Question 11:

→ →
If a is a non-zero vector of magnitude 'a' and λ is a non-zero scalar, then λ a is a unit vector if
(a) λ = 1
(b) λ = −1
(c) a = |λ|
1
(d) a = |λ|

Answer 11:
1
(d) a = |λ|

Given that
∣→ ∣
∣ a ∣ = a;
Now,
∣λ → ∣
∣ a∣=1
→
⇒ |λ| ∣∣ a ∣∣ = 1
⇒ |λ|a = 1
1
⇒a= |λ|

Question 12:
→ → → →
If θ is the angle between two vectors a and b , then a ⋅ b ≥ 0 only when
π
(a) 0 < θ < 2

π
(b) 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2

(c) 0 < θ < π

(d) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π

Answer 12:
(b) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π2

→ →
a. b ≥0
→ ∣→∣
⇒ ∣∣ a ∣∣ ∣ b ∣ cos θ ≥ 0
∣ ∣
⇒ cos θ ≥ 0
⇒ 0 ≤ θ ≤ π2

Question 13:
→ 2
→ →
The values of x for which the angle between a = 2x î + 4x ĵ + k̂, b = 7 î − 2 ĵ + xk̂ is obtuse and the angle between b
π
and the z-axis is acute and less than 6 are
1
(a) x > 2 or x < 0

1
(b) 0 < x < 2

1
(c) 2 < x < 15
 (d) ϕ

Answer 13:
1
(b) 0 < x < 2

→ →
a = 2x2 î + 4x ĵ + k̂, b = 7 î − 2 ĵ + xk̂

Let the angle between vector a and vector b be A.

→→ (2x2 î+4x ĵ+k̂).(7 î−2 ĵ+xk̂)

a .b
∴ cos A = → = ∣∣2x2 î+4x ĵ+k̂∣∣ ∣∣7 î−2 ĵ+xk̂∣∣
∣→ ∣∣ ∣
∣ a ∣∣∣ b ∣∣

14x2 −8x+x
= √4x4 +16x2 +1√49+4+x2
14x2 −7x
= √4x4 +16x2 +1√53+x2

Now, ∠A is an obtuse angle.

∴ cos A < 0
14x2 −7x
⇒ √4x4 +16x2 +1√53+x2
<0
⇒ 14x2 − 7x < 0
⇒ 2x2 − x < 0
⇒ x (2x − 1) < 0
⇒ x < 0 & 2x − 1 > 0 or x > 0 & 2x − 1 < 0
⇒ x < 0 & x > 12 or x > 0 & x < 12
1
⇒x>0&x< 2
(As there cannot be any number less than zero and greater than 1/2)

1 ⎛⎞
⇒ x ∈ (0, 2) ... i
⎝⎠

Let the equation of the z − axis be zk̂.

→
And let the angle between b and z − axis be B.
(7 î−2 ĵ+xk̂).(zk̂)
∴ cos B = ∣∣7 î−2 ĵ+xk̂∣∣ ∣∣zk̂∣∣
xz
=
z√49+4+x2
x
=
√53+x2
Now, angle B is acute and less than π/6.
∴ 0 < √ x 2 < cos π6
53+x

√3
⇒0<x< 2
√53 + x2 . . . (ii)

From (i) and (ii) we get

1
0<x< 2

Question 14:
 → → → ∣→ → →∣
If a , b , c are any three mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude a, then ∣ a + b + c ∣ is equal to
∣ ∣
(a) a
(b) √2a
(c) √3a
(d) 2a
(e) None of these

Answer 14:
(c) √3a

Given that
∣ →∣ ∣→∣ ∣→∣
So, ∣ a ∣= ∣ b ∣= ∣ c ∣=a . . . (i)
∣ ∣
Since they are mutually perpendicular,
→ → → → → →
a . b = b . c = c . a = 0 . . . (ii)
Now,
∣→ → →∣2 ∣→∣2 ∣→∣2 ∣→∣2 → → → → → →
∣a + b + c ∣ = ∣a ∣ +∣ b∣ +∣c ∣ +2 a . b +2 b. c +2 c . a
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣
= a 2 + a2 + a 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 [Using (i) and (ii)]
= 3a2
∣→ → → ∣
∴ ∣ a + b + c ∣ = √3a
∣ ∣

Question 15:
If the vectors 3 î + λ ĵ + k̂ and 2 î − ĵ + 8k̂ are perpendicular, then λ is equal to
(a) −14
(b) 7
(c) 14
1
(d) 7

Answer 15:
(c) 14

It is given that vectors 3 î + λ ĵ + k̂ and 2 î − ĵ + 8k̂ are perpendicular.

So, their dot product is zero.
(3 î + λ ĵ + k̂). (2 î − ĵ + 8k̂) = 0
⇒6−λ+8=0
⇒ 14 − λ = 0
∴ λ = 14

Question 16:
The projection of the vector î + ĵ + k̂ along the vector of ĵ is
(a) 1
(b) 0
(c) 2
(d) −1
(e) −2
Answer 16:
(a) 1

→ →
Let a = î + ĵ + k̂ and b = ĵ
→ →
The projection of a on b is
→ →
a. b
∣→∣
∣ b∣
∣ ∣

( î+ ĵ+k̂). ĵ
= ∣∣ ĵ∣∣

0+1+0
= 1
=1

Question 17:
The vectors 2 î + 3 ĵ − 4k̂ and a î + b ĵ + ck̂ are perpendicular if
(a) a = 2, b = 3, c = −4
(b) a = 4, b = 4, c = 5
(c) a = 4, b = 4, c = −5
(d) a = −4, b = 4, c = −5

Answer 17:
(b) a = 4, b = 4, c = 5

It is given that vectors 2 î + 3 ĵ − 4k̂ and a î + b ĵ + ck̂ are perpendicular.

So, their dot product is zero.
⇒ 2a + 3b − 4c = 0
(b) a = 4; b = 4; c = 5
⇒ 2 (4) + 3 (4) − 4 (5) = 0
8 + 12 − 20 = 0
0 = 0, which is true.

Question 18:
→ ∣ →∣ → → → →
If ∣∣ a ∣∣ = ∣ b ∣, then ( a + b ) ⋅ ( a − b ) =
∣ ∣
(a) positive
(b) negative
(c) 0
(d) None of these

Answer 18:
(c) 0
 Given that
∣→ ∣ = ∣→ ∣
a
∣ ∣ ∣a ∣
→ → → → ∣→∣2 ∣→∣2
⇒ ( a + b ). ( a − b ) = ∣ a ∣ − ∣ b ∣
∣ ∣
→2 →2
= ∣∣ a ∣∣ − ∣∣ a ∣∣
=0

Question 19:
→ → ∣ → →∣
If a and b are unit vectors inclined at an angle θ, then the value of ∣ a − b ∣ is
∣ ∣
(a) 2 sin θ2

(b) 2 sin θ

θ
(c) 2 cos 2

(d) 2 cos θ

Answer 19:
(a) 2 sin θ2

→ → ∣ →∣ ∣ →∣
a . b =∣a ∣ ∣ b ∣ cos θ
∣ ∣
→ →
= 1 × 1 cos θ(Because a and b are unit vectors)
= cos θ . . . (i)
2
∣→ → ∣ ∣ →∣2 ∣→∣2 → →
∣a − b∣ = ∣a ∣ +∣ b∣ −2 a . b
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣
= 1 + 1 − 2 cos θ [Using (i)]
= 2 − 2 cos θ
= 2 (1 − cos θ)

= 2 (2 sin2 θ
2)

= 4 sin2 θ2
∣→ → ∣ θ
∴ ∣ a − b ∣ = 2 sin 2
∣ ∣

Question 20:
→ → ∣→ →∣ ∣→ →∣
If a and b are unit vectors, then the greatest value of √3 ∣ a + b ∣ + ∣ a − b ∣ is
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣
(a) 2
(b) 2√2
(c) 4
(d) None of these

Answer 20:
(c) 4
 We have
∣ → →∣ ∣ → →∣
√3 ∣ a + b ∣ + ∣ a − b ∣
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣

→∣2 ∣→∣2 →∣ ∣→∣ →∣2 ∣→∣2 → ∣→∣

= √3 × √ ∣ a ∣ + ∣ b ∣ + 2 ∣ a ∣ ∣ b ∣ cos θ + √ ∣ a ∣ + ∣ b ∣ − 2 ∣∣ a ∣∣ ∣ b ∣ cos θ
∣ ∣ ∣
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣

→ →
= √3 × √ 12 + 12 + 2 × 1 × 1 cos θ + √ 12 + 12 − 2 × 1 × 1 cos θ (As a and b unit vectors)

= √3 × √ 2 + 2 cos θ + √ 2 − 2 cos θ
= √3 × √ 2 (1 + cos θ) + √ 2 (1 − cos θ)
θ
= √3 × √ 2 × 2 cos2 2 + √ 2 × 2 sin2 θ
2
θ θ
= 2√3 cos 2
+ 2 sin 2
θ θ
= 2 (√3 cos 2
+ sin 2
)
√3
= 2 × 2( 2 cos θ
2 + 12 sin θ
2)

π θ
= 2 × 2 (sin 3 cos 2
+ cos π3 sin θ
2
)

= 4 sin ( π3 + θ
2)

Now, m aximum value of sin α = 1

⇒ Maximum value of sin ( π3 + θ
2
) =1

⇒ Maximum value of 4 sin ( π3 + θ

2
) =4
∣ → →∣ ∣ → →∣
∴ Maximum value of √3 ∣ a + b ∣ + ∣ a − b ∣ = 4
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣

Question 21:
If the angle between the vectors x î + 3 ĵ − 7k̂ and x î − x ĵ + 4k̂ is acute, then xlies in the interval
(a) (−4, 7)
(b) [−4, 7]
(c) R −[−4, 7]
(d) R −(4, 7)

Answer 21:
(c) R −[−4, 7]

→ →
Let θ be the angle between a and b .
→ →
a. b x2 −3x−28
cos θ = → =
∣ a ∣ ∣∣ b ∣∣
→ √x2 +32 +49 √x2 +x2 +42
∣ ∣∣ ∣

For θ to be acute,
cos θ > 0
⇒ x2 − 3x − 28 > 0
⇒ (x − 7) (x + 4) > 0
⇒ x ∈ (−∞, − 4) ∪ (7, ∞)
⇒ x ∈ R − [−4, 7]

Question 22:
 → → ∣→ →∣
If a and b are two unit vectors inclined at an angle θ, such that ∣ a + b ∣ < 1, then
∣ ∣
π
(a) θ < 3

(b)
2π
θ> 3

π 2π
(c) 3 < θ < 3

2π
(d) 3 < θ < π

Answer 22:
2π
(d) 3 < θ < π

We have
∣ → →∣
∣a + b∣<1
∣ ∣

→∣2 ∣→∣2 → ∣→∣

∣
⇒ √∣ a ∣ + ∣ b ∣ + 2 ∣∣ a ∣∣ × ∣ b ∣ cos θ < 1
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣

⇒ √12 + 12 + 2 × 1 × 1 × cos θ < 1

⇒ √2 + 2 cos θ < 1
⇒ √2 (1 + cos θ) < 1
θ
⇒ √2 × 2 cos2 2
<1

⇒ 2 ∣∣cos θ2 ∣∣ < 1
⇒ ∣∣cos θ ∣∣ < 1
2 2
π θ 2π
⇒ 3
< 2
< 3
2π 4π
⇒ 3 < θ< 3
But here θ cannot be more than π.
∴ 2π
3 <θ<π