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← IIT-JEE 2012 · Paper 1
MathematicsInteger+4Question 59 of 60

IIT-JEE 2012 · Paper 1, Mathematics question 59

If a⃗\vec a, b⃗\vec b and c⃗\vec c are unit vectors satisfying ∣a⃗−b⃗∣2+∣b⃗−c⃗∣2+∣c⃗−a⃗∣2=9|\vec a-\vec b|^2+|\vec b-\vec c|^2+|\vec c-\vec a|^2=9, then ∣2a⃗+5b⃗+5c⃗∣|2\vec a+5\vec b+5\vec c| is

Answer and worked solution

Official answer: 3

Expand. For unit vectors, ∣a⃗−b⃗∣2=2−2a⃗⋅b⃗|\vec a-\vec b|^2=2-2\vec a\cdot\vec b, so
6−2(a⃗⋅b⃗+b⃗⋅c⃗+c⃗⋅a⃗)=9  ⟹  a⃗⋅b⃗+b⃗⋅c⃗+c⃗⋅a⃗=−32.6-2(\vec a\cdot\vec b+\vec b\cdot\vec c+\vec c\cdot\vec a)=9\implies\vec a\cdot\vec b+\vec b\cdot\vec c+\vec c\cdot\vec a=-\tfrac32.

Sum is zero. ∣a⃗+b⃗+c⃗∣2=3+2(−32)=0|\vec a+\vec b+\vec c|^2=3+2\left(-\tfrac32\right)=0, so b⃗+c⃗=−a⃗\vec b+\vec c=-\vec a.

Value. 2a⃗+5(b⃗+c⃗)=−3a⃗2\vec a+5(\vec b+\vec c)=-3\vec a, of magnitude 3.

Answer: 3