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JEE Main 2023
Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Hard

Question

a=3i^5j^\overrightarrow a = 3\widehat i - 5\widehat j and b=6i^+3j^\overrightarrow b = 6\widehat i + 3\widehat j are two vectors and c\overrightarrow c is a vector such that c=a×b\overrightarrow c = \overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b then a:b:c\left| {\overrightarrow a } \right|:\left| {\overrightarrow b } \right|:\left| {\overrightarrow c } \right| =

Options

Solution

  1. Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Magnitude of a Vector: For a vector v=xi^+yj^+zk^\overrightarrow v = x\widehat i + y\widehat j + z\widehat k, its magnitude is v=x2+y2+z2|\overrightarrow v| = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}. For a 2D vector v=xi^+yj^\overrightarrow v = x\widehat i + y\widehat j, the magnitude is v=x2+y2|\overrightarrow v| = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}.
  • Cross Product of Two Vectors: For vectors a=axi^+ayj^+azk^\overrightarrow a = a_x\widehat i + a_y\widehat j + a_z\widehat k and b=bxi^+byj^+bzk^\overrightarrow b = b_x\widehat i + b_y\widehat j + b_z\widehat k, their cross product is: a×b=i^j^k^axayazbxbybz\overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b = \begin{vmatrix} \widehat i & \widehat j & \widehat k \\ a_x & a_y & a_z \\ b_x & b_y & b_z \end{vmatrix}

  1. Step-by-Step Solution

We are given the vectors a=3i^5j^\overrightarrow a = 3\widehat i - 5\widehat j and b=6i^+3j^\overrightarrow b = 6\widehat i + 3\widehat j. We need to find the ratio a:b:c|\overrightarrow a| : |\overrightarrow b| : |\overrightarrow c|, where c=a×b\overrightarrow c = \overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b.

Step 1: Calculate the magnitude of a\overrightarrow a.

  • Why? The ratio requires the magnitude of a\overrightarrow a.
  • Using the formula for the magnitude of a 2D vector: a=(3)2+(5)2=9+25=34|\overrightarrow a| = \sqrt{(3)^2 + (-5)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 25} = \sqrt{34}

Step 2: Calculate the magnitude of b\overrightarrow b.

  • Why? The ratio requires the magnitude of b\overrightarrow b.
  • Using the formula for the magnitude of a 2D vector: b=(6)2+(3)2=36+9=45|\overrightarrow b| = \sqrt{(6)^2 + (3)^2} = \sqrt{36 + 9} = \sqrt{45}

Step 3: Calculate the cross product c=a×b\overrightarrow c = \overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b.

  • Why? We need to find the vector c\overrightarrow c to calculate its magnitude. Since a\overrightarrow a and b\overrightarrow b are in the XYXY-plane, their k^\widehat k components are zero.
  • We write a=3i^5j^+0k^\overrightarrow a = 3\widehat i - 5\widehat j + 0\widehat k and b=6i^+3j^+0k^\overrightarrow b = 6\widehat i + 3\widehat j + 0\widehat k.
  • Using the determinant formula for the cross product: c=a×b=i^j^k^350630\overrightarrow c = \overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b = \begin{vmatrix} \widehat i & \widehat j & \widehat k \\ 3 & -5 & 0 \\ 6 & 3 & 0 \end{vmatrix}
  • Expanding the determinant: c=i^((5)(0)(0)(3))j^((3)(0)(0)(6))+k^((3)(3)(5)(6))\overrightarrow c = \widehat i ((-5)(0) - (0)(3)) - \widehat j ((3)(0) - (0)(6)) + \widehat k ((3)(3) - (-5)(6)) c=i^(0)j^(0)+k^(9(30))\overrightarrow c = \widehat i (0) - \widehat j (0) + \widehat k (9 - (-30)) c=0i^0j^+k^(9+30)\overrightarrow c = 0\widehat i - 0\widehat j + \widehat k (9 + 30) c=39k^\overrightarrow c = 39\widehat k

Step 4: Calculate the magnitude of c\overrightarrow c.

  • Why? The ratio requires the magnitude of c\overrightarrow c.
  • The vector c\overrightarrow c is 0i^+0j^+39k^0\widehat i + 0\widehat j + 39\widehat k.
  • Using the magnitude formula: c=(0)2+(0)2+(39)2=392=39|\overrightarrow c| = \sqrt{(0)^2 + (0)^2 + (39)^2} = \sqrt{39^2} = 39

Step 5: Form the ratio a:b:c|\overrightarrow a| : |\overrightarrow b| : |\overrightarrow c|.

  • Why? This is the final step to answer the question.
  • Substituting the calculated magnitudes: a:b:c=34:45:39|\overrightarrow a| : |\overrightarrow b| : |\overrightarrow c| = \sqrt{34} : \sqrt{45} : 39

  1. Common Mistakes & Tips
  • Zero k^\widehat k Component: When calculating the cross product of 2D vectors, remember to include a zero for the k^\widehat k component of each vector. This is crucial for the determinant calculation.
  • Magnitude of Cross Product: The magnitude of the cross product a×b|\overrightarrow a \times \overrightarrow b| gives the area of the parallelogram formed by a\overrightarrow a and b\overrightarrow b. For vectors in the XYXY-plane, the cross product is always a vector along the ZZ-axis.
  • Simplifying Square Roots: While 45\sqrt{45} can be simplified to 353\sqrt{5}, it's not necessary for forming the ratio as given in the options.

  1. Summary

We calculated the magnitudes of the given vectors a\overrightarrow a and b\overrightarrow b. Then, we computed their cross product c\overrightarrow c using the determinant method, which resulted in a vector along the ZZ-axis. Finally, we found the magnitude of c\overrightarrow c and formed the ratio of the three magnitudes. The calculated ratio is 34:45:39\sqrt{34} : \sqrt{45} : 39.

The final answer is \boxed{\text{(B)}}.

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