Q.Show that vectors a=2i^+3j^+6k^, b=3i^−6j^+2k^ and c=6i^+2j^−3k^ are mutually perpendicular.
Concept understanding — Scalar (Dot) Product
For non-zero vectors a,b with included angle θ (0≤θ≤π), the scalar (dot) product is the number a⋅b=∣a∣∣b∣cosθ.
Geometric meaning (projection). a⋅b=∣a∣×(projection of b on a), and the projection of b on a is ∣a∣a⋅b (symmetrically, projection of a on b is ∣b∣a⋅b).
Core properties.
- Commutative: a⋅b=b⋅a.
- Sign follows the angle: positive for 0≤θ<π/2, zero at θ=π/2, negative for π/2<θ≤π. In particular a⋅b=0⟺a=0 or b=0 or a⊥b — for two non-zero vectors, a⋅b=0 is exactly the perpendicularity test.
- a⋅a=∣a∣2 (often written a2), so ∣a∣=a⋅a.
- i^⋅i^=j^⋅j^=k^⋅k^=1 and i^⋅j^=j^⋅k^=k^⋅i^=0 (they're mutually perpendicular unit vectors).
- Distributive: a⋅(b+c)=a⋅b+a⋅c, and likewise for subtraction and for the right factor.
- Identities (proved exactly like (x+y)2 for numbers): ∣a+b∣2=∣a∣2+∣b∣2+2a⋅b; ∣a−b∣2=∣a∣2+∣b∣2−2a⋅b; (a+b)⋅(a−b)=∣a∣2−∣b∣2.
- Coordinate formula: for a=a1i^+a2j^+a3k^, b=b1i^+b2j^+b3k^: a⋅b=a1b1+a2b2+a3b3.
- Angle formula: θ=cos−1(∣a∣∣b∣a⋅b).
- Triangle/Cauchy–Schwarz-type inequalities: ∣a+b∣≤∣a∣+∣b∣ and ∣a⋅b∣≤∣a∣∣b∣.
Because the dot product pins down the angle unambiguously between 0 and π, it is the preferred tool whenever a problem asks for 'the angle between two vectors' (the cross product only ever returns the acute angle, since sinθ≥0 throughout [0,π]).
[!TLDR] Vectors are mutually perpendicular when every pair's dot product is zero. [!ANSWER] a⋅b=b⋅c=a⋅c=0, so all three are mutually perpendicular.
Step 1. a=2i^+3j^+6k^, b=3i^−6j^+2k^, c=6i^+2j^−3k^.
Step 2. a⋅b=(2)(3)+(3)(−6)+(6)(2)=6−18+12=0.
Step 3. a⋅c=(2)(6)+(3)(2)+(6)(−3)=12+6−18=0.
Step 4. b⋅c=(3)(6)+(−6)(2)+(2)(−3)=18−12−6=0.
Step 5. All three pairwise dot products are zero, so a, b and c are mutually perpendicular.
[!ANSWER] a⋅b=b⋅c=a⋅c=0 — mutually perpendicular, confirmed.
Compute all three pairwise dot products using P⋅Q=PxQx+PyQy+PzQz; perpendicularity is confirmed when each equals zero.
Checking only one pair of vectors and assuming the third pair is automatically perpendicular too, without verifying it.
Showing the 12 most recent of 15 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.2j⋅(−3)k=(a) 6(b) −6(c) 0(d) −6i
›Reveal solutionSolution
Perpendicular unit vectors have zero dot product.
2j⋅(−3)k=(2)(−3)(j⋅k)=−6(j⋅k).
Since j and k are mutually perpendicular, j⋅k=0, so the result is 0.
✓Final answer(c) 0.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.(7i−8j+9k)⋅(i−j+k)=(a) 25(b) 24(c) 23(d) 22
›Reveal solutionSolution
The scalar (dot) product of the two vectors is 24.
The dot product multiplies corresponding components and adds:
(7i−8j+9k)⋅(i−j+k)=7(1)+(−8)(−1)+9(1).
=7+8+9=24.
✓Final answer(B) 24.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.(11i+j+k)⋅(i+j+11k)=(a) 22(b) 23(c) 24(d) 20
›Reveal solutionSolution
The dot product of the two vectors is 23.
Multiply corresponding components and add:
(11i+j+k)⋅(i+j+11k)=11(1)+1(1)+1(11)=11+1+11=23.
✓Final answer(B) 23.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.(i−2j+5k)⋅(−2i+4j+2k)=(a) 20(b) 18(c) 0(d) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The dot product is 0, so the two vectors are perpendicular.
(i−2j+5k)⋅(−2i+4j+2k)=1(−2)+(−2)(4)+5(2).
=−2−8+10=0.
✓Final answer(C) 0.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If ∣a∣=3,∣b∣=4,∣c∣=5 and a+b+c=0 then the angle between a and b is:(a) 60∘(b) 0(c) 45∘(d) 90∘
›Reveal solutionSolution
From a+b+c=0, we get a+b=−c; squaring both sides and using the given magnitudes shows a⋅b=0.
Since a+b+c=0, we have a+b=−c.
Taking magnitudes squared: ∣a+b∣2=∣c∣2=25.
Expanding the left side: ∣a∣2+∣b∣2+2a⋅b=9+16+2a⋅b=25+2a⋅b.
Setting equal to 25: 25+2a⋅b=25⇒a⋅b=0.
Since neither vector is zero, a⋅b=∣a∣∣b∣cosθ=0 forces cosθ=0, so θ=90∘.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) 90∘.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate the product (3a−5b)⋅(2a+7b).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expand the dot product like a binomial product, using a⋅a=∣a∣2, b⋅b=∣b∣2, and a⋅b=b⋅a.
(3a−5b)⋅(2a+7b)
=3a⋅2a+3a⋅7b−5b⋅2a−5b⋅7b
=6(a⋅a)+21(a⋅b)−10(b⋅a)−35(b⋅b)
Since a⋅b=b⋅a:
=6∣a∣2+(21−10)(a⋅b)−35∣b∣2=6∣a∣2+11(a⋅b)−35∣b∣2
✓Final answer6∣a∣2+11(a⋅b)−35∣b∣2
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.For vectors a⃗ and b⃗, |a⃗| = √3, |b⃗| = 2 and a⃗.b⃗ = √6, angle between a⃗ and b⃗ is(a) π/2(b) π/6(c) π/3(d) π/4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use a⋅b=∣a∣∣b∣cosθ and solve for θ.
Given ∣a∣=3, ∣b∣=2, a⋅b=6. Using a⋅b=∣a∣∣b∣cosθ:
cosθ=3⋅26=236=22=21
So θ=π/4.
✓Final answerπ/4 — option (d).
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.(j−2i)⋅(k+3i−j)=(a) 0(b) −6(c) −7(d) 8
›Reveal solutionSolution
(j−2i)⋅(k+3i−j)=−7.
Write first vector as (−2,1,0) and second as (3,−1,1) in (i,j,k) components:
(−2)(3)+(1)(−1)+(0)(1)=−6−1+0=−7.
✓Final answer(C) −7.
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.3k⋅(13i−7k)=(a) 39(b) 0(c) −21(d) 18
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use k⋅i=0, k⋅k=1; the expression reduces to 3×(−7)=−21.
Compute 3k⋅(13i−7k)=3(13(k⋅i)−7(k⋅k)).
The unit vectors are mutually orthogonal, so k⋅i=0 and k⋅k=1.
Thus 3(13(0)−7(1))=3(−7)=−21.
✓Final answer(c) −21.
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.(2i−3j)⋅(i+k)=(a) 2(b) −1(c) 3(d) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Only the i⋅i term survives, giving 2×1=2.
Compute (2i−3j)⋅(i+k) using i⋅i=1 and all other unlike dot products =0.
=2(i⋅i)+2(i⋅k)−3(j⋅i)−3(j⋅k)=2(1)+0−0−0=2.
✓Final answer(a) 2.
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.k⋅(i+j)=(a) 0(b) 1(c) 2(d) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
k is orthogonal to both i and j, so the dot product is 0.
k⋅(i+j)=k⋅i+k⋅j.
The standard unit vectors are mutually perpendicular, so k⋅i=0 and k⋅j=0.
Hence the sum is 0+0=0.
✓Final answer(a) 0.
- CBSE 2023Set E1 markMCQQ.(i−j+k)⋅(7i−8j+9k)=(a) 22(b) 23(c) 24(d) 25
›Reveal solutionSolution
The dot product multiplies corresponding components and adds: 7+8+9=24.
The dot product of a1i+a2j+a3k and b1i+b2j+b3k is a1b1+a2b2+a3b3.
(i−j+k)⋅(7i−8j+9k)=(1)(7)+(−1)(−8)+(1)(9)=7+8+9=24.
✓Final answer(c) 24.
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