β.
Step 1 — Translate the given condition
Squaring both sides of ∣a+b∣=∣a−b∣:
∣a+b∣2=∣a−b∣2
∣a∣2+2a⋅b+∣b∣2=∣a∣2−2a⋅b+∣b∣2
4a⋅b=0⟹a⋅b=0
Step 2 — Compute a⋅b …
- KCET 2026Set UNKNOWN1 markMCQQ.The value of λ for which the vectors a=2i^+λj^+k^ and b=i^+2j^+3k^ are orthogonal is (A) 25 (B) 2−5 (C) 52 (D) 5−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two vectors are orthogonal exactly when their dot product is zero; set a⋅b=0 and solve for λ.
Step 1 — Write the orthogonality condition
a=2i^+λj^+k^ and b=i^+2j^+3k^ are orthogonal when a⋅b=0.
Step 2 — Compute the dot product …
- KCET 2026Set UNKNOWN1 markMCQQ.The three points A(2,4,3),B(4,a,9) and C(10,−1,7) form a right-angled triangle with ∠B=90°, then the value of 'a' is (A) 1 or 4 (B) −2 or 4 (C) 1 or −4 (D) −2 or −4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the right-angle condition BA⋅BC=0 at vertex B to form a quadratic equation in a and solve it.
Step 1 — Form vectors from B
BA=A−B=(2−4,4−a,3−9)=(−2,4−a,−6)
BC=C−B=(10−4,−1−a,7−9)=(6,−1−a,−2)
Step 2 — Apply the perpendicularity condition
Since ∠B=90°, BA⋅BC=0:
(−2)(6)+(4−a)(−1−a)+(−6)(−2)=0
−12+(4−a)(−1−a)+12=0⟹(4−a)(−1−a)=0
Step 3 — Expand and solve
(4−a)(−1−a)=a2−3a−4=0⟹(a−4)(a+1)=0
a=4ora=−1
Step 4 — Match to the given option …
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.The line 4x−3=5y−4=6z−5 is parallel to the plane (A) 3x+4y+5z=7 (B) x+y+z=2 (C) x−2y+z=0 (D) 2x+3y+4z=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Only plane (C) has a normal perpendicular to the line's direction, so the line is parallel to it (in fact, since the point (3,4,5) satisfies x - 2y + z = 3 - 8 + 5 = 0, the line actually lies in that plane - which is the limiting case of being parallel; it is nevertheless the only option satisfying the parallelism condition).
Concept: A line with direction ratios (a, b, c) is parallel to the plane with normal (l, m, n) iff the direction vector is perpendicular to the normal, i.e. al + bm + cn = 0.
The line (x-3)/4 = (y-4)/5 = (z-5)/6 has direction (4, 5, 6) and passes through (3, 4, 5).
Test each plane's normal:
(A) 3x + 4y + 5z = 7 -> normal (3,4,5): 12 + 20 + 30 = 62 (not 0).
(B) x + y + z = 2 -> normal (1,1,1): 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 (not 0).
(C) x - 2y + z = 0 -> normal (1,-2,1): 4 - 10 + 6 = 0 -> direction is perpendicular to the normal. YES. …
- KCET 2021Set A-11 markMCQQ.The equation of straight line which passes through the point (acos3θ,asin3θ) and perpendicular to xsecθ+ycscθ=a is (A) ax+ay=acosθ (B) xcosθ−ysinθ=acos2θ (C) xcosθ+ysinθ=acos2θ (D) xcosθ−ysinθ=−acos2θ
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to find the slope of the given line, then use the perpendicular slope condition and the given point to write the equation. The correct line is xcosθ−ysinθ=acos2θ, which is option (B).
We start with the given line: xsecθ+ycscθ=a. To find its slope, rewrite it in the form y=mx+c.
Recall secθ=cosθ1 and cscθ=sinθ1. So the equation becomes:
cosθx+sinθy=a
Multiply through by cosθsinθ:
xsinθ+ycosθ=acosθsinθ
Now solve for y:
ycosθ=acosθsinθ−xsinθ
y=asinθ−xtanθ
So the slope of the given line is −tanθ.
- Slope of the perpendicular line If two lines are perpendicular, the product of their slopes is −1. Let the slope of the required line be m. Then:
m⋅(−tanθ)=−1⇒m=cotθ
So the required line has slope cotθ.
- Equation using point-slope form The line passes through (acos3θ,asin3θ). Using y−y1=m(x−x1):
y−asin3θ=cotθ(x−acos3θ)
Since cotθ=sinθcosθ, multiply both sides by sinθ:
ysinθ−asin4θ=xcosθ−acos4θ
- Rearrange to standard form Bring terms together:
xcosθ−ysinθ=acos4θ−asin4θ
Factor the right-hand side: …
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.The two lines lx+my=n and l′x+m′y=n′ are perpendicular if (A) ll′+mm′=0 (B) lm′=ml′ (C) lm+l′m′=0 (D) lm′+ml′=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Convert both lines to slope-intercept form and impose m1m2=−1; the constants n,n′ drop out because they only shift the lines, they don't tilt them.
Step 1 — Slopes from the general form.
For ax+by=c the slope is −ba. Hence
L1:lx+my=n⇒m1=−ml
L2:l′x+m′y=n′⇒m2=−m′l′
Notice n and n′ never appear — they only translate the lines, so they cannot affect perpendicularity.
Step 2 — Apply the perpendicularity condition.
Two non-vertical lines are perpendicular iff the product of their slopes is −1:
m1m2=−1
(−ml)(−m′l′)=−1
mm′ll′=−1
Step 3 — Clear the denominator.
ll′=−mm′⟹ll′+mm′=0
Step 4 — Why this is the right form (and a vector cross-check).
The normal vectors of the two lines are n1=(l,m) and n2=(l′,m′). Two lines are perpendicular exactly when their normals are perpendicular, i.e. …
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