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NDA 2025
Exam
NDA
Year
2025
Subject
Mathematics
Chapter
Vector Algebra

NDA 2025 · Mathematics · Vector Algebra

The position vectors of three points A , B and C are a , b and c...

The position vectors of three points AA, BB and CC are a⃗\vec{a}, b⃗\vec{b} and c⃗\vec{c} respectively, where c⃗=(cos⁡2θ)a⃗+(sin⁡2θ)b⃗\vec{c} = (\cos^2\theta)\vec{a} + (\sin^2\theta)\vec{b}. What is (a⃗×b⃗)+(b⃗×c⃗)+(c⃗×a⃗)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) + (\vec{b} \times \vec{c}) + (\vec{c} \times \vec{a}) equal to?

Options

  1. A0⃗\vec{0}
  2. B2c⃗2\vec{c}
  3. C3c⃗3\vec{c}
  4. DUnit vector

Correct answer

A. 0⃗\vec{0}

Step-by-step solution

Given c⃗=(cos⁡2θ)a⃗+(sin⁡2θ)b⃗\vec{c} = (\cos^2\theta)\vec{a} + (\sin^2\theta)\vec{b}

Substituting the value of c⃗\vec{c} in the second term of the expression (a⃗×b⃗)+(b⃗×c⃗)+(c⃗×a⃗)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) + (\vec{b} \times \vec{c}) + (\vec{c} \times \vec{a}):

b⃗×c⃗=b⃗×((cos⁡2θ)a⃗+(sin⁡2θ)b⃗)\vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{b} \times ((\cos^2\theta)\vec{a} + (\sin^2\theta)\vec{b})

b⃗×c⃗=(cos⁡2θ)(b⃗×a⃗)+(sin⁡2θ)(b⃗×b⃗)\vec{b} \times \vec{c} = (\cos^2\theta)(\vec{b} \times \vec{a}) + (\sin^2\theta)(\vec{b} \times \vec{b})

Since b⃗×b⃗=0⃗\vec{b} \times \vec{b} = \vec{0} and b⃗×a⃗=−(a⃗×b⃗)\vec{b} \times \vec{a} = -(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}):

b⃗×c⃗=−(cos⁡2θ)(a⃗×b⃗)\vec{b} \times \vec{c} = -(\cos^2\theta)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b})

Substituting the value of c⃗\vec{c} in the third term:

c⃗×a⃗=((cos⁡2θ)a⃗+(sin⁡2θ)b⃗)×a⃗\vec{c} \times \vec{a} = ((\cos^2\theta)\vec{a} + (\sin^2\theta)\vec{b}) \times \vec{a}

c⃗×a⃗=(cos⁡2θ)(a⃗×a⃗)+(sin⁡2θ)(b⃗×a⃗)\vec{c} \times \vec{a} = (\cos^2\theta)(\vec{a} \times \vec{a}) + (\sin^2\theta)(\vec{b} \times \vec{a})

Since a⃗×a⃗=0⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{a} = \vec{0}:

c⃗×a⃗=−(sin⁡2θ)(a⃗×b⃗)\vec{c} \times \vec{a} = -(\sin^2\theta)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b})

Adding the three terms together:

(a⃗×b⃗)+(b⃗×c⃗)+(c⃗×a⃗)=(a⃗×b⃗)−(cos⁡2θ)(a⃗×b⃗)−(sin⁡2θ)(a⃗×b⃗)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) + (\vec{b} \times \vec{c}) + (\vec{c} \times \vec{a}) = (\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) - (\cos^2\theta)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) - (\sin^2\theta)(\vec{a} \times \vec{b})

=(a⃗×b⃗)[1−(cos⁡2θ+sin⁡2θ)]= (\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) [1 - (\cos^2\theta + \sin^2\theta)]

Using the trigonometric identity cos⁡2θ+sin⁡2θ=1\cos^2\theta + \sin^2\theta = 1:

=(a⃗×b⃗)[1−1]= (\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) [1 - 1]

=0⃗= \vec{0}

Answer: 0⃗\vec{0}
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