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NCERT · Class 12 · Maths

Chapter 10: Vector Algebra

Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.

Exercise 10.4

12 questions
Q11Written answer

Let the vectors $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ be such that $\left| \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right|\mathbf{=3}$ and $\left| \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right|\mathbf{=}\frac{\sqrt{\mathbf{2}}}{\mathbf{3}}$, then $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\mathbf{\times }\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ is a unit vector, if the angle between $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ is

(a) $\frac{\mathbf{\pi }}{\mathbf{6}}$        (b) $\frac{\mathbf{\pi }}{\mathbf{4}}$          (c) $\frac{\mathbf{\pi }}{\mathbf{3}}$             (d) $\frac{\mathbf{\pi }}{\mathbf{2}}$

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Worked solution

Ans: We are provided that, $\left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|=3$ and $\left| \overrightarrow{b} \right|=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}$.

Now, it is generally known that $\overrightarrow{a}\times \overrightarrow{b}=\left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|\left| \overrightarrow{b} \right|\sin \theta \cdot \widehat{n}$, where $\widehat{n}$ is a unit vector that is perpendicular to both the vectors $\overrightarrow{a}$ and $\overrightarrow{b}$; $\theta $ is the angle the vectors $\overrightarrow{a}$ and $\overrightarrow{b}$. 

Since, $\overrightarrow{a}\times \overrightarrow{b}$ is a unit vector, so $\left| \overrightarrow{a}\times \overrightarrow{b} \right|=1$

$ \Rightarrow \left| \left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|\left| \overrightarrow{b} \right|\sin \theta \widehat{n} \right|=1 $ 

$ \Rightarrow \left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|\left| \overrightarrow{b} \right|\left| \sin \theta  \right|=1 $ 

$ \Rightarrow 3\times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}\times \sin \theta =1 $ 

$\Rightarrow \sin \theta =\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} $ 

$ \Rightarrow \theta =\frac{\pi }{4}. $ 

Thus, the angle between the vectors $\overrightarrow{a}$ and $\overrightarrow{b}$ is $\frac{\pi }{4}$.

Hence, the correct answer is option (b).


Q12Written answer

Area of a rectangle having vertices $\mathbf{A}$, $\mathbf{B}$, $\mathbf{C}$, and $\mathbf{D}$ with position vectors $\mathbf{-}\widehat{\mathbf{i}}\mathbf{+}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}\widehat{\mathbf{j}}\mathbf{+4}\widehat{\mathbf{k}}\mathbf{,}\,\,\widehat{\mathbf{i}}\mathbf{+}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}\widehat{\mathbf{j}}\mathbf{+4}\widehat{\mathbf{k}}\mathbf{,}\,\,\widehat{\mathbf{i}}\mathbf{-}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}\widehat{\mathbf{j}}\mathbf{+4}\widehat{\mathbf{k}}$ and $\mathbf{-}\widehat{\mathbf{i}}\mathbf{-}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}\widehat{\mathbf{j}}\mathbf{+4}\widehat{\mathbf{k}}$ respectively is

(a) $\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{2}}$           (b) $\mathbf{1}$               (c) $\mathbf{2}$                  (d) $\mathbf{4}$

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Worked solution

Ans: The position vectors of the vertices $A,\,\,B,\,\,C,\,\,D$ of the rectangle $ABCD$ are such that 

$\overrightarrow{OA}=-\widehat{i}+\frac{1}{2}\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k}$,

$\overrightarrow{OB}=\widehat{i}+\frac{1}{2}\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k}$,

$\overrightarrow{OC}=\widehat{i}-\frac{1}{2}\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k}$, and

$\overrightarrow{OD}=-\widehat{i}-\frac{1}{2}\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k}$.

The adjacent sides of the rectangle $ABCD$ are $\overrightarrow{AB}$ and $\overrightarrow{BC}$ such that

$\overrightarrow{AB}=\left( 1+1 \right)\widehat{i}+\left( \frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2} \right)\widehat{j}+\left( 4-4 \right)\widehat{k}=2\widehat{j}$

$\overrightarrow{BC}=\left( 1-1 \right)\widehat{i}+\left( -\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2} \right)\widehat{j}+\left( 4-4 \right)\widehat{k}=-\widehat{j}$.

Therefore, the cross-product between these two vectors,

$\overrightarrow{AB}\times \overrightarrow{BC}=\left| \begin{matrix}


   \widehat{i} & \widehat{j} & \widehat{k}  \\


   2 & 0 & 0  \\


   0 & -1 & 0  


\end{matrix} \right| $

$ =\widehat{k}\left( -2 \right) $ 

$ =-2\widehat{k}. $ 

Since, the area of a parallelogram having the adjacent sides $\overrightarrow{a}$ and $\overrightarrow{b}$ is $\left| \overrightarrow{a}\times \overrightarrow{b} \right|$, so the area of the rectangle $ABCD$ is $\left| \overrightarrow{AB}\times \overrightarrow{CD} \right|=2$ square units.

Thus, the correct answer is the option (c).