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VECTOR ALGEBRA
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INTRODUCTION TO VECTORS
Scalars Vs. Vectors :Physical quantities are divided into 2 ategories
(a) Scalar
(b) Vectors

Scalars : The quantities which have only magnitude and which are not related to any fixed
direction in space.
ex. distance.

Vectors : The quantities which have both

(i) magnitude &
(ii) direction
ex. displacement.
Note : Scalars are just real numbers & hence are added, subtracted, multiplied etc. like numbers.

Representation & Notation of Vectors

Q
  
The vectors are generally denoted as a, b, c etc. Geometrically vectors are
nothing but a directed line segment.

So vector for the given line is PQ , where P is the initial point & Q is the
ending point or tip.
P
M agnit ud e of a vect or :

The modulus / magnitude of a vector is the measure of its length and is denoted by a for a vector

a . It is also written as simply a .

Types of Vector :

(i) Zero Vector : It is nothing but a vector with magnitude zero. Denoted by 0 and geometrically
it just represents a point.
(ii) Unit Vector : It is a vector whose magnitude is unity. i.e.

a 1

It is denoted by a→ (i.e. a cap)

Important : If a is a vector whose magnitude is a, then the unit vector in direction of a is

a→ & is obtained by

a
a→ 
a

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Note : Any two unit vectors a→ & b→ should not be taken to equal as you never know about
their direction & for vectorÊs to be equal, both direction & magnitude should be equal.
(iii) Negative Vector : If a be a vector, then -a is a negative vector, whose magnitude is equal
to that of a but has opposite direction.

a a
 

a  a

(iv) Equal Vectors : Two vectors are equal if and only if, both their direction
 
and magnitude is equal. Here a & b areparallel & a  b

a

b
(v) Like & Unlike Vectors : Two vectors are said to be like if they have same direction (not
necessarily same magnitude). & unlike, if they have opposite directions.

ALGEBRA OF VECTORS
(I) Addition of Vectors:
Parallologram Law of Addition : If two vectors lie along 2 adjacent sides of a parallelogram
then the diagonal through the common vertex represent their sum
i.e. s  a b

a s b

a
Triangle Law of addition :
C
If 2 vectors are represented as 2 sides of a triangle taken in order,
then their sum is represented by thrid side taken in reverse order.
c
 c  a b
b
These 2 laws can be extended to any polygon for example
A a B
here f  a  b  c  d  e e d

f c

a b
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Pr op er t ies of ad d it ion of vect or s :

1. Vector addition is commutative i.e. a  b  b  a

2. Vector addition is associative i.e. a  (b  c )  ( a  b )  c

3. a b  a  b

and equality lies when both vectors have same direction,

a b
 
i.e. 
a b

(II) Sub t r act ion of Vect or s :

We will work this out from addition law only, we know a  b i.e.
b
If a  b has to be found, we write + b
a

a  b  a  ( b )
a
–b
which is nothing but negative vector of b , i.e. it has the same
magnitude but just the direction has changed as shown in the diagram. a –b

So by triangle law the third side becomes a  b .

Property :

1. a  b  ab

(III) Multiplication of a vector by a scalar :

If we multiply any vector with any scalar, then following cases can occur.
Taking a as vector quantity & k as scalar
1. If k  0 , then ka represents a vector whose direction is same as that of a but with a
magnitude k times a.
2. If k  0 , then ka represents a vector opposite in direction having magnitude k times that
of a .

Properties of multiplication

1. k(a)  (k)a  (ka) 2. (k)(a)  ka

3. k(ma)  kma 4. ( p  q)a  pa  qa

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Illustration 1

If the vector a and b represent two adjacent sides of a regular hexagon, express the other

sides as vectors in terms of a and b .

Solution :
ABCDEF is a regular hexagon. D
 
Let FA  a and AB  a
     E C
FB  FA  AB  a  b
   
FC  2b ( FC is parallel to AB and lengthwise doubled
which is the property of regular hexagon)
F B
       
 BC  FC  FB  2b  a  b  b  a
 
 a b
     
CD   a; DE  b; EF  a  b A

Illustration 2
Prove that the sum of three vectors determined by the medians of a triangle directed from
the vertices is zero.
Solution :
ABC is the triangle and AD is the median through A. If AD be produced to a length DE  AD ,
then ACEB is a parallelogram.
Hence by the parallelogram law of addition of two vectors,
   
AB  AC  AE  2. AD
Similarly
      A
BA  BC  2 BE and CB  CA  2 CF

Adding, we have F E
       

AB  AC  BC  CB  CA  2 AD  BE  CF  D
B C
But the L.H.S. is such that
   
AB  BA  AB  AB  0 .
Similarly, the other two pairs also become zero. Hence
   
AD  BE  CF  0 E

VECTOR ALGEBRA
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Illustration 3
    
Five forces represented by AB, AC , AD , AE and AF actat the vertex A of a regular hexagon

ABCDEF. Prove that their resultant is a force represented by 6 AO , where O is the centre
of the hexagon.
Solution. E D
    
AB  AC  AD  AE  AF
    
 ED  AC  AD  AE  CD
     F C
 AC  CD  AE  ED  AD O
   
 AD  AD  AD  3 AD

 6 AO
A B
This is the resultant required.

Illustration 4
   
If G be the centroid of a triangle ABC, show that GA  GB  GC  0 ; and conversely, if
   
GA  GB  GC  0 , then G is the centroid of the triangle ABC.
Solution :
Necessary part.
Take G as the centroid .
Let the parallelogram GCFB be completed. A
  
GB  GC  GF (parallelogram law of addition of vectors)

 2GD
H E
  
 GA ( GA is oppositely directed to GD and lengthwise doubled) G
as G divides AD in the ratio 2 : 1
  
 GA  GB  GC  0 . B C
D
Now for the second part
 F
Let G be joined to the midpoint D of BC and produced to F
   
GC  GB  GF  2GD
 
 2GD  GA  0 ...(i)
 
This means that GD and GA have the same directions. Already GD is the join of G to the
midpoint of BC. Hence, AGD is a continuous line. So AD is the median. From (i), it is also seen
AG 2
that  . G is the point of trisection of the median. Hence G is the centroid.
GD 1
VECTOR ALGEBRA
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POSITION VECTOR OF A POINT

If O be fixed origin & P be any point then vector OP is called

the position vector of point P. P(x, y, z)
i.e. OP  xi→  yj→  zk→
where x, y, z are real (scalar) numbers & are X , Y, Z components O
of vector p .
So other representation is

p  p x i→  p y →j  p z k→

To find AB :
We have to find AB , given that position vectors of A & B are a & b respectively.

i.e. OA  a
B
OB  b
in OAB OA  AB  OB A
putting values
 AB  OB  OA
O
ba

TIP to remember

AB = (position vector of head) (position vector of tail)

also if a  axi→  a y →j  a2 k→ and b  bxi→  by →j  bz k→

then AB  (bx  ax )i→  (by  a y ) →j  (bz  a z )k→

Illustration 5
     
The position vectors of point A,B,C,D are a , b , 2a  3b and a  2b respectively. Show that
     
DB  3b  a and AC  a  3b
Solution :
We have,

DB = Position vector of B - Positionvector of D
    
 b  (a  2b)  3b  a

and AC = Position vector of C - Position vector of A
    
 (2a  3b)  a  a  3b .

VECTOR ALGEBRA
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Illustration 6
  
Let ABCD be a parallelogram. If a , b , c be the position vector of A,B,C respected with
reference to the origin O, find the position vector of D with reference to O.
Solution :
    
We have OA  a, OB  b and OC  c . Let a be the position vector of D.
 
Since opposite sides of a parallelogram areparallel and equal. D(d) C(c)
 
 AB  DC  P.V. of B - P.V. of A = P.V. of C - P.V. of D
  
 b  a  c  d
   
 d  c  ab

Hence, the position vector of D is (c  a  b) .  
A(a) B(b)

SECTION FORMULA
B
(i) I nt er nal Division

 b n
Let A and B be two points with position vectors a and b respectively, and

let C be a point dividing AB internally in the ratio m : n. Then the c C
o
position vector of C is given by m

 a
 mb  na
OC 
mn A

Remark : If C is the mid point of AB, then it divides AB in the ratio 1:1. Therefore, position vector
of C is
   
1.a  1.b a  b
 .
11 2

1  
Thus, the position vector of the mid point of AB is (a  b ) .
2

(ii) E xt er nal Division


Let A and B be two points with position vectors a and b respectively and let C be a point dividing
AB externally in the ratio m:n, Then the position vector of C is given by

 mb  na
OC 
mn

VECTOR ALGEBRA
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Illustration 7
   
Find the position vector of the point which divide the joint of points 2a  3b and 3 a  2b
internally and externally in the ratio 2 : 3.
Solution :
 
Let A and B be the given points with position vectors 2a  3b and 3a  2b respectively. Let P and
Q be the points dividing AB in the ratio 2 : 3 internally and externally respectively. Then,

   
3(2a  3b)  2(3a  2b)
Position vector of P 
32

 
12 a 13b
 
5 5

   
3(2a  3b)  2(3 a  2b) 
Position vector of Q   5b
32

Illustration 8
  
Let a , b , c be the position vectors of three distinct points A,B,C. If there exists scalar x,y,z
   
(not all zero) such that xa  yb  zc  0 and x  y  z  0 , then show that A,B and C lie on a
line.
Solution :
It is given that x, y, z are not all all zero. So, let z be non-zero.
Then
   
xa  yb  zc  0

 
    ( xa  yb)
 zc  ( xa  yb)  c
z

 
 xa  yb
 c [ x  y  z  0  z  ( x  y) ]
x y

This shows that the point C divides the line joining the points A and B in the ratio y : x. hence,
A, B and C lie on the same line.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
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SOME USEFUL RESULTS

A set of three mutually perpendicular axes OX, OY, OZ along which unit vectors are respectively
i→, →j, k→ constitute a reference frame. If a point P is represented in its position by the ordered triplet

( x, y, z) then the vector OP  xi→  yj→  zk→ represents the position vector of P with respect to the
origin O. Therefore A( x1 , y1 , z1 ) can be represented uniquely by its position vector drawn from O

to A so that OA  x1i→  y1 →j  z1 k→ , where ( x1 , y1 , z1 ) are the coordinates of A.

A number of useful results, analog hous to what are available in coordinate Geometry, (or in
complex number theory) is available in vector also.

Thus, if b and a are the position vector of A and B, then the midpoint of AB has position vector
 
ab
.
2
 
More generally a point P dividing the joint of a and b in the ratio m : n has position vector
 
mb  na
.
mn
We also have the following :
  
If a, b, c are the position vectors of the vertices of a triangle ABC, then
  
abc
(i) The centroid of the triangle has position vector .
3
  
(ii) If a, b, c are position vectors of vertices of an equilateral trinagle, whose orthocentre is at
   
origin, then a  b  c  0 ?
  
( a sec A) a  (b sec B)b  (c sec C) c
(iii) The orthocentre O, the triangle has position vector Ê
a sec A  b sec B  c sec C
(a,b,c are the sides and A,B,C are the angles of the triangle.)
  
sin 2 Aa  sin 2 Bb  sin 2Cc
(iv) The circumcentre S of the triangle has position vector .
sin 2 A  sin 2 B  sin 2C
   
(v) Further, if OA  a; OB  b ,
  
AB  OB  OA

Specially if a  x1i→  y1 j  z1 k→ so that is ( x1 , y1 , z1 ) and

b  x2 i→  y2 j→  z2 k→ so that B is ( x2 , y2 , z2 ) then
 
 a  b  AB  ( x2  x1 )i→  ( y2  y1 ) →j  ( z2  z1 ) k→
 
and hence b  a  ( x2  x1 )2  ( y2  y1 ) 2  ( z2  z1 )2

which gives relatively the distance between A( x1 , y1 , z1 ) and B( x2 , y2 , z2 ) .

VECTOR ALGEBRA
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Illustration 9
Prove that the internal bisectors of the angles of a triangle are concurrent. Also find the
position vector of incentre.
Solution :
Let the triangle be ABC with sides of length BC  a; CA  b; AB  c

Let A,B,C with respect to an origin O have position vector a , b, c .

BD c
If AD be the internal bisector of A , by the bisector theorem  and hence D divides the
DC b
 
cc  bb
join of B and C in the ratio c : b. Position vector of D is . Consider a point l on AD such
cb

 
(cc  bb) 
Al b  c (b  c)  aa
that  so that l has position vector b c
ID a a b c

  
aa  bb  cc
This simplifies to .
a  b c

The symmetry of this result indicates that this point also lies on the other two internal bisectors
of angles B and C. Hence these bisectors have a common point in I, i.e. they are concurrent at
I whose position vector is
  
aa  bb  cc
a  b c

Illustration 1 0
D, E and F are the middle points of the sides BC, CA, and AB respectively of a triangle ABC.
 2  1 
Three concurrent forces are reprsented by AD , BE and CF . Show that their resultant
3 3
1 
is represented by AC .
2
Solution :
The medians intersect at G

2   1  

BE  BG; CF  GF
3 3

2  1     

BE  CF  BG  GF  BF  FA
3 3

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A
2  1    
 BE  CF  AD  FA  AD
3 3

 FD
F E
1 
 AC
2 G

Since FD is parallel to AC and is of half the length.

B D C
Illustration 1 1

The velocity of a boat relative to water is 3i→  4 j→ and that of water relative to Earth is

i→  3 →j . Find the velocity of the boat relative to the Earth if i→ and →j represent velocities of
1km per hour East and North respectively.
Solution :

Velocity of boat (u) = velocity of water + velocity of boat relative to water

 i→  3 →j  3i→  4 →j  4i→  →j

 1  1 
Magnitude of u is 16  1  17 kmph in a direction tan  4  North of East.
 

L iner C omb inat ion of Vect or s

If a vector r can be represented as r  xa  yb  zc where a, b & c are vectors & x, y & z are

scalars, then r is a linear cobination of vectors a, b & c .

Linearly dipendent & independent system :
1. A System of vectors a1 a2 a3 ... an is said to be linearly dependent if there exists a system
of scalars 1 2 3 ... n such that

1 a1 + 2 a2 ... n an = 0

where all 1  n are not zero at the same time

C ollienar & C omp lanar it y

1. Collinearity
Collinear Vectors : Two vectors a & b are collinear if they are on same or parallel lines

a a

i.e. a b
b b

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 14 QUIZRR

Thus, if a, b are 2 collinear vectors then a   b or b   a for some scalar  .

Also, if 2 vectors a & b are non-collinear and x & y are scalars such that

xa  yb  0, then  x  y  0
To Prove that 3 points are collinear, we form 2 vectors out of them & then prove these
vectors to be collinear.
for example, if A, B &C are 3 points, we form 2 vectors AB & BC & now will prove then
collinear.
If 2 points are non-collinear then if
pa  qb  xa  yb  p  x & q  y
Note : 2 vectors are always co-planar.

C ollinear it y of 3 p oint s

1. To prove 3 points with position vectors a, b & c respectively :

a, b & c are collinear if there exists scalars x, y, z not all zero such that

xa  yb  zc  0 where x  yz  0.

COPLANARITY :
C op lanar Vect or s :
A set of vectors is said to be coplanar, if they lie in same plane. As already stated any two vectors
will constitute a plane.

(I) Method to prove 3 vectors to be coplanar :

Three vectors a , b , c will be coplanar if one of them can be expressed as linear combination of the
remaining two vectors.

i.e. c  b  c (where  &  are scalar)

(II) Method to prove 4 points to be coplanar :

Method-1 : To prove that 4 points A,B,C,D are coplanar, make 3 vectors AB, AC & AD &
prove them to be coplanar by above method.

Method-2 : Given that position vectors of 4 points are a, b , c & d respectively, then these
points are coplanar if

(i) xa  yb  zc  wd  0 , &

(ii) x  y  z  w  0

where x, y, z & w are not all zero at the same time.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 15

Illustration 1 2
Prive that Any three non-coplanar vectors are linearly independent.
Solution :
      
Let a, b, c be three non-coplanar vector and let xa  yb  zc  0 for some scalar x, y, z . In order
  
to prove that a, b, c are linearly independent we must show that x  y  z  0 .
If possible, let x  0 . Then

      y   z
xa  yb  zc  0  a     b     c [ x  0 ]
 x  x
  
 a lies in the plane of b and c
  
 a, b, c are coplanar vectors.
This is a contradiction. So x  0 . Similarly, we can show that y  z  0 .

Hence, a , b, c are linearly independent vectors.

Note : Since i→, →j, k→ are non-coplanar vectors, therefore i→, →j, k→ are linearly independent unit
vectors.

Illustration 1 3
Any four vectors in 3-dimensional space are linearly dependent.
Solution :
   
Let a, b, c, d be four vectors in 3-dimensional space. Two cases arises.

Case-1 When a , b, c are coplanar vectors.

In this case, a , b, c are coplanar
  
 there exist ascalars x, y such that a  xb  yc
        
 a  ( x)b  ( y) c  0  a  ( x)b  ( y) c  0 d  0
   
 x1 a  x2 b  x3 c  x4 d  0 , where x1  1, x2   x, x3   y and x4  0 .
    [ x1  1  0 ]
 a, b, c, d are linearly dependent vectors

Case-2 When a , b, c are co-planar vectors
In this case
   
a, b, c are non-coplanar vectors and d is any vector in space
 there exists scalar x, y, z such that d  xa  yb  zc

 xa  yb  zc  (1) d  0
 xa  yb  zc   d  0
where (   1) which is nothing but condition of coplanarity.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
16 QUIZRR

Illustration 1 4
        
Prove that the points 2a  b  c , 5a  b  2 c and 8 a  3b  5 c are collinear.

Solution :
Let x, y, z be scalars such that
         
x(2 a  b  c )  y(5 a  b  2c )  z(8 a  3b  5c )  0

 2 x  5 y  8 z  0 , x  y  3 z  0 and  x  2 y  5 z  0

 2 x  5 y  8 z  0 , x  y  3 z  0 and  x  2 y  5 z  0
Solving first two of these equation by cross-multiplication, we get

x y z x y z
  or     ( say)
7 14 7 1 2 1

 x   , y  2 and z  

These values of x, y, z satisfy the third eqaution and x  y  z  0 . Hence, the given points are
collinear.

Illustration 1 5
        
Show that the points with position vectors a  2b  3 c ,  2a  3b  c and 4a  7b  7 c are collinear.

Solution :
        
Let P,Q,R be the points with position vectors a  2b  3c ,  2 a  3b  c and 4 a  7b  7 c respectively.

Then,

PQ = P.V. of Q - P.V. of P
     
 (2a  3b  c)  (a  2b  3c)
  
 3a  5b  4 c
and

QR = P.V. of R - P.V. of Q
     
 (4 a  7b  7c)  (2a  3b  c)
  
 6 a  10b  8 c
   
Clearly, QR  2 PQ . This shows that PQ and QR are parallel vectors. But Q is a point common
 
to them. So, PQ and QR are collinear. Hence, point P, Q and R are collinear.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 17

Illustration 1 6
       
Show that the points with position vectors a  2b  3 c ,  2a  3b  2 c and 8 a  13b are
collinear whatever be a , b, c
Solution :
Let P, Q, R be the points with position vector

a  2b  3c ,  2a  3b  2c and 8 a  13b respectively, Then


PQ = Position vector of Q - Position vector of P
     
 (2a  3b  2c)  (a  2b  3c)
  
 3a  5b  c (i)

and QR = Position vector of R - Position vector of Q
    
 (8a  13b)  (2a  3b  2c)
  
 6 a  10b  2c
  
 2(3a  5b  c ) (ii)
 
From (i) and (ii), we have QR  2 PQ .
  
This shows that PQ and QR are parallel vectors. But Q is a point common to them. So, PQ and

QR are collinear. Hence, P, Q and R are collinear points.

Illustration 1 7
 
If the vectors a and b represent two adjacent sides of a regular hexagon. How many sets
of collinear vectors can be found, from the sides of hexagon ?
Solution :
ABCDEF is a regular hexagon.
   
Let FA  a and AB  b
    
FB  FA  AB  a  b
   
FC  2b ( FC is parallel to AB and lengthwise doubled)
       
 BC  FC  FB  2b  a  b  b  a
      
CD   a; DE  b; EF  a  b .
Thus three sets can be found as :
    
AB and DE; BC and EF ; CD and FA .

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 18 QUIZRR

Illustration 1 8
        
Examine whether 3a  7b  4c ; 3a  2b  c ; a  b  2 c are coplanar.

Solution :
   
Let p  3 a  7b  4 c

   
q  3a  2b  c

   
r  a  b  2c
           
Consider p  2 q  3r  3 a  7b  4 c  2(3a  2b  c )  3(a  b  2c )

  
 a(3  6  3)  b(7  4  3)  c (4  2  6)  0
  
 p, q, r are coplanar.

Illustration 1 9
        
Show that the vectors 2a  b  3c , a  b  2 c and a  b  3 c are non-coplanar vectors.

Solution :
Let, if possible, the given vectors be coplanar.
Then one of the given vectors is expressible in terms of the other two.
        
Let 2a  b  3c  x(a  b  2 c )  y(a  b  3c ) , for some scalar x and y

     
 2a  b  3c  ( x  y) a  ( x  y)b  (2 x  3 y) c

 2  x  y,  1  x  y and 3  2 x  3 y .

Solving, first and third of these equations, we get x  9 and y  7 . Clearly, these value do not
satisfy the third equation.
Hence, the given vectors are not coplanar.

Illustration 20
         
Prove that four points 2a  3b  c , a  2b  3c , 3a  4 b  2c and a  6b  6 c are coplanar.

Solution :
Let the given four points be P,Q,R and S respectively. These points are coplanar if the vectors
  
PQ, PR and PS are coplanar. These vectors are coplanar iff one of them can be expressed as a
linear combination of other two. So, let

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 19
  
PQ  xPR  yPS

        
  a  5b  4 c  x(a  b  c )  y( a  9b  7 c )

     
  a  5b  4 c  ( x  y) a  ( x  9 y)b  ( x  7 y) c

 x  y  1, x  9 y  5,  x  7 y  4

1 1
Solving the first of these three equations, we get x   , y  . These values also satisfy the third
2 2
equation. Hence the given four points are coplanar.

MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS
b
Scalar Pr od uct / Dot Pr od uct
It is represented as follows, a.b (ÂaÊ dot ÂbÊ) & its value is
a.b = |a| |b| cos 

where  is is the angle between the vectors a and b

Geometrical Interpretation : a

Geometrically it represents the „product of a vector with projection of a vector on the other.‰
So according to the above statement
a.b = a (projection of b on a)
or = b (projection of a on b)
a.b = a b cos 
= a (cos ) b
B
now OL = projection of b on a
= b cos 
& hence the result.

A
a.b O L a
 projection OL = a


a
 a.b 

, in vector =  
OL  a2 
 

Properties of Scalar product

(a) Commutative : i.e. a.b = b.a = ab cos 
(b) Distributive : a. (b + c) = a.b + a.c

VECTOR ALGEBRA
20 QUIZRR
 
(c) If a . b  0  |a| |b| cos  = 0 and |a|, |b|  0
i.e. cos  = 0   = /2 or the two vectors are perpendicular to each other.
So for two perpendicular vectors, a.b = 0
  2
(d) a. a  a
 
as this can be written as a . a  a a cos0
  
 ma  .  n b    mn   a . b 

(e)

(f) Orthonormal Trials

i→, →j & k→ are known as orthonormal trials as all the 3 are normal to each other.

so i→ . j→  j→ . k→  k→ . i→  0

i→ . i→  j→ . →j  k→ . k→  1
(g) angle between 2 vectors

if a  a1 i→  a2 →j  a3 k→

b  b1 i→  b2 →j  b3 k→
then a.b = a1b1 + a2b2 + a3b3
i.e. multiply the coefficients of same unit vectors i→ with i→ , like this & angle between the
vectors is given by

a1 b1  a2 b2  a3 b3
cos  = a b

a1 b1  a2 b2  a3 b3
=
a12  a22  a32 b12  b22  b32

(i) Components of a vector along and perpendicular to other vector


component of b along a

 
 a.b  B
= OL =    a
 a 
 b
component of b perpendicular to a = BL

 
  a . b  A
= b a O L a
 a 2 
 

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 21

Illustration 21
 
Find the value of  for which a  i→  2 j→  k→ and b  4i→  9 j→  2 k→ are perpendicular.

Solution :
 
If a  b , then
 
a.b  0

 ( i→  2 →j  2k→ ).(4 i→  9 →j  2k→ )  0

 4  18  2  0
 4  16  0

 4  16    4 .

Illustration 22

If i→  j→  k→ , 2i→  5 j→ , 3i→  2 →j  3 k→ and i→  6 →j  k→ are position vectors of the points A, B, C and D

 
respectively, then find the angle between the vectors AB and CD .
Solution :
If O is the origin, then
 
OA  i→  →j  k→, OB  2i→  5 →j
 
OC  3i→  2 →j  3k→ and OD  i→  6 →j  k→
  
Now, AB  OB  OA  (2i→  5 j→)  (i→  j→  k→ )  i→  4 →j  k→
  
and CD  OD  OC  (i→  6 j  k→ )  (3i→  2 j  3k→ )  2i→  8 →j  2k→
 
If  is the angle between AB and CD , then

 
AB.CD
cos    
AB CD

(i→  4 →j  k→ ).(2i→  8 →j  2 k→ )

(1)2  (4)2  (1)2 (2)2  (8)2  (2)2

2  32  2 36 36 36 36

      1
1  16  1 4  64  4 18 72 18 2 18 18  2 36

 cos  1     .

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 22 QUIZRR

Illustration 23

Dot product of a vector with vectors 3i→  5 k→ , 2i→  7 →j and i→  →j  k→ are respectively 1, 6 and 5.
Find the vectors.
Solution :

Let a  3i→  5 k→
 
b  2i→  7 j→ and c  i→  →j  k→


r  xi→  yj→  zk→ be the required vectors, then

r . a  1

 ( xi→  yj→  zk→ ).(3i→  5k→ )  1

 3 x  5 z  1 ...(i)

r .b  6

 ( xi→  yj→  zk→ ).(2i→  7 j→)  6

 2x  7 y  6 ...(ii)

r.c  5

 ( xi→  yj→  zk→ ).(i→  →j  k→ )  5

 x y z  5 ...(iii)
Solving (i), (ii) and (iii), we get
x  3, y  0 and z  2

 r  3i→  k→

Illustration 24

 
Find the value of  for which projection of a  i→  →j  4 k→ on b  2i→  6 j→  3 k→ is 4 units.

Solution :

a.b
 
Projection of a on b is b .


a.b  ( i→  →j  4 k).(2i→  6 →j  3k→ )

 2  6  12  2  18

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 23


b  (2)2  (6)2  (3)2  4  36  9  49  7


a.b
4
Now, b

2  18
 4
7

 2  18  28
 2  10    5 .

Illustration 25
 
If a  4i→  2 j→  k→ and b  i→  j→  3 k→ , then find

   
(i) projection of a on b (ii) projection of b on a .

Solution :

(i) Projection of a on b


a.b
 
b


a.b  (4i→  2 →j  k→ ).(i→  →j  3k→ )

 423  5

b  (1)2  (1)2  (3)2  1  1  9  11


  a.b 5
Projection of a on b   
b 11


(ii) Projection of b on a

a.b
 
a


a  (4)2  (2)3  (1)2  16  4  1  21

 
 a.b 5
Projecton of b on a    .
a 21

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 24 QUIZRR

Illustration 26

 
If a  i→  →j  k→ and b  2i→  →j  3 k→ , then find
 
(i) component of b along a .
 
(ii) component of b perpendicular to a .
Solution :

  a.b  
(i) 
Component of b along a is   2  a
 a 
 

a.b  (i→  →j  k→ ).(2i→  →j  3k→ )  2  1  3  4

2
a  (1) 2  (1) 2  (1) 2  3


a.b 4
 2  3
a

 a.b   4  4
  a  a  (i→  j→  k→ )  4 i→  4 →j  4 k→
  a 2  3 3
  3 3 3


    a.b  
(ii) Component of b perpendicular to a is b     a
 a2 
 

4 4 4 
 (2i→  →j  3k→ )   i→  →j  k→ 
3 3 3 

 4  4  4
  2   i→   1   →j   3   k→
 3   3   3

2→ 7 → 5 →
 i  j k
3 3 3

Illustration 27
    
If a is any vector then prove that a  (a .i→ )i→  (a . j→ ) j→  (a . k→ )k→

Solution :

Let a  a1 i→  a2 j→  a3 k→ then,

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 25


a.i→  ( a1i→  a2 →j  a3 k→ ).i→

 a1 (i→.i→)  a2 ( →j.i→ )  a3 (k→.i→ )  a1

 
Similarly, a. j→  a2 and a.k→  a3

  
Now, ( a.i→)i→  ( a. j→) j→  ( a.k→ ) k→


 a1 i→  a2 →j  a3 k→  a

   
Thus, a  ( a.i→ )i→  ( a. →j ) →j  ( a.k→ ) k→

This is an important question, so remember it, as this result will be used ahead also.

Illustration 28

   2 2
Prove that (a .b )2  a b .

Solution :

  
 
2
( a.b)2  a b cos

2 2  
 a b cos2  where  is the angle between a and b

Now, 1  cos   1

 0  cos2   1

 2 2
 ( a.b) 2  a b cos2 

2 2  cos2   1
 a b  

 2 2
Thus, ( a.b) 2  a b .

Illustration 29

If a→ and b→ are two unit vectors and  is angle between them, then prove that.

 1
(i) sin  a→  b→
2 2

 1
(ii) cos  a→  b→
2 2

VECTOR ALGEBRA
26 QUIZRR
Solution :

2
(i) a→  b→  ( a→  b→ )2

 a→ 2  b→ 2  2 a→ .b→  a→ 2  b→ 2  2a→ .b→

2 2
 a→  b→  2 a→ b→ cos

where  is angle between a→ and b→

[Square of a vector is equal to square of its magnitude]

 a→  1 and b→  1
 1  1  2cos   

 2  2cos  2(1  cos )

  
 2  2sin 2   4 sin 2
 2 2

2 
 a→  b→  4 sin 2
2


 a→  b  2sin
2

 1
 sin  a→  b→
2 2

2
(ii) a→  b→  (a→  b→ )  a→ 2  b→ 2  2 a→ .b→

2 2
 a→  b→  2 a→ b→ cos

 1  1  2cos   2  2cos   2(1  cos )

  
 2  2 cos2   4 cos2
 2 2

2 
 a→  b→  4 cos2
2


 a→  b→  2 cos
2

 1
 cos  a→  b→
2 2

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 27

Illustration 30

        
If a  b  c  0 and a  3, b  5, c  7 , find the angle between a and b .

Solution :
       
abc  0 a  b  c
Squaring both sides , we get
  
(a  b)2  ( c)2
   
 a2  b2  2a.b  ( c)2

2 2   2 
 a  b  2 a b cos  c where  is angle between a and b

[ square of a vector is equal to square of itsmagnitude]

 (3)2  (5)2  2(3)(5) cos  (7)2
 9  25  30 cos  49
 30 cos   15

15 1
 cos  
30 2


 
3

Illustration 31


Find the value of  for which the angle between the vectors a  2 2 i→  4j→  k→ and

b  7i→  2 →j  k→ is obtuse.

Solution :

If  is angle between a and b , then


a.b
cos    
a b

Now,  is obtuse  cos  0


    a b  0 
a.b  0  

 (2 2 i→  4 →j  k).(7i→  2 →j   k→ )  0

 14 2  8    0

VECTOR ALGEBRA
28 QUIZRR

 14 2  7  0  7 (2  1)  0

 1 1
     0  0
 2  2

1
Thus angle between a & b is obtuse if 0    .
2

QUESTIONS ON GEOMETRY

Illustration 32

Prove by vector method, that an angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

Solution :
Let AB be the diameter and O centre of semicircle be the origin.
Let position vector of A be a and let P be any point on circumference with position vector r .
     
OA  a OB   a OP  r
 
a  r [radius of same circle]
     
Now, AP. BP  (OP  OA).(OP  OB)
P
     
  r  a  .(r  a)  r 2  a 2

2 2
 r a 
r
 
0  r  a 
  A  O  B
a –b
 AP  BP
 APB  900
Therefore, APB is a right angled triangle.

Illustration 33

Prove by vector method that in a right-angled triangle, the mid-point of the hypotenuse is
equidistant from its vertices.
Solution :
Let ABC be a right-angled triangle and D be the mid-point of hypotenuse AC
 AD  DC
To prove :
   
AB  BC  0  AB  BC 
 

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 29
   
 ( AD  DB).( BD  DC)  0
     
 ( AD  DB).( DC  DB)  0  BD   DB
 
     
 ( AD  DB).( AD  DB)  0  AD  DC 
 
 2  2 A
 AD  DB  0
 2  2
 AD  DB  0

 2  2 D
 AD  DB

 
 AD  DB

 B C
AD  DB
Thus, AD  DB  DC .

Illustration 34
Prove by vector method that the altitude of a triangle are concurrent.
Solution :
LetABC be a triangle with AD and BE as two altitudes (Figure). Let AD and BE intersect at
origin O.
Let CO meet AB at F.
  
Let a, b and c be the position vectors of points A,B and C respectively w.r.t. O.
   
Now, AD  BC  OA  BC
 
 OA.BC  0
  
 OA.(OC  OB)  0
  
 a.(c  b)  0
  
a.c  a.b  0
   ...(i)
a.c  a.b A
   
Also, BE  CA  OB  CA
E
  F
 OB.CA  0
   O
 OB.(OA  OC)  0
  
 b.(a  c)  0
 
 b.a  b.c  0
B D C
 
 b.a  b.c ...(ii)

VECTOR ALGEBRA
30 QUIZRR
From (i) and (ii), we get
 
 
a.c  b.c  a.b  b.a 
 

  
a.c  b.c  0
  
 (a  b).c  0
  
 (OA  OB).OC  0
 
 BA.OC  0
   
 BA  OC  EA  CF
 CF is also an altitude.
Thus, altitudes are concurrent.

Illustration 35
Prove by vector method that the diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles.
Solution :
Let OABC be a rhombus with O as origin and D point of intersection of diagonals OB and AC.
Let a be the position vector of A and c that of C, then
  
OB  OA  AB
   
 OA  OC  a  c
   
ac ac
Position vector of mid-point of OB is , and position vector of mid-point of AC is also .
2 2
Thus, the mid-points of diagonals OB and AC coincide. Hence the diagonals OB and AC bisect
each other.
C B
Again, OA  OC
 OA2  OC 2
 2  2

 OA  OC c
D
 2  2
 OA  OC
 2  2
 OA  OC  0 
O a A
   
 (OA  OC).(OA  OC)  0
 
 OB.CA  0
 
 OB  CA
Thus, diagonals are at right angle.
Hence, the diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 31

Illustration 36
Prove cosine formulae using vectors :

b2  c 2  a 2 c 2  a 2  b2 a 2  b2  c 2
(i) cos A  (ii) cos B  (iii) cos C 
2bc 2ca 2a b

Solution :
Consider a triangle ABC such that side opposite to A represents a , side opposite to C
represents c as shown in Figure.
  
Now, a  b  c  0 [Sum of vectors represented by three sides of a triangle taken in order is zero]
  
 b  c  a
Squaring both sides , we get
  
(b  c)2  ( a)2
   
 b 2  c 2  2b.c  a 2  A A
2 2  
 b  c  2 b c cos(  A) 
 b
c
2 
 a [angle between b and c is   A ]
 C
B

 b2  c2  2bc cos A  a2  a  a   B 
a
C

 2bc cos A  b2  c2  a2

b2  c2  a 2
 cos A 
2bc

Similarly (ii) and (iii) can be proved.

Illustration 37
Prove projection formulas using vectors.

(i) a  b cos C  c cos B (ii) b  c cos A  a cos C (iii) c  a cos B  b cos A

Solution.

(i) Consider a triangle ABC such that side opposite to A represents i , side opposite to B

represents b , and side opposite to C represents c as shown in Figure.

Now, a  b  c  0 [sum of vectors represents by three sides of a triangle taken in order is zero]

VECTOR ALGEBRA
32 QUIZRR
  
 b  c  a
Taking dor product with a on both sides
 A A
   
a.(b  c )  a.a

    
a.b  a.c   a 2  b
c
   
 a b cos(  C)  a c cos(  B)  C
B
2  B 
a
C
a

  ab cos C  ac cos B   a2

 b cos C  c cos B  a
Similarly, (ii) and (iii) can be proved.

Illustration 38
Prove by vector method that

cos( A  B)  cos A cos B  sin A sin B

Solution :
Let OP make angle A and OQ an angle B with positive direction of x-axis
and let OP  OQ  1 .

Then, POQ  A  B
Y
 .OQ
OP   OP
 OQ
 cos( A  B)
P (cos A, sin A)

  .OQ
OP   cos( A  B) ....(i)

 OP   1
  OQ
 

OM MP
Now,  cos A and  sin A A
OP OP N
X´ O B M X
MP
 OM  cos A and
OP
 sin A  OP  1
Y´
Therefore, coordinates of point P are (cos A,sin A)
Q (cos B, sin B)
Similarly, coordinates of point Q are (cos B,  sin B)

  cos Ai→  sin Aj→

OP

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 QUIZRR 33

  cos Bi→  sin Bj→

and OQ

 .OQ
OP   (cos Ai→  sin Aj→).(cos Bi→  sin Bj→ )

 cos A cos B  sin A sin B ...(ii)

From (i) and (ii), we get
cos( A  B)  cos A cos B  sin A sin B
Tehtrahedron. It is a three dimensional figure having four triangular faces. A tetrahedron in
which all edges are equal is called a regular tetrahedron.

Illustration 39
If two pairs of opposite edges of a tetrahedron are perpendicular, then prove using vectors
that the opposite edges of the third, pairs are also perpendicular to each other.
Solution :
Let OABC be a tetrahedron in which OA  BC and OB  AC . LetO be the origin and let the

position vectors of A, B and C be a, b and c respectively.
   
Now, OA  BC and OB  AC
   
 OA.BC  0 and OB. AC  0
  
 OA.(OC  OB)  0
  
and OB.(OC  OA)  0 O
     
 a.(c  b)  0 and b.(c  a)  0  
a c
   and
  
b
a.c  a.b  0 b.c  b.a  0

   and
  A C
a.c  a.b b.c  b.a

  
a.c  b.c

   B
a.c  b.c  0
  
 (a  b).c  0
  
  OA  OB .OC  0
 
 BA.OC  0
 
 OC  BA  OC  BA

VECTOR ALGEBRA
 34 QUIZRR
VECTOR PRODUCT OR CROSS PRODUCT
(i) Defintion : The vector product of two non-null and non parallel

>
n
vector a and b is a vector whose ab sin  ,  being the angle
between the directions of a and b and whose direction is that
of a unit vector n→ perpendicular to both a and b such that
B
a, b,n→ are in the right handed oreintation. By the right handed b
oreintation we mean that if we turn the vector a into the vector O
a C
b, then n will point in the direction in which a right-handed
screw would move if turned in the same manner. A

Thus a  b  ab sin  n→ where n→ is a unit vector perpendicular

to the plane of a and b such that a, b, n

→ form a right-handed orientation.

When a or b or both are null vector or a is parallel to b then n→ is not defined.

In this case, we agree to write a  b  0 .

GEOMETRICAL INTERPRETATION OF VECTOR PRODUCT

  
Let a, b be two non-zero, non-parallel vector represented by OA and OB respectively and let 
be the angle between them. Complete the parallelogram OBCA. Draw BL  OA .

BL 
In OBL , sin    BL  OB sin   b sin  ...(i)
OB
>

    n
Now, a  b  a b sin  n→ B C

 (OA) ( BL) n→

b
= (Base  height)n→

= (area of parallelogram OACB)n→ 

O L 
a A
= Vector area of the parallelogram OACB.
 
Thus, a  b is a vector whose magnitude is equal to the area of the parallelogram having a and b
 
as its adjacent sides and whose direction n→ is  to the plane of a and b such that a, b, n→ form

a right handed system. Hence a  b represents the vector area of the parallelogram having

adjacent sides along a and b .

Thus, area of parallelogram OACB  a  b

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 35

Also, areaof OAB  1 area of parallelogram OACB

2

1   1  
 a  b  OA  OB .
2 2

NOTE : By the term vector area of a plane figure we mean that a vector of magnitude equal to
the area of the plane figure and direction normal to the plane of the figure in the sense of right
handed rotation.

(ii) Properties :
(a) Vector Product is not commutative :
i.e. a b  b a but a b = -(b a)

(b) (ma)  b  m(a  b)  a  (mb) .

(c) if the vectors are collinear, then
ab  0    0 or 
As a conseqeunce of above a  a  0

(d) Vector product of orthonormal trial of unit vectors i→, →j, k→

Using thedefintionof thevector product, we obtain

i→  i→  →j  →j  k→  k→  0

i→  →j  k→, →j  k→  i→, k→  i→  →j

→j  i→   k→, k→  →j  i→, i→  k→   →j

(e) a  b in terms of unit vectors

Let a  a2 i  a2 j  a3 j  a  a12

b  b1i  b2 j  b3 k , b  b12

then a  b  ( a1 i  a2 j  a3 k)  (b1i  b2 j  b3 k)

or ab sin  n
→  a1 b2 i  j  a1 a3 i  k  a2 b1 j  i  a2 b3 j  k  a3 b1 k  i  a3 b2 k  j

 ( a2 b3  a3 b2 )i  (a3 b1  a1 b3 ) j  ( a1b2  a2 b1 ) k ...(1)

Above can be expressed in determinant from as

i j k
a  b  a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3

VECTOR ALZEBRA
36 QUIZRR
(f) Sine of the angle between a and b
From the value of a b derived above in (e) part and squaring it

a 2 b2 sin 2   ( a2 b2  a3 b2 )2

( a2 b3  a3 b2 )2
 sin 2  
a12 .b12

(g) Condition for vectors to be parallel.

In this case a  b  0 as  = 0 or  and hence from (e) the last two rows of the determinant
must have their corresponding elements proportional.

(h) Distributivity of vector product over vector addition)


Let a , b, c be any three vectors. Then
      
(i) a  (b  c)  a  b  a  c (Left distributivity)
      
(ii) (b  c )  a  b  a  c  a (Right distributivity)


(i) For any three vectors a , b, c , we have
      
a  (b  c)  a  b  a  c
 
Remark : It follows from the above property that a  a  0 for every non-zero vector a

which in turn implies that i→  i→  →j  →j  k→  k→  0 .

VECTORS NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF TWO GIVEN VECTORS


Let a, b be two non-zero, non-parallel vectors and let  be the angle between them.

   
a  b  a b sin  n→
 
where n→ is a unit vector  to the plane of a and b such that a, b, n→ form a right-handed system
 
    ab
 ( a  b)  a  b n→  n→   
ab
 
ab

Thus, a  b is a unit vector  to the plane of a and b .

 
ab 
 
Note that a  b is also a unit vector  to the plane of a and b .

 
   (a  b )
A vector of magnitude '  ' normal to the plane of a and b is given by   
a b

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 37

SOME IMPORTANT RESULTS

  
1.


The area of a parallelogram with adjacent sides a and b is a  b

 1  
2. The area of a triangle with adjacent sides a and b is ab .
2

1   1  

3. The area of a triangle ABC is AB  BA or CB  CA .
2 2

 1  
4. The area of a parallelogram with diagoinals a and b is ab .
2

1  
5. The area of a plane quadrilateral ABCD is AC  BD , where AC and BD are its diagonals.
2

LAGRANGE’S IDENTITY


If AC and a,b be any two vectors, then

 2 2 2 
a  b  a b  ( a.b)2

 2  2 2
or a  b  ( a.b)2  a b

Proof. We have
   
a  b  a b sin 

 2 2 2
 a  b  a b sin 2 

2 2

 a b 1  cos2  
2 2 2 2
 a b  a b cos2 

2 2  
 a b  ( a b cos  )2

2 2  
 
2
 a b  a.b

 2 2 2  
 
2
Hence, a  b  a b  a.b

 2  2 2
 a  b  (a.b)2  a b

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 38 QUIZRR

Illustration 40
  
If a , b , c are the position vectors ofthe vertices A,B,Cofa triangle ABC, show that the area
1      
of triangle ABC is a b  bc  c a .
2
  
Deduce the condition for points a , b , c to be collinear.
Solution :
1  
Area of ABC  AB  AC .
2

Now, B  Position vector of B - Position vector of A  b  a ,
  
AC = Position vector of C - Position vector of A  c  a
     
 AB  AC  (b  a)  (c  a)
       
 bc  ba ac  aa
       
 b c  ab  c c  a  0
     
 ab bc  ca
1   1      
Hence, area of ABC  AB  AC  ab  bc  c  a
2 2
If the points, A,B,C are collinear, then
Area of ABC  0
1      
 ab  b c  c a  0
2
     
 ab  b c  c  a  0

       
ab bc  ca  0
       
Thus, a  b  b  c  c  a  0 is the required condition of collinearity of three points a , b, c .

Illustration 41

   
If a  2i→  →j  k→ and b  i→  3 j→  k→ , find a  b
Solution :

i→ →j k→
 
ab  2 1 1
 (1  3)i→  (2  1) →j  (_ 6  1) k→  2i→  3 →j  7 k→
1 3 1

 
 a  b  (2)2  (3)2  (7)2  4  9  49  62 .

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 39

Illustration 42

Find a unit vector perpendicular to both the vectors i→  →j  k→ and 2i→  j→  3 k→ .

Solution :
  
Let a  i→  j→  k→, b  2i→  →j  3k→ and n→ be the unit vector perpendicular to a and b . Then

 
ab
n→   
ab

i→ →j k→
 
a  b  1 1 1
 (3  1)i→  (3  2) →j  (1  2) k→  2i→  5 →j  3k→
2 1 3

 
a  b  (2) 2  (5)2  (3)2  4  25  9  38

  2i→  5 j→  3k→ 2 → 5 → 3 →
ab   i j k
 n→   
ab 38 38 38 38

Illustration 43

Find the area ofaparallelogram whosediagonals arethe vectors 2i→  3 →j  6 k→ and 2i→  2 j→  k→

Solution :
 
Let a  2i→  3 →j  6 k→ and b  2i→  2 j  k→

1  
Then, area of parallelogram ab
2

i→ j→ k→
 
a  b  2 3 6  15i→  14 →j  2 k→
2 2 1

 
a  b  (15) 2  (14)2  (2)2  225  196  46  495  5 17

1   5
Required area = ab  17 sq. units.
2 2

VECTOR ALZEBRA
40 QUIZRR

Illustration 44

Find the area of atriangle whose vertices are (3, 1, 2), (1, 1,3) and (4, 3,1) .
Solution :
Let A(3, 1,2), B(1, 1,3) and C(4, 3,1) then
 
a  OA  3i→  j→  2k→
 
b  OB  i→  →j  3k→

 
and c  OC  4 i→  3 →j  k→

  
where a, b and c are position vectors of A,B, and C resectively.
 
Area of triangle  1 a  b  b  c  c  a
2

i→ →j k→
 
a  b  3 1 2  i→  7 →j  2 k→
1 1 3

i→ →j k→
 
b  c  1 1 3  8i→  11 j→  k→
4 3 1

i→ →j k→
 
c  a  4 3 1  5i→  5 →j  5k→
3 1 2

     
a  b  b  c  c  a  2i→  →j  4 k→

     
a  b  b  c  c  a  (2)2  (1)2  (4)2  4  1  16  21

1       1
Requiredarea = ab bc  ca  21
2 2
Second Method :

OA  3i→  →j  2k→

OB  i→  →j  3k→

OC  4i→  3 →j  k→

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 41
  
Now, AB  OB  OA

   
 i→  →j  3k→  3i→  →j  2 k→  2i→  k→

  

AC  OC  OA

 (4 i→  3 →j  k→ )  (3i→  →j  2k→ )  i→  2 →j  k→

1  
Area of triangle  AB  OA
2

i→ →j k→
 
AB  AC  2 0 1  2i→  →j  4 k→
1 2 1

 
AB  AC  (2)2  (1)2  (4)2  4  1  16  21

1   1
Required area= AB  AC  21
2 2
Note. It is convenient to use second method as it involves only one cross product.

Illustration 45
     
If a  2, b  5 and a  b  8 , find a .b .
Solution :
 
ab  8

 
 a b sin   8  (2)(5)sin   8

4 3
 sin    cos  
5 5

   3
Now, a.b  a b cos  (2)(5)    6
5
 
 a.b  6
or we could directly use lagranges identity

i.e. | a  b|2  (a.b)2 | a |2| b|2

 (a.b)2  22 .52  82  100  64  36

 a.b  6

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 42 QUIZRR

Illustration 46
  
If A<B,C bethreenon-collinear points with positon vectors a , b , c respectively, show that

     
a b  bc  ca
the length of perpendicular from C on AB is  
ba

Solution :

C(c)
Area of ABC

1  
 AB  AC
2
p
1    
 (OB  OA)  (OC  OA)
2

1      
 (b  a)  ( c  a) A(a) B(b)
2

1         1      
 b c  b a  a c  a a  b c  ab  c  a ...(i)
2 2

1
Also, Area of ABC  p( AB)
2

1  1   1  

 P AB  p OB  OA  p b  a ...(ii)
2 2 2

From (i) and (ii), we get

1   1      
p b  a  bc  ab ca
2 2

     
ab  bc  ca
 p   .
ba

Illustration 47

   
  2 a .a a .b
Prove that (a  b )      .
a .b b .b

   
 
2
Solution : ( a  b)2  a b sin  n→

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 43

2 2
2 2 2
 a b sin 2  n→  a b 1  cos 
2
   n→  1

2 2 2 2    
 
2  
 a b  a b cos2   a 2 b 2  a b cos = (a.a )(b.b)  (a.b)2

  
a.a a.b
   
a.a b.b

In fact you can remember this result.

Illustration 48
               
If a  b  c  b and a  c  b  d , show that (a  d ) is parallel to (b  c ) , where a  d and b  c .
   
Solution : (a  d )  (b  c )
               
 ab ac  db  dc  ab ac  bd  cd
               
 ab  b d  b d  ab [ a  c  b  d and c  d  a  b]

0
   
 ad bc .

Illustration 49

         
Prove that a  (b  c )  b  ( c  a )  c  (a  b )  0
Solution :
        
a  (b  c)  b  (c  a)  c  (a  b)
           
 ab  a c  b c  b a  c  a  c b
            
 ab  bc  ca  ca bc  ab  0

Illustration 50

     
Prove that (a  b)  (a  b )  2a  b and intercept it geometrically.
Solution :
           
( a  b)  ( a  b)  a  a  a  b  b  a  b  b
     
 a  b  a  b  2a  b
Geometrical interpretation. Let ABCD be a parallelogram whose diagonals intersects at origin O.

VECTOR ALZEBRA
44 QUIZRR

Let positive vector of A and B be a and b respectively. Then, D C
   
OC   a and OD  b b 
Aea of parallelogram ABCD a
  O 
 AB  AD b

a
       
 (OB  OA)  (OD  OA)  (b  a)  ( b  a)
A B
             
 b  b  b  a  a  b  a  a  ab  ab  2 ab

 
= 2 (area of || gm with adjacent sides OA and OB )
Thus, the area of a given parallelogram is twice the area of another parallelogram whose
adjacent sides are the semi diagonals of the given parallelogram.

GEOMETRICAL PROBLEMS

Illustration 51

Prove by vector method that the parallelograms on the same base and between the same
parallels lines are equal in area.
Solution :
Let ABCD and ABCÊDÊ be two parallelograms on the same base AB and between the same
parallels lines
  
Let AB  a and AD  b D´ D C´ C
 
Now, DD  a  
DD   a
    
 b
and AD  AD  DD  b   a
Area of parallelogram ABCD
     
 AB  AD  a  ( b   a) A a B

     
 a  b  a  a  a  b = area of ||gmABCD.

Illustration 52

If D,E,F are the mid-pointsof the sides of a triangle ABC, prove by vector method that

1
area of DEF  (area of ABC ) .
4

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 45

Solution :

Let A be the origin and position vectors of B and C be b and c respctively. Then the

1  
position vector of D  (b  c )
2

1
position vector of E  c and A
2

1
position vector of F  b.
2
 F E
Now, DE  (P.V. of E) - (P.V. of D)

1 1   1
 c  (b  c )   b
2 2 2
 B D C
and DF  (P.V. of F )  (P.V. of D)

1 1   1
 b  (b  c )   c
2 2 2

1   1 1  1
area of DEF  DE  DF   b   c
2 2 2 2

1 1   11    11   
 (b  c )   b  c    b  c 
2 4 24  42 

1  1    1
 AB  AC    area of ABC 
4  2  4

Illustration 53

a b c
Prove sine formula vectors   .
sin A sin B sin C

Solution :
Consider a triangle ABC such that side opposite to A represents a , side opposite to B represents
 
b and side opposite to c represents c as shown in Figure

Now, a  b  c  0  A
A

   
a  b  c 
b
     
c
 (a  b)  b   c  b

        C
a  b  b  b  c  b B
 B 
a C

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46 QUIZRR

    
ab  b c

   
 a b sin(  C)n→  b c sin(  A) n→

 
 absin Cn→  bc sin An→ [ a  a and b  b ]

 ab sin C  bc sin A [if two vectors are equal then their magnitudes are equal]

 a sin C  c sin A

a c
 
sin A sin C

a b c
Similarly,  
sin A sin B sin C

Illustration 54

Prove by vector method that sin( A  B)  sin A cos B  cos A sin B

Solution :
Y P (cos A, sin A)
Let OP make an angle A and OQ make an angle B
with positive direction of x-axis as shown in Figure
and let OP  OQ  1 Q (cos B, sin B)

Then, POQ  A  B

  OP
  OQ
 OP
 sin( A  B) k→ A B
OQ
X´ O M N X
   OP
OQ   sin( A  B)k→ Y´

  OP
OQ   sin( A  B)
 ...(i)

OM MP
Now,  cos A and  sin A
OP OP
 OM  cos A and MP  sin A [  OP  1 ]

 Coordinates of point P are (cos A,sin A) .

Similarly, coordinates of point Q are (cos B,sin B) .

  cos Ai→  sin Aj→

OP

  cos Bi→  sin Bj→

and OQ

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 47

i→ →j k→
  OP
OQ   cos B sin B 0
cos A sin A 0

 0i→  0 j→  (sin A cos B  cos A sin B) k→

 (sin A cos B  cos A sin B) k→

  OP
OQ   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
 ...(ii)

From (i) and (ii)

sin( A  B)  sin A cos B  cos A sin B .

TRIPLE PRODUCTS
   
Let a, b, c be three vectors. By increasing dot and cross between a , b, c in the same alphabetical
order we intriduce the following products :
         
( a.b).c, ( a.b)  c, ( a  b).c and (a  b)  c
 
Consider the product (a.b).c . Since a.b is a scalar quantitity and dot product is defined between
  
 
two vector quantities, therefore the product a.b .c is not meaningful.
 
Similarly, (a.b)  c is not meaningful.
    
But (a  b).c is meaningful, because a  b is a vector and its dot product with c i.e. (a  b).c is
  
a scalar quantity. This product is known as the scalar triple product of a, b, c .
     
The product (a  b)  c is also meaningful, because a  b is a vector and its cross-product with c ,
     
i.e. (a  b)  c is also a vector. This product is known as the vector triple product of a, b, c .

SCACAR TRIPLE PRODUCTS

   
Defintion : Let a , b, c be three vectors. Then the scalar (a  b).c is called the scalar triple
 
productof a, b and c and is denoted by [ a b c ] .

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

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48 QUIZRR
Geometrical Interpretation of Scalar Triple Product
  
Let a, b, c be three vectors. Consider a parallelopiped having coterminous edges OA, OB and OC
     
such that OA  a, OB  b and OC  c . Then a  b is a vector perpendicular to the plane of
      
a and b . Let  be the angle between c and a  b . If n→ is a unit vector along a  b , then  is also

the angle between n→ and c .
    
Now, [ a b c ]  ( a  b).c
C F
L
= ( Area of the parallelogram OADB) n→ .c

c

= ( Area of the parallelogram OADB)  n→ .c 
E G
 
= ( Area of the parallelogram OADB) n→ c cos 
b
O B
 
= ( Area of the parallelogram OADB)  c cos   [ n  1 ]

a

= ( Area of the parallelogram OADB) (OL) [ OC cos   OL ]

A D
= ( Area of the base of the parallelopiped)  (height)

= Volume of the parallelopiped with coterminous edges a , b, c

 
Thus, the scalar triple product [ a b c ] represents the volume of the parallelopiped whose coterminous

edges a , b, c from a right handed system of vectors.

PROPERTIES OF SCALAR TRIPLE PRODUCT


1. If a , b, c are cyclically permuted the value of scalar triple product remains same.

        
i.e. (a  b).c  (b  c).a  (c  a).b
       
or [ a b c ]  [b c a ]  [ c a b ]

2. The change of cyclic order of vector in scalar triple product changes the sign of the scalar
triple product but not the magnitude.
          
i.e. [ a b c ]   [b a c ]  [ c b a ]  [ a c b ]

3. In scalar triple product the position of dot and cross can be interchanged provided that the
     
cyclic order of the vectors remains same i.e. (a  b).c  a.(b  c)
4. The scalar triple product of three vectors is zero if any two of them are equal.
      
5. For any three vectors a , b, c and scalar  ,   a b c     a b c  .

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 49

6. The scalar triple product of three vectors is zero if any two of them are parallel or collinear.
            
7. If a b c d are four vectors, then  a  b c d    a c d    b c d 
  
8. The necessary and sufficeint condition for three non-zero, non-collinear vectors a, b, c to be
      
coplanar is  a b c   0 i.e., a , b, c are coplanar   a b c   0 .
 
9. For points with positive vectors a , b, c and d will be coplanar if
           
[ a, b, c ]  [ d, c, a]  [ d, a, b]  [ a, b, c ]

10. Distributivity of Cross-Product Over Vector addition


For any three vectors a , b, c , we have
      
a  (b  c)  a  b  a  c .

Scalar Triple Product in terms of components

  
Let a  a1i→  a2 j→  a3 k→ , b  b1 i→  b2 j→  b3 k→ , and c  c1 i→  c2 →j  c3 k→ be three vectors. Then, we have

a1 a2 a3
 
 a b c   b1 b2 b3
  .
c1 c2 c3

Illustration 55
     
If a  2i→  3 j→  k→ , b  i→  2 j→  k→ and c  3i→  →j  2 k→ find [a b c ]
Solution :
We have
2 3 1
  
[ a b c ]  1 2 1  2(4  1)  3(2  3)  1(1  6)
3 1 2

 10  15  5  30

Illustration 56
  
If a  2i→  j→  k→ , b  i→  3 j→  k→ and c  i→  2 j→  3 k→ , find their scalar triple product.
Solution :
2 1 1
  
a b 
c   1 3 1  2(9  2)  1(3  1)  1(2  3)

1 2 3

 22  4  1  25
VECTOR ALZEBRA
 50 QUIZRR

Illustration 57

Find the value of  so that the vector i→  j→  4 k→ , 4i→  7 j→  10 k→ and 2i→  →j  2 k→ are coplnar.

Solution.
  
 
Let a  i→   →j  4 k→ , b  4 i→  7 j→  10 k→ and c  2i→  →j  2k→ . If a, b and c arecoplanar, then  a b c   0
 

1  4
4 7 10  0

2 1 2

 1(14  10)   (8  20)  4(4  14)  0

 12  36
  3

Illustration 58

Find  so that the four points with position vectors i→  3 →j  2 k→ , 3i→   →j  4 k→ , 5i→  7 →j  3 k→ and

13i→  17 j→  k→ are coplanar.

Solution :
Let O be the origin and

OA  6i→  3 →j  2k→

OB  3i→   →j  4 k→

OC  5i→  7 →j  3k→

and OD  13i→  17 →j  k→
  
If the four points A,B,C, and D are coplanar, then vector AB, AC and AD are also coplanar and
  
therefore AB AC AD  0 .

Illustration 59

        
Show that  a  b b  c c  a   2  a b c 

     
Solution :  a  b b  c c  a 

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 51

   
  
 ( a  b). (b  c )  ( c  a) 
         

 ( a  b). b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a 
         
 (a  b).(b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a)
          
 (a  b).(b  c  b  a  c  a) [ c  c  0 ]

                 
 a.(b  c)  a.(b  c)  a.(c  a)  b.(b  c )  b.(b  a)  b.(c  a)
[If two vectors in scalar triple product are same then scalar triple product is zero]
 
= a.(b  c )  b.(c  a )

     
 a.(b  c)  a.(b  c) (Using property)

        
  a b c    a b c   2  a b c 

Illustration 60

     
Show that  a  b b  c c  a   0

Solution :
 
 a  b b  c c  a 
 

             
  
 
 ( a  b). (b  c )  ( c  a)  ( a  b). b  c  b  a  c  c  c  a 
               
  
 ( a  b). b  c  b  a  c  a  ( a  b). b  c  a  b  c  a 
                 
 a.(b  c)  a.(a  b)  a.(c  a) b.(b  c )  b.(a  b)  b.(c  a)
     
 a.(b  c)  b.(c  a)

Illustration 61

Find the value of  if the volume of the parallelopiped whose cote r minous edges are

12i→  k→ , 3 j→  k→ and 2i→  →j  15 k→ is 546 cubic units.

Solution :
  
If a  12i→   k→, b  3 j→  k→ and c  2i→  j→  15k→ are cotermious edges of the parallelopiped, then its

  
volume is  a b c  . The volume is given to be 546 cubic units.

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 52 QUIZRR

  a b c   546
 

12 0 
0 3 1  546

2 1 15

 12(45  1)   (6)  546

 12(44)  6  546

 528  6  546
 6  18
   3 .

Illustration 62
        
(i) Show that a , b and c are noncoplanar if and only if a  b , b  c and c  a are noncoplanar.
        
(ii) Show that a , b and c are coplanar if and only if a  b , b  c and c  a arecoplanar.
Solution.We know that
  
 a  b b  c c  a   2  a b c 
   
  
(i) a, b and c are non-coplanar


  a b c   0
 

  
 2  a b c   0

 
  a  b b  c c  a   0
 
     
 a  b, b  c and c  a are non-coplanar.
  
(ii) If a, b and c are coplanar

  
 a b c   0
  
 2  a b c   0
    
 
 a  b b  c c  a  0
     
 a  b, b  c and c  a are coplanar.

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 53

Illustration 63

    
a .l b .l c .l
                 
If a , b , c and l , m , n aretwo traids of vectors, prove that  a b c  l m n   a .m b .m c .m
     
a .n b .n c .n

  
Solution : Let a  a1i→  a2 →j  a3 k→, b  b1i→  b2 j→  b3 k→ , c  c1 i→  c2 →j  c3 k→
  
l  l1i→  l2 →j  l3 k→ , m  m1 i→  m2 →j  m3 k→ and n  n1i→  n2 →j  n3 k→
Then,

a1 a2 a3 l1 l2 l3
    
 a b c  l m n   b1 b2 b3 m1 m2 m3
  
c1 c2 c3 n1 n2 n3

 a1 l1  a2 l2  a3 l3 a1 m1  a2 m2  a3 m3 a1 n1  a2 n2  a3 n3 
  b1 l1  b2 l2  b3 l3 b1 m1  b2 m2  b3 m3 b1 n1  b2 n2  b3 n3 
 c1 l1  c2 l2  c3 l3 c1 m1  c2 m2  c3 m3 c1 n1  c2 n2  c3 n3 

       
a.l a.m a.n a.l b.l c.l
          
 b.l b.m b.n  a.m b.m c.m
         
c.l c.m c.n a.n b.n c.n

Illustration 64

  
a b c
             
If a , b , c , l , m are vectors , prove that [a b c ](l  m )  a .l b .l c .l .
     
a .m b .m c .m
Solution.
a1 a2 a3 i j k
   
  
 a b c  l  m  b1 b2 b3 l1 l2 l3
c1 c2 c3 m1 m2 m3

a1 i→  a2 →j  a3 k→ a1 l1  a2 l2  a3 l3 a1 m1  a2 m2  a3 m3
 b1 i→  b2 →j  b3 k→ b1 l1  b2 l2  b3 l3 b1 m1  b2 m2  b3 m3
c i→  c →j  c k→ c l  c l  c l
1 2 3 11 22 33 c1 m1  c2 m2  c3 m3

      
a a.l a.m a b c
      
 b b.l b.m  a.l b.l c.l
         
c c.l c.m a.m b.m c.m

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 54 QUIZRR

Illustration 65

( x  a )2 ( x  b)2 ( x  c )2
  
If ( y  a )2 ( y  b)2 ( y  c )2  0 and X  ( x 2 , x ,1), Y  ( y 2 , y,1), Z  ( z 2 , z,1) are non-coplanar,
( z  a )2 ( z  b)2 ( z  c )2
  
then prove that a  ( a2 , a,1), b  (b2 , b,1), c  ( c2 , c,1) are coplanar.
Solution :
  
Since X  ( x2 , x,1), Y  ( y2 , y,1) and Z  ( z2 , z,1) are non-coplanar vectors. Therefore

x2 x 1
  
[ X Y Z ]  0  y2 y 1 0
z2 z 1

( x  a )2 ( x  b)2 ( x  c)2 x2  2ax  a 2 x2  2bx  b2 x2  2cx  c2

Now, ( y  a )2 ( y  b)2 ( y  c)2  0  y2  2ay  a2 y2  2by  b2 y2  2cy  c2  0
( z  a )2 ( z  b)2 ( z  c)2 z2  2az  a 2 z2  2bz  b2 z2  2cz  c2

x2 x 1 1 2a a 2
y2 y 1 1 2b b2  0
 {by using row expansion method}
z2 z 1 1 2 c c2

x2 x 1 a2 a 1
y2 y 1 b2 b 1 0

2 2
z z 1 c c 1
     
  X Y Z  a b c   0
  
     
  
a b c   0 [  X Y Z   0 ]
  
 a, b, c are coplanar.

Illustration 66

The vector OP  5i→  12 →j  13 k→ turns through an angle /2 about O passing through the

positive side of the →j axis on its way. Find the vector in the new position.
Solution :

Let OQ  xi→  yj→  zk→ be the vector in the new position. Thenm
 
OP  OQ  x2  y2  z2  338 ...(i)

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 QUIZRR 55
 
Also, OP  OQ
 
 OP.OQ  0  5 x  12 y  13 z  0 ...(ii)
 
Clearly, OP, →j and OQ are coplanar.
 
 OP →j OQ  0
 

5 12 13
 0 1 0 0
x y z

13
 13 x  5 z  0  z  x ...(iii)
5

Vect or T r ip le Pr od uct
        
If a, b and c are three vectors then (a  b)  c and a  (b  c) are called vector triple products.
 
In general a  (b  c)  (a  b)  c .
            
b  c is perpendicular to b and c and a  (b  c) is perpendicular to a and b  c , therefore a  (b  c)
  
is perpendicular to a and is parallel to b and c . Whereas (a  b)  c is parallel to a and b and
 
is perpendicular to c , thus a  (b  c)  (a  b)  c .
  
For any three vectors a, b and c
      
(i) a  (b  c)  (a.c )b  (a.b)c
  
(ii) (a  b).c  (a.c)b  (b.c) a

AID To Memory
      
a  (b  c)  (a.c )b  (a.b)c can also be wrotten as I  ( II  III)  ( I. III) II  ( I. II ) III .

Note 1. The vector triple product a  (b  c) is a linear combination of those two vectors which
are within brackets.
 
Note 2. The vector r  a  (b  c) is perpendicular to a and lies in the plane of b and c .
  
Note 3. The formula a  (b  c)  (a.c )b  (a.b)c is true only when the vector outside the bracket
is on the left-most side. If it is not we first shift on left by using the properties of cross-
product and then apply the same formula. For example,
     
(b  c)  a  (a  (b  c))
       
 {(a.c)b  (a.b).c }  (a.c)b  (a.b)c

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 56 QUIZRR

Illustration 67
         
Prove that (a  b )  c  a  (b  c ) iff (c  a )  b  0
Solution :
We have
     
( a  b )  c  a  (b  c )
     
  c  (a  b)  a  (b  c)
         
  
 ( c.b) a  ( c.a)b  ( a.c )b  (a.b) c

         
  ( c.b) a  ( c.a)b  ( a.c )b  (a.b) c
   
 (c.b)a  (a.b)c
   
 (b.c) a  (b.a) c
    
 (b.a)c  (b.c) a  0
   
 b  (c  a )  0
   
 (b  (c  a))  0
   
 (c  a)  b  0

Illustration 68
       
Show that (a  b )  c  a  (b  c ) iff a and c are collinear.
Solution : We have.
     
(a  b)  c  a  (b  c)
     
  
 ( c  (a  b)  a  (b  c )

       
 {(c.b)a  (c.a)b}  (a.c)b  (a.b) c
       
 (c.b)a  (a.c)b  (a.c )b  (a.b) c
   
 (c.b) a  (a.b)c
   
 (c.b)a  (a.b)c

 (a.b) 
 a    .c
(c.b)

  , where a.b
 a  c  
c.b
 
 a and c are collinear.

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 QUIZRR 57

RECIPROCAL SYSTEM OF VECTORS

  
Let a, b, c be three non-coplanar vectors, and let
     
 bc  ca  ab
a     , b     , c    
a b c  a b c  a b c 
     
   
a, b, c are said to form a rciprioal system of vectors for the vectors a , b, c .

Pr op er t ies of R ecip r ocal Syst em of Vect or s

     
if a, b, c and a, b, c form a reciprocal system of vectors, then show that

(i)   
a.a  b.b  c.c  1
     
(ii) a.b  a.c  0; b.c  b.a  0; c.a  c.b  0


(iii)  a  b c   1 
  a b c 
 
     
(iv) a, b, c are non-coplanar iff so are a, b, c .

Illustration 69
         
Prove that a  (b  c )  b  ( c  a )  c  (a  b )  0
Solution :
      
a  (b  c)  (a.c )b  (a.b)c
     
b  (c  a)  (b.a)  (b.c)a
      
c  (a  b)  (c.b)a  (c.a)b
Adding them, we get
               
a  (b  c )  b  (c  a)  c  (a  b)  0 [a.c  c.a, a.b  b.a and b.c  c.b ]

Illustration 70
    
Prove that for any vector a , i→  (a  i→ )  →j  (a  →j )  k→  (a  k→ )  2a .
Solution :
  
i→  ( a  i→ )  →j  (a  →j )  k→  ( a  k→ )
     
 (i→.i→ ) a  (i→.a)i→  ( →j. →j ) a  ( →j.a) →j  ( k→.k→ ) a  (k→.a) k→

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 58 QUIZRR

   
 3 a  (i→.a)i→  ( j.a) j→  (k→.a)k→ 

 3 a  ( a1 i→  a2 →j  a3 k→ )
  
 3a  a  2a

Illustration 71

        2
Prove that  a  b b  c c  a    a b c 

     
Solution :  a  b b  c c  a 

     
  ( a  b)  (b  c )  .( c  a)

  
 
 
 r  (b  c ) .( c  a)

where a  b  r

     
 
 (r .c )b  (r .b) c .( c  a)

        
 
 [( a  b).c ]  b  [( a  b).b ]c .(c  a)

        
 
 ( a  b).c b.(c  a) [ ( a  b).b  0 ]

           
  a b c   b c a    a b c   a b c 

   2
  a b c 

Illustration 72

       
 a b d  c   a b c  d .
Prove that (a  b )  (c  d ) 
   
Solution :
   
( a  b )  (c  d )
     
 r  ( c  d) , where r  a  b
    
 (r.d) c  (r.c)d
       
 [(a  b).d ]c  [(a  b).c ]d
       
 [ a b d ] c   a b c  d

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 59

Illustration 73

   
    a .c a .d
Prove that (a  b ).( c  b )     
b .c b .d
Solution :
   
(a  b).(c  d )
     
 r.(c  d) , where r  a  b
  
 (r  c ).d
        
 [(a  b)  c ].d  
 ( a.c )b  (b.c ) a .d

     
 (a.c)(b.d)  (b.c)(a.d )
  
a.c a.d
    .
b.c b.d

Illustration 74
Prove that
        
(i) a , b and c are non-coplanar if and only if a  b , b  c and c  a are non-coplaanr.
        
(ii) a , b and c are coplanar if and only if a  b , b  c and c  a are coplanar.
Solution :
We know that
   2
 a  b b  c c  a    a b c 
   
  
(i) a, b and c are non-coplanar

  
 a b c   0
 2
  a b c   0
 
 
  a  b b  c c  a   0
 
     
 a  b, b  c and c  a are non-coplanar.
  
(ii) a, b and c are coplanar.

  a b c   0
 

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60 QUIZRR
 2
  
 a b c   0
 
  a  b b  c c  a   0
 
     
 a  b, b  c and c  a are coplanar.

Illustration 75
       
Show that : (a  b )  c  a  (b  c ) if and only if a and c are collinear.
     
Solution : Let (a  b)  c  a  (b  c)
       
 (a.c)b  (b.c)a  (a.c)b  (a.b)c
   
 (b.c) a  (a.b)c

  a.b  
 a      c
 b.c 

  a.b
 a  c where    
b.c
 
 a and c are collinear.
Conversely, Let a and c be collinear, then a   c .
         
 (a  b)  c  ( c  b)  c  ( c.c)b  (b.c) c
   
  [(c.c)b  (b.c)c ] ...(i)
 
Also, a  (b  c)   c  (b  c)
   
 ( c.c)b  ( c.b)c
   
  [(c.c)b  (c.b)c ] ...(ii)
 from (i) and (ii), we get
     
( a  b )  c  a  (b  c )

Illustration 76

1
If a→ , b→ and c→ be three non-parallel unit vectors such that a→  (b→  c→ )  b→ , then find the angle
2
which n→ makes with b→ and c→ .
Solution :
1
a→  (b→  c→ )  b→
2
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 QUIZRR 61

1
 ( a→ .c→ )b→  (a→ .b→) c→  b→
2

 1→ →
  a→ .c→  2  b  ( a→ .b) c→  0
 

1
 a→ .c→   0 and a→ .b→  0 [b→ and c→ are non-parallel]
2
1
 a→ .c→  and a→ .b→  0
2
1
 a→ c→ cos   and a→  b→ [where  is angle between a→ and c→ ]
2
1
 cos   and a→  b→
2

  and a→  b→
3
 
Thus, angle between a→ and b→ is and angle between a→ and c→ is .
2 3

Illustration 77
           
If p , q and r are the vectors b  c , c  a and a  b respectively, then show that a , b and c
     
are parallel to q  r , r  p and p  q respectively.
Solution :
  
a  (q  r )
   
 ( a.r ) q  (a.q)r

   
 
   
 a.( a  b) q  a.( c  a) r

       
  a a b  q   a c a  r

 
 (0) q  (0) r  0
  
 a  q r
     
Similarly, b  r  p and c  p  q .

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 62 QUIZRR
GEOMETRY OF VECTORS
 
1. Angle bisector of a & b
 
We know that diagonals of rhombus are angle bisectors also, so arangin a & b to form a rhombus
(remeber vector are like free lines which can be moved parallel to their direction ratios, which we
will cover in 3D)
From diagonal

OP  OM  ON
  
OP   a   b M
  a P
  ( a  b) [as sides are of equal length
so same  for both side]
and unit vector will be
 
 ab
OP    O N
ab b

 
or if a & b are unit vectors only i.e. a→ & b→ then angle bisectors are a→  b→ only.

2. Vector equation of a line :


The vector equation of a line passing through a point having position vector a and parallel to
 
vector b is r  a   b , where  is scalar.

3. Vector equation of a plane :

The vector equation of a plane passing through a point having position vector a andcontaining
 
vectors b & c is
   
r  a  b   c , where  ,   R
OR
Let r be a point on the required plane with a given point a and normal to the plane n .Then
equation of plane becomes
  
(r  a).n  0

For three points

  
The vector equation of a plane passing through 3 points having position vectors a, b & c is
   
1. r  (1     ) a   b   c
   
2. (r  a).(b  c )  0
The reasoning for second one is easy.See we needed a normal vector to the plane and we know
 
that cross product produces a vector normal to both the vectors, so the resultant of b  c is
perpendicular to the plane.

VECTOR ALZEBRA
 QUIZRR 63

Bisect or s of t he angles b et ween 2 lines :

 
1. The angle bisectors of theline r   a and r   b aregiven by

  
 a b
r     
 a b
 
   
2. The angle bisector for lines r  a   b r  a   c {i.e. lines originating or passing through
the point a) is given by

   b c 
r  a     .
b c
 

 
Equation of lines through 2 points a & b

It is given by r  a   (b  a )

Logic :

It is easy, as we need a parallel vector along the line & (b  a ) will serve that purpose now.
A
T et r a h ed r o n

In the figure pull the point O out of plane.

The 3D figure which you can imagine now
O
is tetrahedron
Properties of tetrahedron
B C
1
1. If OA = a,OB  b & OC  c , then volume of tetrahedron =  a b c 
6

1
2. The angle between any two plane faces of regular tetrahedron is cos1
3

3. Any two edges of regular tetrahedron are perpendicular to each other

1
4. Angle between any edge & a face not containing the angle is cos1 , for any regular
3
tetrahedron

VECTOR ALZEBRA