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 19 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-03-FN1 markMCQQ.Let a=i^+2j^β+3k^, b=2i^β3j^β+k^ and c=3i^+j^ββ2k^ be three vectors. If r is a vector such that r.a=0, r.b=β2 and r.c=6 then r.(3i^+j^β+k^)= (A) 1 (B) 0 (C) 3 (D) 2
βΊReveal solutionSolution
rβ (3i^+j^β+k^)=3 β option (C).
Let r=xi^+yj^β+zk^. The conditions give:
rβ a=0:x+2y+3z=0,
rβ b=β2:2xβ3y+z=β2,
rβ c=6:3x+yβ2z=6.
From the first equation x=β2yβ3z. Substituting:
2(β2yβ3z)β3y+z=β2ββ7yβ5z=β2β7y+5z=2,
3(β2yβ3z)+yβ2z=6ββ5yβ11z=6β5y+11z=β6. β¦
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-04-AN1 markMCQQ.Let a=2iβjβ+k, b=2jββ3k. If b=cβd, a is parallel to c and perpendicular to d, then c+d= (A) β61β(2a+5b) (B) 31β(3a+5b) (C) 61β(5a+2b) (D) β31β(5a+3b)
βΊReveal solutionSolution
We use the conditions for parallel and perpendicular vectors to express the unknown vectors c and d in terms of a and b, then sum them. The result is β31β(5a+3b)β.
The problem asks us to find the sum of two unknown vectors, c and d, given their relationship with known vectors a and b, and specific conditions about their orientation. The core idea is to translate the geometric conditions (parallelism and perpendicularity) into algebraic equations using scalar multiplication and the dot product. This allows us to express c and d in terms of a and b and then find their sum.
Here's how we approach this:
- Understand Parallel Vectors: If two non-zero vectors u and v are parallel, it means they point in the same or opposite direction. Mathematically, this is expressed as u=kv for some non-zero scalar k.
- Understand Perpendicular Vectors: If two non-zero vectors u and v are perpendicular (orthogonal), their dot product is zero. Mathematically, this is expressed as uβ v=0.
- Use the given relationships: We are given b=cβd. This equation connects c and d to b.
- Combine conditions: We will use the parallel condition to express c in terms of a and an unknown scalar. Then, we'll use the given vector equation to express d in terms of a, b, and the same unknown scalar. Finally, the perpendicular condition will allow us to solve for this scalar.
Let's work through the steps:
- Express c using the parallel condition: We are given that a is parallel to c. This means c must be a scalar multiple of a. Let this scalar be k.
c=ka
Here, $k$ is an unknown scalar that we need to determine.2. Express d in terms of a, b, and k:
We are given the relation b=cβd.
We can rearrange this to find d:
d=cβb
Now, substitute the expression for $\vec{c}$ from Step 1:d=kaβb
- Use the perpendicular condition to find k: We are given that a is perpendicular to d. This means their dot product is zero:
aβ d=0
Substitute the expression for $\vec{d}$ from Step 2:aβ (kaβb)=0
Using the distributive property of the dot product:k(aβ a)β(aβ b)=0
- Calculate the necessary dot products: We are given a=2iβjβ+k and b=2jββ3k. First, calculate aβ a:
aβ a=(2)(2)+(β1)(β1)+(1)(1)=4+1+1=6
Next, calculate $\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}$: β¦ - TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-05-FN1 markMCQQ.Consider the vectors a=3i^+5j^β+2k^, b=2i^β3j^ββ5k^ and c=β5i^β2j^β+3k^. If l,m and n are length of projections of a on b, b on c and c on a respectively, then (A) l+mβn=0 (B) l=m=n (C) lβm+n=0 (D) m+nβl=0
βΊReveal solutionSolution
We calculate the length of the projection of a on b, b on c, and c on a using the scalar projection formula. All three lengths turn out to be equal, so the correct option is (B).
The length of the projection of one vector onto another is a fundamental concept in vector algebra. It represents the magnitude of the component of the first vector that lies along the direction of the second vector.
To find the length of the projection of a vector P onto another vector Qβ, we use the scalar projection formula. This formula essentially tells us how much of P "points in the direction of" Qβ. The dot product Pβ Qβ gives us a measure of how much the vectors align, and dividing by the magnitude of Qβ normalizes this to give the component along Qβ. Since we are looking for a "length", we take the absolute value of this scalar projection to ensure it's non-negative.
The length of the projection of vector P onto vector Qβ is given by:
LengthΒ ofΒ projection=β£Qββ£β£Pβ Qββ£β
Let's apply this concept to find l,m, and n.
-
Identify the given vectors:
We are given the three vectors:
a=3i^+5j^β+2k^
b=2i^β3j^ββ5k^
c=β5i^β2j^β+3k^
-
Calculate l, the length of the projection of a on b:
First, calculate the dot product aβ b:
aβ b=(3)(2)+(5)(β3)+(2)(β5)
aβ b=6β15β10=β19
Next, calculate the magnitude of b:
β£bβ£=22+(β3)2+(β5)2β
β£bβ£=4+9+25β=38β
Now, use the projection formula for l:
l=β£bβ£β£aβ bβ£β=38ββ£β19β£β=38β19β
-
Calculate m, the length of the projection of b on c:
First, calculate the dot product bβ c:
bβ c=(2)(β5)+(β3)(β2)+(β5)(3)
bβ c=β10+6β15=β19
Next, calculate the magnitude of c:
β£cβ£=(β5)2+(β2)2+32β
β£cβ£=25+4+9β=38β
Now, use the projection formula for m:
m=β£cβ£β£bβ cβ£β=38ββ£β19β£β=38β19β
-
Calculate n, the length of the projection of c on a:
First, calculate the dot product cβ a: β¦
-
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.If a=i^+pj^ββ3k^,Β b=2i^β3j^β+qk^,Β c=i^+2j^β+2k^Β (p<0,q>0) are three vectors such that the magnitude of projection of a on c is 3 and the magnitude of projection of b on c is 2, then the magnitude of projection of a on b is (A) 38β11β (B) 38β34β (C) 38β7β (D) 38β16β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Use the projection formula projcβ(a)=β£cβ£β£aβ cβ£β to set up equations for p and q, then compute β£bβ£β£aβ bβ£β to get the answer 38β7β.
The key idea is that the magnitude of projection of one vector onto another is simply the absolute value of their dot product divided by the length of the vector youβre projecting onto. Thatβs a direct, no-nonsense formula β no angles, no geometry beyond the dot product.
Weβre given three vectors:
a=i^+pj^ββ3k^,b=2i^β3j^β+qk^,c=i^+2j^β+2k^
with p<0 and q>0. The projections give us two equations to solve for p and q. Once we have them, the third projection is straightforward.
- Magnitude of projection of a on c is 3. The formula:
β£cβ£β£aβ cβ£β=3
Compute aβ c=(1)(1)+(p)(2)+(β3)(2)=1+2pβ6=2pβ5.
Compute β£cβ£=12+22+22β=9β=3.
So:
3β£2pβ5β£β=3ββ£2pβ5β£=9
This gives 2pβ5=9 or 2pβ5=β9.
- If 2pβ5=9, then 2p=14, p=7. But p<0, so discard.
- If 2pβ5=β9, then 2p=β4, p=β2. This satisfies p<0. Hence p=β2.
- Magnitude of projection of b on c is 2.
β£cβ£β£bβ cβ£β=2
Compute bβ c=(2)(1)+(β3)(2)+(q)(2)=2β6+2q=2qβ4.
β£cβ£=3 as before. So:
3β£2qβ4β£β=2ββ£2qβ4β£=6
This gives 2qβ4=6 or 2qβ4=β6.
- If 2qβ4=6, then 2q=10, q=5. This satisfies q>0.
- If 2qβ4=β6, then 2q=β2, q=β1. This violates q>0, so discard. Hence q=5. β¦
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-09-AN1 markMCQQ.Let a=i^+2j^β+k^ and b=2i^βj^β+k^ be two vectors. If the vector r=xi^+yj^β+2k^ is along the bisector of the angle between a and b, then β£rβ£= (A) 14β (B) 6β (C) 3 (D) 7
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Since β£aβ£=β£bβ£=6β, the bisector is along a+b=(3,1,2); matching the given z-component 2 gives r=(3,1,2) and β£rβ£=14β.
Equal magnitudes.
β£aβ£=12+22+12β=6β,β£bβ£=22+(β1)2+12β=6β.
Because the two vectors have equal length, the internal angle bisector is simply along their sum (no need to normalise separately):
a+b=(1+2,2β1,1+1)=(3,1,2). β¦
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-05-FN1 markMCQQ.Suppose L1β and L2β are two lines having the direction ratios 1,β2,β2 and 0,2,1 respectively. If the direction cosines of a line perpendicular to both L1β and L2β are l,m,n then β£lβ£+β£mβ£+β£nβ£= (A) 3 (B) 35β (C) 3β (D) 37β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The line perpendicular to both given lines is parallel to the cross product of their direction vectors. Computing that cross product and normalising gives direction cosines whose absolute values sum to 37β.
The key idea is geometric: a line perpendicular to two given lines is parallel to the vector that is perpendicular to both direction vectors β that is, their cross product. Once we have that vector, its direction cosines are just its components divided by its magnitude. The question asks for the sum of the absolute values of those cosines.
Letβs work through it.
-
Write the direction vectors.
For L1β, direction ratios 1,β2,β2 give the vector a=(1,β2,β2).
For L2β, direction ratios 0,2,1 give b=(0,2,1).
-
Find a vector perpendicular to both.
The cross product aΓb is perpendicular to both. Compute:
aΓb=βi^10βj^ββ22βk^β21ββ
=i^((β2)(1)β(β2)(2))βj^β((1)(1)β(β2)(0))+k^((1)(2)β(β2)(0))
=i^(β2+4)βj^β(1β0)+k^(2β0)
=2i^β1j^β+2k^
So the vector is (2,β1,2).
- Find its magnitude. β£vβ£=22+(β1)2+22β=4+1+4β=9β=3 β¦
-
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.a,b,c are three non-coplanar and mutually perpendicular vectors of same magnitude K. r is any vector satisfying aΓ((rβb)Γa)+bΓ((rβc)Γb)+cΓ((rβa)Γc)=0, then r= (A) K2+1a+b+cβ (B) 3K2β1K2(a+b+c)β (C) K+1K(a+b+c)β (D) 2a+b+cβ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Expand each vector triple product with the BAC-CAB rule; orthogonality of a,b,c (each of magnitude K) reduces the equation to 2K2r=K2(a+b+c), so r=21β(a+b+c).
Concept β vector triple product. For any vectors, aΓ(uΓa)=(aβ a)uβ(aβ u)a.
Step 1 β expand each term. With β£aβ£=β£bβ£=β£cβ£=K:
aΓ((rβb)Γa)=K2(rβb)β(aβ (rβb))a
and similarly for the b and c terms.
Step 2 β add the three terms. Since aβ b=bβ c=cβ a=0, the dot products of one vector with another vanish, leaving
K2[3rβ(a+b+c)]β[(aβ r)a+(bβ r)b+(cβ r)c]=0. β¦
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-AN1 markMCQQ.If r=2iβjβ+2k, s=3iβ3jβ+3k, t=i+2jβ+k are three vectors and a is a vector such that sΓa=rΓa and β£tΓaβ£=128β, then β£tβ aβ£= (A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 4 (D) 8
βΊReveal solutionSolution
a is parallel to sβr; this gives β£tβ aβ£=4 (C).
The condition sΓa=rΓa gives (sβr)Γa=0, so a is parallel to
sβr=(3β2,β3+1,3β2)=(1,β2,1).
Write a=k(1,β2,1). With t=(1,2,1):
tΓ(1,β2,1)=(2β 1β1β (β2),Β β(1β 1β1β 1),Β 1β (β2)β2β 1)=(4,0,β4).
So β£tΓaβ£=β£kβ£16+16β=β£kβ£32β. Given β£tΓaβ£=128β: β¦
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-04-AN1 markMCQQ.The vector in the direction of the sum of the vectors a=2i^β2j^β+5k^ and b=β2i^+5j^ββ3k^ is (A) Perpendicular to ZX - plane (B) Parallel to ZX - plane (C) Parallel to YZ - plane (D) Perpendicular to YZ - plane
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The sum is 3j^β+2k^ (no i^ term), so it lies in and is parallel to the YZ-plane β option (C).
Add the vectors component-wise:
a+b=(2β2)i^+(β2+5)j^β+(5β3)k^=0i^+3j^β+2k^. β¦
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.a,b,c are three non-coplanar and mutually perpendicular vectors of same magnitude K. r is any vector satisfying aΓ((rβb)Γa)+bΓ((rβc)Γb)+cΓ((rβa)Γc)=0, then r= (A) 3K2β1K2(a+b+c)β (B) 2a+b+cβ (C) K+1K(a+b+c)β (D) K2+1a+b+cβ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
BACβCAB expansion + orthogonality collapses the equation to 2K2r=K2(a+b+c), so r=2a+b+cβ β option (B).
Concept. Use the vector triple-product identity AΓ(BΓC)=B(Aβ C)βC(Aβ B), plus the facts that a,b,c are mutually perpendicular (aβ b=bβ c=cβ a=0) with β£aβ£=β£bβ£=β£cβ£=K, and that they form an orthogonal basis: any r satisfies a(aβ r)+b(bβ r)+c(cβ r)=K2r.
Step 1 β expand one term.
aΓ((rβb)Γa)=(rβb)(aβ a)βa(aβ (rβb))=K2rβK2bβa(aβ r),
using aβ b=0.
Step 2 β the cyclic sum. Similarly,
bΓ((rβc)Γb)=K2rβK2cβb(bβ r),cΓ((rβa)Γc)=K2rβK2aβc(cβ r).
Adding all three and setting the sum to 0: β¦
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.If the equation of the plane passing through the points (2,1,2),Β (1,2,1) and perpendicular to the plane 2xβy+2z=1 is ax+by+cz+d=0 then c+da+bβ= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) β1 (D) 2
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The required plane is xβz=0, so c+da+bβ=β11β=β1 β option (C).
Direction lying in the plane. With P(2,1,2),Β Q(1,2,1), the vector PQβ=(β1,1,β1) lies in the plane.
Normal of the given plane. 2xβy+2z=1βn1β=(2,β1,2).
Normal of the required plane. It must be perpendicular to both PQβ (lies in the plane) and n1β (perpendicular planes have perpendicular normals):
n=n1βΓPQβ=βi2β1βjβ11βk2β1ββ=(β1,0,1). β¦
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-09-FN1 markMCQQ.If ΞΈ is the angle between the vectors 4iβjβ+2k and i+3jββ2k then sin2ΞΈ= (A) 95β3ββ (B) β95β3ββ (C) β49285ββ (D) 49258ββ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to compute sin2ΞΈ using the dot and cross products of the two vectors, then apply the double-angle identity. The final value is β49285ββ, so the correct option is (C).
We are given two vectors:
a=4iβjβ+2k and b=i+3jββ2k.
We need sin2ΞΈ, where ΞΈ is the angle between them.
Concept and intuition:
To find sin2ΞΈ, we can use sin2ΞΈ=2sinΞΈcosΞΈ.
We can get cosΞΈ from the dot product and sinΞΈ from the magnitude of the cross product.
This avoids needing to find ΞΈ itself β we just compute the necessary quantities directly.
- Compute the dot product
aβ b=(4)(1)+(β1)(3)+(2)(β2)=4β3β4=β3
- Compute magnitudes
β£aβ£=42+(β1)2+22β=16+1+4β=21β
β£bβ£=12+32+(β2)2β=1+9+4β=14β
- Find cosΞΈ
cosΞΈ=β£aβ£β£bβ£aβ bβ=21ββ 14ββ3β=294ββ3β
Simplify 294β=49β 6β=76β, so
cosΞΈ=76ββ3β
- Find sinΞΈ using the cross product magnitude Compute aΓb:
aΓb=βi41βjββ13βk2β2ββ
=i((β1)(β2)β(2)(3))βjβ((4)(β2)β(2)(1))+k((4)(3)β(β1)(1))
=i(2β6)βjβ(β8β2)+k(12+1)
=β4i+10jβ+13k
Magnitude:
β£aΓbβ£=(β4)2+102+132β=16+100+169β=285β
Hence,
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