Q.If a=i^+j^+k^ and b=i^−j^+2k^, find a⋅b and the angle between a and b.
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]).
Compute a⋅b, ∣a∣, ∣b∣, then cosθ=∣a∣∣b∣a⋅b.
a⋅b=2; θ=cos−1(32)
a=(1,1,1), b=(1,−1,2).
a⋅b=(1)(1)+(1)(−1)+(1)(2)=1−1+2=2.
∣a∣=3,∣b∣=1+1+4=6.
cosθ=3⋅62=182=322=32 ⇒ θ=cos−1(32).
a⋅b=2; θ=cos−1(32)
Compute the dot product componentwise, compute each magnitude, then substitute into cosθ=(a⋅b)/(∣a∣∣b∣) and simplify the surd.
Leaving the answer as cos−1(2/18) without simplifying, or mis-simplifying 18 as 92 instead of 32.
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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