VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.

1 –

CHAPTER – 11 – VECTOR ALGEBRA


Vector : A directed line segment is called vector. So, vector has direction as well as magnitude AB is

a vector whese direction is from A to B and magnitude or length is AB and denoted by AB .


In vector AB .

36 N
 Initial point : The point A is a initial point.
 Terminating point : The point B is a terminal point.
Scalar : An entity having only magnitude but no direction is called a scalar.

A

Every vector AB has the following three charateristic :

58 D
  
a. Magnitude (length) : length of AB denoted by AB or AB. If AB  xi  yj

A


 AB  x 2  y 2
65 M
b. Support : The length of unlimtted length of which AB is segment is called the support of

vector AB
10 H


c. Sense : The sence of AB is from A to B.
98 ES

 
Notes : If two vector a  b then :
a. Same length
b. The same or parallel support
c. Same sense
J

Note : Free vector has no particular location in space whereas a localized vector could not be moved
A

in space.
(b) Unit Vector : A vector whose magnitude is unity is called a unit vector.

R

Note : Unit vector in the direction of the given vector a is obtained by dividing the vector by its

a
magnitude, i.e., a   , where a = denoted unit vector which is read as ‘cap a’.
a
Zero vector : A vector with zero magnitude is known as zero vector. In zero vector initial and terminal
point coincide.

Note : Any point i.e., degenerated line segment represents a zero vector. Vector AA represents zero
vector.
Collinear Vector : Two or more vectors are said to be collinear if their directions are parallel or same
or opposite irresepective of their magnitude.
Negative vector : A vector whose magnitude is the same as that of a vector a but whose direction is
 
opposite to that of a is called nagative vector a and is denoted by  a .
 
Equal vectors : Two vectors a and b are said to be equal if they have the same magnitude and the
same direction regardless of the positions of their initial points.

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.2 –

Like vectors : Vectors having the opposite directions are known as like vectors.
Unlike vectors : Vectors having the opposite directions are known as unlike vectors.

Position vector : Position vector of A and B are a and b respectively..
 
Triangle law : If two vectors a and b are represented by two sides of triangle, in magnitude and
 
direction, taken in order, then their sum a + b is represented by the third side of the triangle taken
 
in order, then their sum a + b is represented by the third side of the triangle taken in the reverse
order. This result is known as the triangle law of addition of vectors. B
  

36 N
OA  AB  OB
b

>
  

>
AB  OB  OA

A

AB = position vector of B - position vector A O > A

58 D
a
 
Parallelogram law of addition of vectors : If two vectors a and b are represented by two

A
 
adjacent sides of a parallelgram in magnitude and direction, then their sum a  b is represented in
65 M
magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram through their common initial point.
This is known as the parallelogram law of addition of vector. a
>
B C
    
 OA  AC  OC  a  b
10 H

>
>
b > b
Properties of addition of vector : a+ >
b
   
98 ES

a. It is commutative a  b  b  a
     
b. d i d i
It is associative a  b  c  a  b  c O >
a A
   
c. Vector o is the identity for addition of vector a  o  a
Additive inverse of vector a .
J

d.
 

b g
a  a  0
A


bg
R

Multiplication of vector a by a scalar (k).

k a is a vector having same support as that of a such that its magnitude is |k| times the magnitude of a
and its direction is same or according as k is positive or negative.

Key points :

a  
a. a   (unit vector) b.  
a a and b are collinear if a  kb k be a scalar..

c. b g

k  a   ka

d. b k gbag  ka
   
k bpa g  b kpga k da  bi  ka  kb
 
e. f.

Section formula

Internal Division : Let A and B points with position vector a and b respectively, and let C be a point

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.3 –

dividing AB in the ratio  : m.

 
 b  ma
OC 
m
Case I : If C divided AB in 1 : 1.
1  
d i

Then, OC  a  b is called midpoint of AB.
2
Case II : If C divided AB externally in  : m.
 

36 N
 b  ma
OC 
m

A
   
Collinear point : A, B and C be three point are collinear then AB and BC are parallel or AB   BC

58 D
for some scalars.

Linear Combination of vector :

A
    
a. r  a  b , if a and b are non collinear vector..

If a , b and c are three non - coplaner vector..
b.
65 M
   
r  a  b  c
10 H

Vector joining two point


 AB = p . v of B - p . v of A
98 ES

e j e j
 x 2 i  y 2 j  z 2 k  x1i  y1j  z1k

AB  b x  x gi  b y  y gj  b z  z gk


2 1 2 1 2 1
J

AB  magnitude of AB  b x  x g  b y g b g

2 2 2
2 1 2  y1  z 2  z1
A

Y
R

Components of a vector : If P (x, y) is a point in the plane

referred to a pair of coordinate axes OX, OY, then R P (x,y)
 
OP  xi  yj . Vectors xi and yj represented by OQ and yjˆ
 
OR , respectively, are called components of the vector OP
along OX and OY, respectively.
O X
xiˆ Q
Z

S
Similarly, if P (x, y, z) is a point in three dimensional space,

then OP  xi  yj  zk , vectors xi , yj and zk reprectively P(x, y, z)
zkˆ
  
by OQ , OR and OS , respectively, are called components O yjˆ
Y
x ˆi R
 Q
of the vector OP along OX, OY and OZ respectively..
X
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.4 –

Direction Cosins & Ratio : Direction cosines of a line are defined as the cosines of the angles made
by the line with the positive directions of the coordinte axes.
Thus, if , ,  are the angles made by the line with x, y and z axes respectively, then cos , cos ,
cos  are the direction cosines of the given line, briefly written as (d.c´.s of the line).
The direction cosines of a line are ususally denoted by  , m, n so that
 = cos , m = cos , n = cos 

Any three numbers which are proportional to the direction cosines are called direction ratios, briefly
written as d.r.´s of the line. Thus, if a, b, c are direction ratios of a line with direction cosines  , m, n,

36 N
a b c
then   .  2 + m2 + n2 = 1
 m n

A
Direction ratio of the line joining the point p (x, y, z) and q (x2, y2, z2)

58 D
d´r = x2 - x1, y2 - y1, z2 - z1
a b c

A
d c  , ,
2 2 2 2 2 2
a b c
65 M a b c a  b2  c2
2

Where, a = x2 - x1 ; b = y2 - y1 ; z = z2 - z1

Scalar (Dot) Product of two vectors : The scalar product of two non - zero vectors a and b
  
denoted by a . b = | a | | b | cos , where  is the angle between a and b and 0     .
10 H

  
If either a = 0 or b = 0 or both a and b are zero vectors, then  is not defined and in this case we

define a . b = 0.
98 ES

Remarks :
   2
a. a . a = | a | , as  in this case is 0.
   
J

b. If  = 0, then a . b = | a | | b |
   
c. If  = , then a . b = -| a | | b |.
A

d. For mutually perpendicular unit vectors, i , j and k ,

R

i . i  j. j  k . k  1 ; i . j  j. k  k . i  0

 
 a. b
e. The angle between two non - zero vectors a and b is given by cos     or
a b
 F I
  cos 1 a . b
  GG JJ
a b H K

If a  a 1 i  a 2 j  a 3 k and b  b1i  b 2 j  b 3 k , cos 
a 1 b1  a 2 b 2  a 3 b 3
f.
a 12  a 22  a 23 b12  b 22  b 23

and a. b  a 1b1  a 2 b 2  a 3b 3

Projection of a Vecotor on a line : Let a be a given vector and  be a given line. Let  be the angle
  
between a and line  . Then projection of a on the line  is given by | a | cos .

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.5 –

Remarks :
  1 
a. Projection of a vector a along vector b is given by  a. b .
b
e j
 1 
b.

Projection of a vector b along vector a is given by  a. b .
a
d i

c. If a  a 1 i  a 2 j  a 3 k , then projection of a along x, y and z axes are a1, a2 and a3
respectively.

36 N
 
Distributive Law of Scalar Product Over Addition : If a , b and c are three vectors, then

A
    
e j
a. b  c  a. b  a. c .

58 D
Vector (Cross) Product of Two vectors : The vector product of two non parallel (non collinear)
       
vectors a and b , denoted by a × b is given by a  b  a b sin  n

A
  
where  is the angle between a and b and 0 <  < , and n is a unit vector perpendicular to both a
  
65 M
and b and such that a , b and n form a right handed system.


If a and b are parallel (collinear), i.e., when  = 0 or , then we define their vector product as :
 
ab0
10 H

Remarks :
   
a. If either a or b or both are zero, then a × b = 0
  
98 ES

b. a × a = 0
 
      a b
c. | a × b | = | a | | b | sin , where  is the angle between a and b and sin     .
a b
    
J

d. Two non - zero vector a and b are parallel if and only if a × b = 0

   
e. a × b = -b × a
A

f. For mutually perpendicular vectors : i , j and k , we have


R

i  i  j  j  k  k  0

i  j  k , j  k  i , k  i  j

and j  i   k , k  j   i , i  k   j

i j k
   
g. If a  a 1 i  a 2 j  a 3 k and b  b1i  b 2 j  b 3 k then a  b  a 1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
 
h. If the two adjacent sides of a perallelogram are given by the vectors a and b , then
 
area of the parallelogram is given by the magnitude of vector product a × b , i.e., area
 
of a parallelogram = a  b .
 
i. The area of a triangle whose two adjacent sides are represented by a and b is given

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.6 –

1 
by ab .
2
 
j. Area of a parallelogram whose diagonals are represented by a and b is given by
1 
ab .
2
 
 ab

k. Unit vector perpendicular to both vectors a and b  a  b .

36 N
  
Distributive Law of Vector Product Over Addition : If a , b and c are any three vectors, then
      
e j

A
a bc  a ba c.
   
 Scalar Triple product : Let a , b and c be any three vectors. The scalar product of a and

58 D
       
( b × c ), i.e., a . ( b × c ) is called scalar triple product of a , b and c in this order and is
     
denoted by [ a , b , c ] or [ a b c ].

A
     
Thus we have [ a , b , c ] = a . [ b × c ]
65 M
Remarks :

a. If a  a 1 i  a 2 j  a 3 k , b  b1i  b 2 j  b 3 k and c  c1 i  c 2 j  c 3 k , then

a1 a2 a3
  
10 H

e j
a. b  c  b 1 b2 b3
c1 c2 c3
98 ES

  
b. If a , b and c represent the three adjacent sides of a parallelopiped, then volume of
a1 a 2 a 3
  
e j
the parallelopiped  a. b  c  b1 b 2 b 3
J

c1 c 2 c 3
 
A


c. For any three vectors a , b and c :
        
[a , b , c ] = [b , c , a ] = [c , a , b ]
R

        
a .( b × c ) = b .( c × a ) = c . ( a × b )
     
d. [a , b , c ] = -[ a , c , b ]
e. When two vectors are identical in a scalar triple product, then it is zero,
        
[a , a , b ] = 0 = [a , b , b ] = [a , c , c ]
f. In scalar triple prroduct, the dot and cross can be interchanged, e.g.,
     
a . (b × c ) = (a × b ) . c

  
Coplanarity of three vectors : Three vectors a , b and c are coplanar if and only if their scalar
triple product is zero, i.e.,
  
a. If a , b and c are coplanar,,
  
 a. (b × c) = 0

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.7 –

a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
or =0
c1 c2 c3

  
Remarks : The four points A, B, C and D are coplanar if the three vectors AB, AC and AD are

LM   
OP
N
coplanar, i.e., if AB, AC, AD  0 .
Q

36 N
A
58 D
A
65 M
10 H
98 ES
J
A
R

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.8 –

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES


Ex.1 Find unit vector in the direction of vector a  3i  2 j  k .

 a
Sol. Unit vector of a  a  a

 2
b g
a  32  2 2  1  14

a 
1
e3i  2j  k j

36 N

14

A

Ex.2 Find the unit vector in the direction of the sum of the vector a  2 i  2 j  5k and


58 D
b  i  2 j  3k
 
e j e
a  b  2 i  2 j  5k  i  2 j  3k j
A
Sol.
 
a  b  3i  4 j  8k
65 M
Let a  b  c

c  3i  4 j  8k
10 H

3i  4 j  8k
Unit vector of c =
b3g  b4g  b8g
2 2 2
98 ES


1
89
e 3i  4 j  8k j
J

Ex.3 e j e j e j
Show that the point A 2 i  j  k , B i  3j  5k , C 3i  4 j  4 k are the vertices of
A

a right angles triangle.

R

  
Sol. AB = OB OA
e j e
 i  3j  5k  2 i  j  k j
  i  2 j  6k
  
BC  OC  OB  2 i  j  k

CA   i  3j  5k
 
AB  1  4  36  41 ; BC  4  1  1  6

  2  2  2
CA  1  9  25  35 ; AB  BC  CA

Hence ABC is a right angled triangle.

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.9 –

   
Ex.4 If a  5i  j  3k and b  i  3j  5k , then show that the vector a  b and a  b are
perpendicular.
 
Sol. a  b  6i  2 i  8k
 
a  b  4 i  4 j  2 k
   
d id i
a  b a  b  24  8  16 = 0
 
da  bida  bi

36 N
     
Ex.5 Find a  b , if two vector a and b are such that a  3 ; b  2 and a . b  4

A
 2    
Sol. d id i
ab  ab . ab

58 D
   
= a . a  a. b  b. a  b. b

A
2 2 
= a  b  2a. b
65 M ( dot production commutative)

b g d 2 i  2b 4 g
= 3 
2 2

=9+2-8
10 H

=3
 
ab  3
98 ES

   
Ex.6 If a  2 i  2 j  3k , b   i  2 j  k and c  3i  j are such that a  b perpendicular
to c , then find the value of .
 
J

Sol. e j e j
a  b  2 i  2 j  3k    i  2 j  k

 2   i  b2  2 gj  b3   gk
A


= c  3i  j
R

 

d i
Given a  b c = 0
3(2 - ) + (2 + 2) = 0
6 - 3 + 2 + 2  = 0
- = -8
=8

   
Ex.7 d i
Find a unit vector perpendicular to each of the vector a  b and a  b , where d i


e  
j
a  i  j  k , b  i  2 j  3k .
 
Sol. d i e j
a  b  2 i  3j  4 k

da  bi  e j  2k j
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.10 –

i j k
   
d i d i
ab  ab  2 3 4
0 1 2

c  2 i  4 j  2 k
    
d i d i
c ab  ab

c


36 N
Unit vector of c = c

A
2 i  4 j  2 k
=
4  16  4
= e
1   
6
i  2 j  k j

58 D
Ex.8 Find the area of a triangle having the point A (1, 2, 1) ; B(1, -1, 3) and C(-1, 2, 3) as

A
its vertices.

Sol. OA  i  2 j  k
65 M

OB  i  j  3k

10 H

OC   i  2 j  3k
  
AB  OB OA  3i  2 k
98 ES


AC  2 i  2 k
1  
Area of  = AB AC
J

2
A

i j k
 
AB AC  0 3 2  6i  4 j  6k
R

2 0 2

AB AC 

b6g  b4g  b6g
2 2 2
 86

1
Area = 86
2

Ex.9 Find the area of a parallelogram whose adjacent side are given by the vector
 
a  2 i  j  k and b  i  3j  k .

i j k
 
a  b  2 1 1
Sol.  2 i  j  5k
1 3 1

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.11 –

 
Area of parallelogram = a  b
= 4  1  25
= 30
   
Ex.10 Let a , b and c be three vectors such that a  2 , b  2 , c  3 and each one of
  
them being perpendicular to the sum of the other two. Find a  b  c .
        
d i b g d i

36 N
Sol. Given a. b  c  0  b. c  a  c. a  b
        
a  b  c  da  b  ci. da  b  c i

A
2

           

58 D
   
a.a  a. b  c  b.  a  c   b.b  c. a  b  c.c

2 2 2

A
a 0 0 b 0 c
=4+4+2
65 M
  2
a  b  c  11
  
a  b  c  11
10 H

    
Ex.11 Three vectors a , b and c satisfy the condition a  b + c  0 . Evaluate a . b + b. c  c. a
98 ES

  
if a  2 , b  3 and c  1.

Sol. Given a  b  c  0
    
J

d
a. a  b  c  0 i
2     
A

a  a. b  a. c  0
  2
R

a. b  a. c   a
  ...(i)
a. b  a. c  4
Similarly,
   
d
b. a  b  c  0 i
 
b. a  b. c  3 ...(ii)

 
d 
c. a  b  c  0 i
  2
c. a  c. b   c ...(iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii)
     
d i
2 a  b  b  c  c  a  4  3  1
  
a. b  b. c  c. a  4

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.12 –

    
ˆ b  iˆ  2ˆj  kˆ and c  3iˆ  ˆj  2k.
Ex.12 Find a.(b  c), if a  2iˆ  ˆj  3k, ˆ

2 1 3
  
Sol. We have a.(b  c)  1 2 1  10
3 1 2

Ex.13 Show that the four points A, B, C and D with position vectors 4iˆ  5 j  k,
ˆ  (ˆj  k),

36 N
3iˆ  9ˆj  4kˆ and 4(ˆi  ˆj  k), respectively coplanar..
  
Sol. We know that four points A, B, C and D are coplanar if three vectors AB, AC and AD are

A
coplanar, i.e., if
  

58 D
[AB, AC, AD]  0

Now AB  (ˆj  k) ˆ  (4i  5ˆj  k)
ˆ  4iˆ  6ˆj  2kˆ

A

AC  (3iˆ  9ˆj  4k)
ˆ  (4i  5ˆj  k)
ˆ  iˆ  4ˆj  3kˆ

65 MAD  4( ˆi  ˆj  k)
ˆ  (4i  5ˆj  k)
ˆ  8iˆ  ˆj  3kˆ

4 6 2
  
Thus [AB, AC, AD]  1 4 3  0
10 H

8 1 3
98 ES

Hence A, B, C and D are coplanar.

        
Ex.14 Prove that : [a  b, b  c, c  a]  2[a, b, c].
Sol. We have
J

           
[a  b, b  c, c  a]  (a  b).((b  c)  (c  a))
         
A

= (a  b).(b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a)
          
= (a  b).(b  c  b  a  c  a) (as c  c  0)
R

                 
= a(b  c)  a.(b  a)  a.(c  a)  b.(b  c)  b.(b  a)  b.(c  a)
                 
= [a, b, c]  [a, b, a]  [a, c, a]  [b, b, c]  [b, b, a]  [b, c, a]
  
= 2[a, b, c]

         
Ex.15 Prove that [a, b, c  d]  [a, b, c]  [a, b, d]
Sol. We have
       
[a, b, c  d]  a.(b  (c  d))
    
= a.(b  c  b  d)
     
= a.(b  c)  a.(b  d)
     
= [a, b, c]  [a, b, d]

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.13 –

PRACTICE EXERCISE

 
Q.1 If the position vector a of the point (5, m) is such that a  13 , find the value of ‘m’.


Q.2 Express the vector PQ in terms of unit vector î and ˆj , when the points are P(3, 7), Q(4, 6).

Q.3 Find the vector PQ where P(–1, –1) and Q(–3, 2).

36 N
Q.4 If the co-ordinates of the points A, B, C and D are (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 3) and (3, 2) respectively,

A
 
show that AB  CD .

58 D
Q.5 Find the co-ordinates of the tip of the position vector which is equivalent to AB, where the
co-ordinates of A and B are (–1, 3) and (–2, 7).

A

Q.6 If a be a position vector whose tip is (1, –3), find the co-ordinates of the point ‘B’ such that

65 M
 
AB = a , the co-oridnates of A are (–1, 5).

Q.7 ABCD is a parallelogram. If the co-ordiantes of A, B, C are (–2, –1), (3, 0) and (1, –2)
10 H

respectively, find the co-ordinates of D.

98 ES

Q.8 Using vector, show that the points A (–2, 1), B(–5, –1) and C(1, 3) are collinear.
 
Q.9 If a , b are the position vectors of the points (1, –1) and (–2, m), find the value of ‘m’ for
 
which a and b are collinear..
J
A

Q.10 Show that vectors 2î  3 ĵ  4k̂ and 4î  6 ĵ  8k̂ are collinear..

R

Q.11 Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector a  î  ĵ  2k̂ .

Q.12 Find the unit vector in the direction of vector PQ , where P and Q are the points (1, 2, 3) and
(4, 5, 6), respectively.
 
Q.13 For given vectors, a  2î  ĵ  2k̂ and b   î  ĵ  k̂ , find the unit vector in the direction of
 
the vector a  b .

Q.14 Find a vector in the direction of vector 5î  ĵ  2k̂ which has magnitude 8 units.

Q.15 Find the direction cosines of the vector î  2 ĵ  3k̂ .

Q.16 Find the direction cosines of the vector joining the points A(1, 2, –3) and B(–1, –2, 1) directed
from A to B.
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.14 –

Q.17 Find the position vector of a point R which divides the line joining two points P and Q whose
position vectors are î  2ˆj  k̂ and î  ˆj  k̂ respectively, in the ratio 2 : 1.
(i) Internally (ii) Externally

Q.18 Show that the points A(2, 0, 0), B(0, 1, 0) and C (0, 0, 1) are the vertices of an isoceles
triangle.

Q.19 Show that the points P(2, 4, –1), Q(4, 5, 1) and R(3, 6, –3) are the vertices of an right angled
traingle.

36 N
Q.20 Show that the points A(1, 2, 3), B(2, 3, 1) and C(3, 1, 2) are the vertices of an equilateral

A
triangle.

58 D

Q.21 Find a vector of magnitude 5 units, and parallel to the resultant of the vectors a  2î  3ˆj  k̂

A

and b  î  2ˆj  k̂ .
65 M
  
Q.22 If a  î  ĵ  k̂ , b  2î  ĵ  3k̂ and c  î  2ˆj  k̂ , find the unit vector parallel to the vector
  
a  b 3 c .
10 H

Q.23 (a) Find the position vector of a point R which divides the line joining two points P and Q
98 ES

   
whose position vectors are  2 a  b  and  a  3b  externally in the ratio 1 : 2. Also,
   
show that P is the mid point of the line segment RQ.
(b) Find the position vector of a point which divides the join of points
J

     
with position vectors are  a  2b  and  2 a  b  externally in the ratio 2 : 1.
A

   
Q.24 If the position vectors of the points A(3, 4), B(5, –6) and C(4, –1) are a, b, c respectively,
R

  
compute a  2 b  3 c .
     
Q.25 If a  2ˆj  3k̂ , b  î  ˆj  2k̂ and c  3î  4ˆj  2k̂ , find 2 a  3 b  4 c .
     
Q.26 If a , b , c are same as in question no. 25, find a  3 b  2 c .
     
Q.27 If a , b , c are same as in question no. 25, find a  3 b  2 c .

Q.28 Show that the three points A(2, –1, 3), B(4, 3, 1) and C(3, 1, 2) are collinear.

Q.29 Show that the three points A(6, –7, –1), B(2, –3, 1) and C(4, –5, 0) lie on the same line.

Q.30 Show that the three points A(–1, 4, –2), B(2, –2, 1) and C(0, 2, –1) are collinear.

Q.31 Show that the three points A(4, 5, –5), B(0, –11, 3) and C(2, –3, –1) lie on the same line.

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.15 –

Q.32 The position vectors of the points A, B and C are 2î  ˆj  k̂ , 3î  2 ĵ  k̂ and î  4 ĵ  3k̂
respectively. Show that A, B, C are collinear.

Q.33 Show that the points A(1, –2, –8), B(5, 0, –2) and C(11, 3, 7) are collinear, and find the ratio
in which B divides AC.
 
Q.34 If a  i  2 j  3k , b  2î  4k̂ and c  i  2 j  k , find


   
(i) a .b (ii) b.c

36 N
           
(iii)  2 b  c . a  b  (iv)  b  c . b  c 
     

A
     
Q.35 If a is a unit vector and  x  a . x  a   8 , then find x .

58 D
  
     
Q.36 If a  3î  ˆj  3k̂ and b  4î  2k̂ , verify that a . b  b . a .

A  
Q.37 Prove that a  2î  ĵ  4k̂ and b  î  2 ĵ  k̂ are perpendicular..
65 M
 
Q.38 Prove that a  2î  ˆj  k̂ and b  î  3ˆj  5k̂ are perpendicular..
 
10 H

Q.39 Prove that P  aî  bĵ  ck̂ and Q  b  c î  c  a  ĵ  a  b k̂ are perpendicular..
     
Q.40 If a  i  2 j  3k and b  3i  j  2 k and Show that  a  b  is perpendicular to  a  b  .
98 ES

   
  
Q.41 Prove that the vectors a  î  2 ĵ  k̂ , b  î  ĵ  3k̂ , c  7î  4 ĵ  k̂ are at right angles to
each other.
J
A

Q.42 For what value of P are the vectors P î  2 ĵ  k̂ and 5î  9 ĵ  2k̂ are perpendicular to each
other.
R

Q.43 For what value of M the vectors 2î  ˆj  k̂ and î  4 ĵ  Mk̂ are perpendicular to each other..

Q.44 Find the value of R for which the vectors 2î  ˆj  k̂ and R î  ĵ  5k̂ are perpendicular to each
other.

Q.45 Find the value of P such that the vectors 2î  ĵ  k̂ and P î  ˆj  k̂ are orthogonal.

Q.46 Find the cosine of angle between the vectors 3î  2 ĵ  6k̂ and 4î  ĵ  8k̂ .

Q.47 Find the angle between the vectors î  ˆj and ĵ  k̂ .

Q.48 Find the angle between the vectors 5î  3ˆj  4k̂ and 6î  8 ĵ  k̂
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.16 –

 
Q.49 If A  î  2 ĵ  3k̂ and B  3î  ˆj  2k̂ . Find the angle between 2A + B and A + 2B.
      
Q.50 If a = i  j , b = ĵ  k̂ and c = k̂  2î , find the angle between :- (i) a and b (ii) b and c

   
Q.51 If a and b are two vectors such that a  2 and b  3 and a . b = 3. Find the angle between

a and b.


36 N

Q.52 Find the magnitude of each of two vectors a and b , having the same magnitude such that the
9

A
angle between them is 60O and their scalar product is .
2

58 D
1
Q.53 Show that the vectors
1
7

2î  3ˆj  6k̂ ,
1
7
 
3î  6 ĵ  2k̂ ,
7
  
6î  2 ĵ  3k̂ are mutually

A
perpendicular unit vectors.

Q.54 Find the angle A of triangle ABC whose vertices are A(0, –1, –2), B(3, 1, 4) and C(5, 7, 1).
65 M
Q.55 Find the angle B of the triangle whose vertices are A(0, –1, –2), B(3, 1, 4) and C(5, 7, 1).
10 H

Q.56 Find the angle C of the triangle whose vertices are A(0, –1, –2), B(3, 1, 4) and C(5, 7, 1).
98 ES

     
Q.57 Let a , b and c be three vectors such that a  3 , b  4 , c  5 and each other of them

  
being perpendicular to the sum of the other two, find a  b  c .
J

      
A

Q.58 Three vectors a , b and c satisfy the condition a  b  c  0 . Evaluate the quantity
        
R

  a . b  b . c  c . a , if a  1 , b  4 and c  2 .

         
Q.59 If a . b  a . c , prove that either a  0 or b  c or a is  to  b . c  .
 
     
Q.60 If  a  b . a  b   0 , prove that a  b .
  
  2
  2

Q.61 Show that  a  b    a  b  , if a and b are perpendicular vectors.

   
     
Q.62 If a  b  a  b , then show that a and b are perpendicular vectors.

       
Q.63 If c is normal to a and b , show that c is normal to a  b and a  b .

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.17 –

 1 
Q.64 If â and b̂ are unit vectors and  is the angle between them, show that sin  a b .
2 2
     
Q.65 If a is any vector in space, show that a   a .î  i   a . ĵ  j . a .k̂  k̂ .
     
    2 2 2

Q.66 Prove that  a . b   a . b .

 

36 N
    2  2 2

Q.67 Prove that  a  b   a  b , if and only if a and b are orthogonal.
 

A
   
Q.68 If a  î  3 ĵ  2k̂ and b   î  3k̂ , find a  b .

58 D
   
Q.69 Find a  b when a  2î  3ˆj  6k̂ and b  3î  6 ĵ  2k̂ .

A
   
Q.70 Find a  b when a  î  ˆj  2k̂ and b  2î  3ˆj  4k̂ .
65 M    
Q.71 Find a  b when a  4î  ĵ  2k̂ and b  3î  k̂ .
   
Q.72 Find a  b when a  î  2 ĵ  5k̂ and b  2î  3 ĵ .
10 H

 
Q.73 Find also | a  b | in each question from 68 to 72.
   
98 ES

 
Q.74 Given that a  2 i  3j  6k , b  3î  6 ĵ  2k̂ and c  6î  2 ĵ  3k̂ , show that a  b = 7 c .

e j e
Q.75 Calculate i  2 j  3k  2 i  j  3k  3i  j  2 k . j e j
J

     
Q.76 Find a . b , if a = 2, b = 5 and | a  b | = 8.
A

     
R

Q.77 Find | a  b | if a = 10, b = 2 and a  b = 12.

     
Q.78 If a = 2, b = 7 and a  b = 3î  2ˆj  6k̂ , find the angle between a and b .

     
Q.79 Find  a  b   c and a   b c  , when
   
  
(i) a  2î  ˆj  k̂ , b  î  2 ĵ  k̂ and c  2î  3 ĵ
  
(ii) a  î  ˆj  2k̂ , b  3î  2ˆj  4k̂ and c  i  j  k .
  
(iii) a  2î  5ˆj  7 k̂ , b  3î  4ˆj  k̂ and c  î  2 ĵ  3k̂ .
Q.80 Find a unit vector perpendicular to the vectors 2î  ˆj  k̂ and 3î  4 ĵ  k̂ .

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.18 –

   
Q.81 If a  3î  4 ĵ and b  î  ˆj  k̂ , show that a  b represents vector which is perpendicular to
 
both a and b .
       
Q.82 Verify that a   b  c  = a  b + a  c if a  4î  ˆj  k̂ , b  î  ĵ  k̂ and c  î  ˆj  k̂ .
 

 

Q.83 Find the value of M such that a  î  mĵ  3k̂ and 3î  2 ĵ  9k̂ are parallel.

36 N
 
Q.84 Find the sine of angle between the vectors A  3i  j  2 k and B  2î  2ˆj  4k̂ .

A
Q.85 Find th angle between the following vectors using cross product :-

58 D
 
a  î  3 ĵ  2k̂ and b  2î  4 ĵ  k̂

A
Q.86 Find the area of parallelogram whose adjacent sides are :-
65 M
(i) î  3ˆj  k̂ and î  ˆj  k̂
(ii) î  2ˆj  3k̂ and 3î  2 ĵ  k̂
(iii) î  2 ĵ  3k̂ and 3i  2 j  k
10 H

(iv) 2 i  j  3k and i  j .

98 ES

(iv) 2î and ĵ

Q.87 Find the area of parallelogram whose diagonals are 2î  ĵ  k̂ and 3î  4 ĵ  k̂ .   
J

Q.88 Find the area of triangle ABC whose vertices are :

A

A(–2, 3, 1), B(4, 2, –2) and C(2, 0, 1)

Q.89 Find the vector whose length is 3 and which is perpendicular to each of the vectors :-
R

 
a  3î  ĵ  4k̂ and b  6î  5ˆj  2k̂
     
Q.90 If a  2î  5 ĵ  7 k̂ , b  3i  4 j  k and c  î  2ˆj  3k̂ . Compute  a  b   c and a × (b
 
× c) and verify that these are not the same.

Q.91 Find the value of ‘a’ so that angle between the two vectors i + k and i + j + ak may be .
3
           
Q.92 If a , b and c are three vectors and a is not a zero vector.. a . b  a . c and a  b  a  c ,
 
then prove that b  c .

F  
I 
F 
I
 
F 
I


H K
Q.93 Show that : a  b  c  b  c  a  c  a  b  0
H K H K
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.19 –

F  
I 2 2 2
b g
H K
2
Q.94 Prove that : a  b  a b  a. b

        
Q.95 Show that for any two vectors a and b  a  b    a  b   2 a  b  .
     
        
Q.96 If a  b  c  0 show that a  b  b c  c  a .

     

36 N
Q.97 If a , b, c determine the position vectors A, B and C of triangle ABC. show that the vector
1      

A
area of the triangle is  b c  c  a  a  b  .
2 

58 D
           
Q.98 If a  b  c  d and a  c  b d , show that ( a  d ) is parallel to  b  c  .
 

A
       
Q.99 If a  b  b c  0 , prove that a  c  m b where m is a scaler..
65 M
Q.100 If with reference to a right handed system of mutually perpendicular unit vector i, j, k.
 = 3i – j,  = 2i + j – 3k. Express  in the form of  = 1 + 2, where 1 is parallel to  and
10 H

2 is perpendicular to .
98 ES

Q.101 The two vectors ˆj  kˆ and 3iˆ  ˆj  4kˆ represent the two sides AB and AC, respectively of
a ABC. Find the length of the median through A.
J

Q.102 If the sum of two unit vectors is a unit vector, prove that the magnitude of their difference is
A

3. [C.B.S.E. 2019]
R

1 1
Q.103 Prove that the vectors
7
   1
  
2î  3ˆj  6k̂ , 3î  6 ĵ  2k̂ , 6î  2 ĵ  3k̂ form right handed
7 7
orthogonal system.

Q.104 Dot product of a vector with the vectors 4iˆ  5jˆ  k,

ˆ ˆi  4ˆj  5k,
ˆ 3iˆ  ˆj  k.
ˆ is 1, 0, 7. Find

the vector.

    ^ ^ ^  ^ ^ ^  ^ ^ ^
Q.105 (a) Find  a b c  if a  i  2 j 3k, b  2 i  3 j k and c  3 i  j 2 k .
 

    ^ ^ ^  ^ ^ ^  ^ ^ ^
(b) Find  a b c  if a  2 i  3 j k, b  i  2 j k and c  3 i  j 2 k .
 
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.20 –
 ^ ^ ^
 ^ ^ ^  ^ ^ ^
Q.106 Show that the vectors a  i  2 j 3k, b  2 i  3 j 4 k and c  i  3 j 5 k are coplanar..

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Q.107 Find  if the vectors i  j k, 3 i  j 2 k and i   j 3k are coplaner..

 ^ ^ ^  ^  ^ ^ ^
Q.108 Let a  i  j k, b  i and c  c1 i  c 2 j c3 k , then
  
(a) If c1  1 and c2  2 , find c3 which makes a , b and c coplanar..

36 N
  
(b) If c 2  1 and c3  1 , show that no values of c1 can make a , b and c coplanar..

A
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Q.109 Show that the four points 4 i  8 j 12 k, 2 i  4 j 6 k , 3 i  5 j 4 k and 5 i  8 j 5 k are

58 D
coplanar.

A
Q.110 Find x such that the four points A(3, 2, 1) ; B(4, x, 5) ; C(4, 2, –2) and D(6, 5, –1) are
coplanar.
65 M
          
Q.111 Prove that  a  b , b  c , c  a   2  a b c  .
10 H

   
      
98 ES

Q.112 If any three vectors a , b and c are coplanar, then prove that the vectors a  b , b  c and
 
c  a are also coplanar..
        
J

Q.113 Show that the vectors a , b and c are coplanar if a  b , b  c and c  a are coplanar..
A

      
Q.114 Show that the vectors  a  b , b  c , c  a   0 .
R

 
        
Q.115 For any three vectors a , b and c , show that a  b , b  c and c  a are coplanar..

   
Q.116 If two vectors a and b are such that a  2, b  1 and a . b  1 , then find the value of
     
 3 a  5 b . 2 a  7 b  .
  

       
Q.117 If a  b  c  0 and a  3, b  5 and c  7 , show that the angle between a and b

is 60O.

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.21 –

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Q.118 If i  j k, 2 i  5 j, 3 i  2 j 3k and i  6 j k respectively are the position vectors
of points A, B, C and D, then find the angle between the straight lines AB and CD. Find
 
whether AB and CD are collinear or not.
^ ^ ^
Q.119 If i, j, k are unit vectors along three mutually perpendicular directions, then :
^ ^ ^ ^
(a) i j  1 (b) i j  1

36 N
^ ^ ^ ^
(c) i k  0 (d) i k  0

A
   
Q.120 If ABCD is a rhombus whose diagonals intersect at E. Then EA  EB EC ED equals :

58 D
 
(a) 0 (b) AD

A
 
(c) 65 M 2 BC (d) 2 AD
       
Q.121 If a  i  2 j  3k and b  2 i  4 j  5 k represents two adjacent sides of a parallelogram,
find unit vectors parallel to the diagonals of the parallelogram.
10 H

Q.122 Using vectors, find the area of the triangle ABC with vertices A(1, 2, 3) ; B(2, –1, 4) and
C(4, 5, –1).
98 ES
J
A
R

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.22 –

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS FROM NCERT

       
Q.1 Find | a | and | b |, if (a  b).(a  b)  8 and | a |  8 | b | .


Q.2
 ˆ b   iˆ  2 j  kˆ and c  3iˆ  ˆj are such that a  b is perpendicular to
If a  2iˆ  2ˆj  3k,
c, then find the value of .

36 N
       
Q.3 Show that | a | .b | b | .a is perpendicular to | a | .b  | b | .a, for any two non-zero vectors a

A
and b.

58 D
Q.4 ˆ ˆ  b.c
If a, b, c are unit vectors such that aˆ  bˆ  cˆ  0, find the value of a.b ˆ ˆ  c.a.
ˆˆ

   

A
Q.5 Find a unit vector perpendicular to each of the vector a  b and a  b , where
 
65 M
a  3iˆ  2ˆj  2kˆ and b  iˆ  2ˆj  2k.
ˆ

Q.6 If a unit vector a makes angles  3 with ˆi,  4 with ˆj and acute angle  with kˆ , then
10 H

find and hence, the component of a.

 
ˆ b  3iˆ  2ˆj  7kˆ and c  2iˆ  ˆj  4k.
98 ES

Q.7(a) Let a  ˆi  4ˆj  2k, ˆ Find a vector d which is perpen-

  
dicular to both a and b, and c.d  15.

 
ˆ b  ˆi  4ˆj  5kˆ and c  3iˆ  ˆj  k.
J

Q.7(b) Let a  4iˆ  5jˆ  k, ˆ Find a vector d which is perpen-

  
dicular to both c and b, and d.a  21.
A
R

Q.8 The scalar product of the vector ˆi  ˆj  kˆ with a unit vector along the sum of vectors 2iˆ  4ˆj  5kˆ
and  ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ is equal to one. Find the value of .

Q.9 Let a and b be two unit vector and is the angle between them. Then a + b is a unit vector if
(A)    4 (B)    3 (C)    2 (D)   2 3

  
Q.10 If is the angle between any two vectors a and b, then | a.b |  | a  b | when is equal to
(A) 0 (B) =    / 4 (C)    2 (D) 

Q.11 The value of ˆi.(ˆj  k)

ˆ  ˆj.(iˆ  k)
ˆ  k.(i
ˆ ˆ  k)
ˆ is
(A) 0 (B) –1 (C) 1 (D) 3

Q.12 If  is angle between two vectors i  2j  3k and 3i  2j  k , find sin .
RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836
VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.23 –

ANSWERS
1. m  12 2. î  ˆj 3.  2î  3ˆj

5.  1,2 6. 0,2 7. D 4,3

1 1 ˆ 2 1 1 1
î  j k̂ î  ĵ  k̂

36 N
9. m=2 11. 12.
6 6 6 3 3 3

A
1 1 40 8 15
13. î  k̂ 14. î  ĵ  k̂
2 2 30 30 30

58 D
A
1 2 3 1 2 2
15. , , 16.  , ,
14 14 14
65 M 3 3 3

1 4 1
17. (i)  î  ˆj  k̂ (ii)  3î  3k̂
3 3 3
10 H

3 10 ˆ 3 3 2
21. 10î  j 22. î  ĵ  k̂
98 ES

2 2 22 22 22

23. 3a  5b 24. î  5 ĵ 25.  9î  15 ĵ  8k̂ 

J

26. 9î  15 ĵ  k̂ 27. 131 33. 2:3

A

16
R

35. 3 42. p 43. m=2

5
FG 34 IJ
44. R=3 45. P=1 46. cos1 
H 63 K
2 
47. 51. 52. 3
3 3
 21
54. 57. 5 2 58. 
4 2

68. 9 i  j  3k 69. 42 i  14 j  21k 70.  2 i  8j  5k

71. i  10j  3k 72.  15i  10j  k 73. 91, 49 93 , 110 , 326

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.24 –

3 
76. 77. 16 78.
5 6

79. (i)  15i  10j  9 k , 3i  5j  k (ii) 5i  5j  10k , 13i  11j  k
(iii)  11i  122 j  85k ,  46i  66j  34 k

3i  5j  11k 2 2

36 N
80. 83. m 84. sin  
155 3 7

A
115

58 D
85. sin  
147

A
86. (i) 65 M 4 2 (ii) 8 3 (iii) 3 2 (iv) 3 3

(v) 9

155 421
2 i  2 j  k
10 H

87. 88. 89. 91. [a = 0, –4]

2 2
98 ES

105. 24 107.  = 15 108.(a) 2 110. x=5 113. 0

J

ANSWERS TO MISCELLANEOUS
A

QUESTIONS
R

16 2 2 2
1. , 2. 8 4. –3/2
3 7 3 7
2 2 1  1 1 1 1
5.  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ 6. , , , 7. (160iˆ  5ˆj  70k)
ˆ
3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3

8.  1 9. (D) 10. (B)

11. (C)

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.25 –

— Notes —
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

36 N
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

58 D
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
65 M
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 H

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
98 ES

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
J

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
R

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836

VECTOR ALGEBRA R.M.M.C. – 11.26 –

— Notes —
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

36 N
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

58 D
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
65 M
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 H

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
98 ES

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
J

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
R

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RAJESH MADAN'S MATHEMATICS CLASSES, Ph. : 9810655836