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Question 41 of 51

Q.If a = î+ĵ+k̂, b = ĵ-k̂, find vector c such that a×c = b and a.c = 3.

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2023Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Write c⃗=xı^+yȷ^+zk^\vec c=x\hat\imath+y\hat\jmath+z\hat k with unknown components, turn a⃗×c⃗=b⃗\vec a\times\vec c=\vec b into three scalar equations, add the scalar condition a⃗⋅c⃗=3\vec a\cdot\vec c=3, and solve the resulting linear system.

Step 1. Let c⃗=xı^+yȷ^+zk^\vec c=x\hat\imath+y\hat\jmath+z\hat k. Given a⃗=ı^+ȷ^+k^\vec a=\hat\imath+\hat\jmath+\hat k, b⃗=ȷ^−k^=(0,1,−1)\vec b=\hat\jmath-\hat k=(0,1,-1).

Step 2 — expand the cross product.

a⃗×c⃗=∣ı^ȷ^k^111xyz∣=(z−y)ı^−(z−x)ȷ^+(y−x)k^.\vec a\times\vec c=\begin{vmatrix}\hat\imath&\hat\jmath&\hat k\\1&1&1\\x&y&z\end{vmatrix}=(z-y)\hat\imath-(z-x)\hat\jmath+(y-x)\hat k.

Setting this equal to b⃗=(0,1,−1)\vec b=(0,1,-1):

z−y=0,−(z−x)=1 ⇒ x−z=1,y−x=−1.z-y=0,\qquad -(z-x)=1\ \Rightarrow\ x-z=1,\qquad y-x=-1.

Step 3 — use the dot-product condition. a⃗⋅c⃗=x+y+z=3\vec a\cdot\vec c=x+y+z=3.

Step 4 — solve. From z=yz=y and x=z+1=y+1x=z+1=y+1, substitute into x+y+z=3x+y+z=3: …

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