10

VECTOR ALGEBRA
VECTOR ALGEBRA 1

Previous Year Questions

1. In a parallelogram PQRS , PQ = 3iˆ − 2 ˆj + 2kˆ and If a = 2iˆ + 2 ˆj + 3kˆ, b = −iˆ + 2 ˆj + kˆ and c = 3iˆ + ˆj are

PS = −iˆ − 2kˆ . Find PR and QS . ( )

such that the vector a + b is perpendicular to vector

c , then find the value of  .

[CBSE-65-1-1-(2022)]
2. (a) If a, b , c and d are four non-zero vectors such that [CBSE-65-3-1-(2022)]

a b = c  d and a  c = 4b  d , then show that 7. Find the distance of the point (1, −2,9 ) from the point

( a − 2d ) is parallel to ( 2b − c ) where a  2d , c  2b of intersection of the line

OR
( )
r = 4iˆ + 2 ˆj + 7kˆ +  3iˆ + 4 ˆj + 2kˆ and the plane

(b) The two adjacent sides of a parallelogram are ( )

r  iˆ − ˆj + kˆ = 10 .

represented by 2iˆ − 4 ˆj − 5kˆ and 2iˆ + 2 ˆj + 3kˆ . Find the [CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)]

unit vectors parallel to its diagonals. Using the diagonal 2 2
8. (a) If a  b + a . b = 400 and b = 5 , then find the
vectors, find the area of the parallelogram also.

[CBSE-65-1-1-(2022)] value of a .

3. a and b are two unit vectors such that OR

2a + 3b = 3a + 2b . Find the angle between a and b . (b) Find all the possible vectors of magnitude 5 3

[CBSE-65-2-1-(2022)] which are equally inclined to the coordinate axes.

[CBSE-65-4-1-(2022)]
4. ABCD is a parallelogram such that AC = iˆ + ˆj and
9. If a, b and c are mutually perpendicular vectors of
BD = 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ . Find AB and AD . Also, find the area
equal magnitude, then prove that the vector
of the parallelogram ABCD.

[CBSE-65-2-1-(2022)]
( 2a + b + 2c ) is equally inclined to both a and c . Also,
5. ( )
Write the projection of the vector b + c on the vector find the angle between a and 2a + b + 2c .( )
a, where a = 2iˆ − 2 ˆj + kˆ, b = iˆ + 2 ˆj − 2kˆ and [CBSE-65-4-1-(2022)]

c = 2iˆ − ˆj + 4kˆ . 10. If a = iˆ + ˆj + kˆ, a.b = 1 and a  b = ˆj − kˆ, then find b .

[CBSE-65-3-1-(2022)] [CBSE-65-5-1-(2022)]
6. The two adjacent sides of a parallelogram are 11. (a) If a and b are two vectors such that a + b = b ,
represented by vectors 2iˆ − 4 ˆj + 5kˆ and iˆ − 2 ˆj + 3kˆ .

Find the unit vector parallel to one of its diagonals. Also,

( )
then prove that a + 2b is perpendicular to a .

find the area of the parallelogram. OR

OR (b) If a and b are unit vectors and  is the angle
 1
between them, then prove that sin = a −b .
2 2
 2 VECTOR ALGEBRA

[CBSE-65-5-1-(2022)] [CBSE-65-1-1-(2023)]

12. Find the equation of the plane passing through the line 16. If a + b = iˆ and a = 2iˆ − 2 ˆj + 2kˆ, then b equals:
( )
of intersection of the planes r . iˆ + ˆj + kˆ = 10 and
(a) (b) 3
14
( )
r . 2iˆ + 3 ˆj − kˆ + 4 = 0 and passing through the point
(c) 12 (d) 17
( −2,3,1) . [CBSE-65-1-1-(2023)]
[CBSE-65-5-1-(2022)] 17. Find all the vectors of magnitude 3 3 which are
13. Two motorcycles A and B are running at the speed collinear to vector iˆ + ˆj + kˆ .
more than the allowed speed on the roads represented
[CBSE-65-1-1-(2023)]
( )
by the lines r =  iˆ + 2 ˆj − kˆ and
18. (a) Position vectors of the points A, B and C as shown
( ) ( )
r = 3iˆ + 3 ˆj +  2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ respectively. in the figure below are a, b and c respectively.

5
If AC = AB, express c in terms of a and b .
4

[CBSE-65-1-1-(2023)]

19. Unit vector along PQ , where coordinates of P and Q

Based on the above information, answer the following respectively are ( 2,1, −1) and ( 4, 4, −7 ) , is

questions:
(a) 2iˆ + 3 ˆj − 6kˆ (b) −2iˆ − 3 ˆj + 6kˆ
(a) Find the shortest distance between the given lines.
−2iˆ 3 ˆj 6kˆ 2iˆ 3 ˆj 6kˆ
(b) Find the point at which the motorcycles may (c) − + (d) + −
7 7 7 7 7 7
collide.
[CBSE-65-2-1-(2023)]
[CBSE-65-5-1-(2022)]
20. Position vector of the mid-point of line segment AB is
14. The value of p for which the vectors 2iˆ + pjˆ + kˆ and
3iˆ + 2 ˆj − 3kˆ . If position vector of the point A is
−4iˆ − 6 ˆj + 26kˆ are perpendicular to each other, is :
2iˆ + 3 ˆj − 4kˆ , then position vector of the point B is
(a) 3 (b) -3
5iˆ 5 ˆj 7 kˆ
17 17 (a) + − (b) 4iˆ + ˆj − 2kˆ
(c) − (d) 2 2 2
3 3
iˆ ˆj kˆ
[CBSE-65-1-1-(2023)] (c) 5iˆ + 5 ˆj − 7kˆ (d) − +
2 2 2

( ) ( )
15. The value of iˆ  ˆj  ˆj + ˆj  iˆ . kˆ is: [CBSE-65-2-1-(2023)]

(a) 2 (b) 0 21. Projection of vector 2iˆ + 3 ˆj on the vector 3iˆ − 2 ˆj is

(c) 1 (d) -1 (a) 0 (b) 12

VECTOR ALGEBRA 1

12 −12 (c) 2 (d) -2

(c) (d)
13 13 [CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)]
[CBSE-65-2-1-(2023)] 24
z+
x−5 y+2 5
22. If a, b , c are three non-zero unequal vectors such that 27. If the angle between the lines = =
 −5 
a  b = a  c , then find the angle between a and b − c. x y z 
and = = is , find the relation between  and
[CBSE-65-2-1-(2023)] 1 0 1 4
.

23. If a vector makes an angle of with the positive
4 [CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)]
directions of both x-axis and y-axis, then the angle
28. A unit vector along the vector 4iˆ − 3kˆ is
which it makes with positive z-axis is :

(a)

(b)
3 (a)
7
(
1 ˆ ˆ
4i − 3k ) (b)
5
(
1 ˆ ˆ
4i − 3k )
4 4

(c)

(d) 0
(c)
1
7
( 4iˆ − 3kˆ ) (d)
1
5
( 4iˆ − 3kˆ )
4

[CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)] [CBSE-65-4-1-(2023)]

24. a and b are two non-zero vectors such that the 29. If  is the angle between two vectors a and b , then

projection of a and b is 0. The angle between a and a  b  0 only when:

 
b is: (a) 0    (b) 0   
2 2

(a) (b)  (c) 0     (d) 0    
2
[CBSE-65-4-1-(2023)]

(c) (d) 0
4 30. If the projection of the vector iˆ + ˆj + kˆ on the vector
[CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)] 1
piˆ + ˆj − 2kˆ is , then find the value(s) of p.
25. In ABC , AB = iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ and AC = 3iˆ − ˆj + 4kˆ . If D 3

[CBSE-65-4-1-(2023)]
is the mid-point of BC, then vector AD is equal to:
31. Two vectors a = a1iˆ + a2 ˆj + a3kˆ and b = b1iˆ + b2 ˆj + b3 kˆ
(a) 4iˆ + 6kˆ (b) 2iˆ − 2 ˆj + 2kˆ
are collinear if
(c) iˆ − ˆj + kˆ (d) 2iˆ + 3kˆ
(a) a1b1 + a2b2 + a3b3 = 0
[CBSE-65-3-1-(2023)]
a1 a2 a3
26. The value of  for which the angle between the lines (b) = =
b1 b2 b3

( )
r = iˆ + ˆj + kˆ + p 2iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ and (c) a1 = b1 , a2 = b2 , a3 = b3

 (d) a1 + a2 + a3 = b1 + b2 + b3
r = (1 + q ) iˆ + (1 + q ) ˆj + (1 + q ) kˆ is is:
2
[CBSE-65-5-1-(2023)]
(a) -4 (b) 4
 2 VECTOR ALGEBRA

32. The magnitude of the vector 6iˆ − 2 ˆj + 3kˆ is

(a) 1 (b) 5

(c) 7 (d) 12

[CBSE-65-5-1-(2023)]

2
33. (a) If the vectors a and b are such that a = 3, b =
3

and a  b is a unit vector, then find the angle between

a and b .

OR

(b) Find the area of a parallelogram whose adjacent

sides are determined by the vectors a = iˆ − ˆj + 3kˆ and

b = 2iˆ − 7 ˆj + kˆ .

[CBSE-65-5-1-(2023)]

34. Three vectors a, b and c satisfy the condition

a + b + c = 0. Evaluate the quantity

 = a  b + b  c + c  a, if a = 3, b = 4 and c = 2.

[CBSE-65-5-1-(2023)]

35. Find the distance between the lines:

( ) (
r = iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ +  2iˆ + 3 ˆj + 6kˆ ; )
r = ( 3iˆ + 3 ˆj − 5kˆ ) +  ( 4iˆ + 6 ˆj + 12kˆ )

[CBSE-65-5-1-(2023)]
VECTOR ALGEBRA 1

Solutions
1
Area of || ABCD = d1  d 2
2
1. PR = PQ + PS PS = QR
iˆ ˆj kˆ
= 2iˆ − 2 ˆj 1
= 4 −2 −2
2
0 6 8
PR = 2 2
1 ˆ
QS = QP + PS = PS − PQ = −4i − 32 ˆj + 24kˆ
2
= −4iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ 1
= 1616 = 2 101
QS = 6 2

3. 2a + 3b = 3a − 2b
2. ( ) (
(a) Consider a − 2d  2b − c )
2 2
 2a + 3b = 3a − 2b
= a  2b − a  c − 4d  b + 2d  c
2 2
 4 a + 12a.b + 9 b = 9 a − 12a.b + 4 b
2 2
=0
( ) (
 a − 2d || 2b − c ) As a = b = 1
OR 2
 24a.b = 5 a − 5 b = 0
2

(b) Let ABCD be a parallelogram with

 a.b = 0
AB = DC = 2iˆ − 4 ˆj − 5kˆ

So, a ⊥ b or Angle between them is
2

4.

and

BC = AD = 2iˆ + 2 ˆj + 3kˆ
AC = AB + BC = 4iˆ − 2 ˆj − 2kˆ Let AB = a and AD = b

and BD = 6 ˆj + 8kˆ AC = AB + BC = a + b = iˆ + ˆj
BD = BC + CD = b − a = 2iˆ + ˆj + kˆ
 AC = 2 6 and BD = 10
Adding we get, 2 AD = AC + BD = 3iˆ + 2 ˆj + kˆ
 Required unit vectors d̂1 and d̂ 2 are
3 1
 AD = iˆ + ˆj + kˆ
2 ˆ 1 ˆ kˆ 3 4
dˆ1 = i− j− and dˆ2 = ˆj + kˆ 2 2
6 6 6 5 5
Subtracting, we get
Now,
 2 VECTOR ALGEBRA

2 AB = AC − BD = −iˆ − kˆ  3 ( 2 −  ) + ( 2 + 2 ) 1 = 0
1 1  −3 + 2 + 6 + 2 = 0
 AB = − iˆ − kˆ
2 2  =8

iˆ ˆj kˆ 7. ( ) (
Given line is r = 4iˆ + 2 ˆj + 7kˆ +  3iˆ + 4 ˆj + 2kˆ )
AC  BD = 1 1 0 = iˆ − ˆj − kˆ
2 1 1 Any point on the line is

( 4 + 3 , 2 + 4 + 7 + 2 )
1 3
Area = AC  BD =
2 2
(
This point lies on the plane r . iˆ − ˆj + kˆ = 10 )
5. b + c = 3iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ
 4 + 3 − 2 − 4 + 7 + 2 = 10

Projection of b + c on a =
(b + c ). a   + 9 = 10   = 1

a  Point of intersection is ( 7, 6,9 )

=
(3iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ )  ( 2iˆ − 2 ˆj + kˆ ) Distance of (7, 6, 9) from (1, –2, 9) is

d= ( 7 − 1) + (6 + 2) + 0
2 2
9
6−2+2 6
= = =2 = 36 + 64 = 10
3 3
2 2
(a) a b sin 2  + a b cos 2  = 400
2 2
6. One diagonal of the parallelogram 8.

( ) (
= 2iˆ − 4 ˆj + 5kˆ + iˆ − 2 ˆj − 3kˆ ) a  25 (1) = 400
2

= 3iˆ − 6 ˆj + 2kˆ
a = 16
2

Unit vector parallel to the diagonal a =4

3iˆ − 6 ˆj + 2kˆ Or
=
9 + 36 + 4
(b) Let the required vector be xiˆ + xjˆ + xkˆ
3ˆ 6 ˆ 2 ˆ
= i − j+ k
7 7 7
3x 2 = 5 3
iˆ ˆj kˆ x 2 = 25  x = 5
Vector area of parallelogram = 2 −4 5
Required vectors are 5iˆ + 5 ˆj + 5kˆ or −5iˆ − 5 ˆj − 5kˆ .
1 − 2 −3
9. Let, a = b = c = m
= iˆ ( 22 ) − ˆj ( −11) + kˆ ( 0 )
= 22iˆ + 11 ˆj 2 a + b + 2c
2

2
Area = 484 + 121 = 605 = 11 5 = 4 a + b + 4 c + 4a  b + 4b  c + 8a  c
2 2

OR = 9m 2

( )
(b) a + b . c = 0 2a + b + 2c = 3m

(
 ( 2 −  ) iˆ + ( 2 + 2 ) ˆj + (3 +  ) kˆ  . 3iˆ + ˆj = 0
  ) Let  be angle between 2a + b + 2c and a
VECTOR ALGEBRA 1

cos  =
( 2a + b + 2c )  a = 2m 2
=
2 = 1 − 2 a b cos  + 1
2a + b + 2c a 3m  m 3 = 2 − 2 cos 
 
= 2  2sin 2 
Let,  be angle between 2a + b + 2c and c  2

Similarly, cos  =
2m 2
=
2  1
 sin = a −b
3m  m 3 2 2
 cos  = cos    =  12. Equation of plane through the intersection of given two
planes is
2
 Required angle = cos −1  
3
( ) ( )
r   iˆ + ˆj + kˆ +  2iˆ + 3 ˆj − kˆ  − 10 + 4 = 0
 
10. Let b = xiˆ + yiˆ + zkˆ
r  (1 + 2 ) iˆ + (1 + 3 ) ˆj + (1 −  ) kˆ  − 10 + 4 = 0
 
a b = 1 x + y + z = 1 .... (1)
Point (-2, 3, 1) lies on it.
a  b = ˆj − kˆ  − 2 − 4 + 3 + 9 + 1 −  − 10 + 4 = 0
iˆ ˆj kˆ 8 = 8   = 1
1 1 1 = iˆ ( z − y ) − ˆj ( z − x ) + kˆ ( y − x ) = ˆj − kˆ
 Equation of plane is
x y z

z− y =0 y = z
( )
r . 3iˆ + 4 ˆj − 6 = 0

 x − z =1 .... ( 2 ) 13. a1 = 0iˆ + 0 ˆj + 0kˆ, a2 = 3iˆ + 3 ˆj

x − y =1 .... ( 3)
a2 − a1 = 3iˆ + 3 ˆj
Solving (1), (2), (3)
iˆ ˆj kˆ
x = 1, y = 0, z = 0
b1  b2 = 1 2 −1 = 3iˆ − 3 ˆj − 3kˆ
b = iˆ, so b = 1
2 1 1

11. (a) a + b = b
( a2 − a1 )  ( b1  b2 )
SD =
b1  b2
( a + b ) = (b )
2 2

a 2 + b 2 + 2a. b = b 2
( ) ( )(
Now, ( a2 − a1 )  b1  b2 = 3iˆ + 3 ˆj 3iˆ − 3 ˆj − 3kˆ )
a + 2 a. b = 0
2

= 9−9 = 0
( a + 2b ) . a = 0 Shortest distance between two lines = 0
 ( a + 2b ) ⊥ a
14. (a) 3
OR 15. (d) -1
(b) Consider 16. (b) 3

( )( ) iˆ ˆj kˆ
2 2
a − b = a − b . a − b = a − 2a.b + b
2

17. Unit vector along iˆ + ˆj + kˆ is + +

3 3 3

Required vectors are 3iˆ + 3 ˆj + 3kˆ and −3iˆ − 3 ˆj − 3kˆ .

 2 VECTOR ALGEBRA

18. Position vectors of the points A, B and C as shown in  8 p 2 − 18 p + 4 = 0

the figure below are a, b and c respectively.  4 p2 − 9 p + 2 = 0
 4 p2 − 8 p − p + 2 = 0
 ( 4 p − 1)( p − 2 ) = 0
1
 p = 2 or p =
5 4
If AC = AB, express c in terms of a and b .
4 a1 a2 a3
31. (a) = =
2iˆ 3 ˆj 6kˆ b1 b2 b3
19. (d) + −
7 7 7 32. (c) 7
20. (b) 4iˆ + ˆj − 2kˆ 33. (a) Let  be the angle between a and b
21. (a) 0
Since a  b is a unit vector, we have a  b = 1
22. a b = a c  a  b − c = 0( )
 a b sin  = 1
 a = 0; b = c or a ⊥ b − c ( ) 1  
 sin  = , or  = 30  or 
2  6
As, a  0; b  c
OR

 The angle between a and b − c is .
2 (b) Here

 iˆ ˆj kˆ
23. (c)
2 a b = 1 −1 3 = 20iˆ + 5 ˆj − 5kˆ
2 −7 1

24. (a)
2
 a  b = 400 + 25 + 25 = 450
25. (d) 2iˆ + 3kˆ

26. (a) -4 Area of parallelogram = a  b = 450 = 15 2

27. ( r  ˆj )  ( r  kˆ ) −12 = (3kˆ − 6iˆ).( −3 ˆj − 2iˆ) −12 34. (a + b + c )

2
=0

= 12 − 12 = 0
 a2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2(  ) = 0

28. (b)
1 ˆ
5
(
4i − 3kˆ ) =−
29
2

 35. Here
29. (b) 0   
2
a1 = iˆ + 2 ˆj − 4kˆ, b1 = 2iˆ + 3 ˆj + 6kˆ

30. Here, 
( )(
 iˆ + ˆj + kˆ . piˆ + ˆj − 2kˆ )  = 1 a = 3iˆ + 3 ˆj − 5kˆ, b = 4iˆ + 6 ˆj + 12kˆ
2 2

 p2 + 1 + 4  3
  Here, b1 and b2 are parallel vectors.

p −1 1 a2 − a1 = 2iˆ + ˆj − kˆ, b = 2iˆ + 3 ˆj + 6kˆ

 =
p +52 3
VECTOR ALGEBRA 1

iˆ ˆj kˆ
Thus, ( a2 − a1 )  b = 2 1 −1 = 9iˆ − 14 ˆj + 4kˆ
2 3 6

( a2 − a1 )  b
Distance between the lines =
b

81 + 196 + 16
=
4 + 9 + 36
293
= units
7