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The unit vector perpendicular to each of the vectors a⃗+b⃗\vec{a}+\vec{b} and a⃗−b⃗\vec{a}-\vec{b}, where a⃗=i^+j^+k^\vec{a}=\hat{i}+\hat{j}+\hat{k} and b⃗=i^+2j^+3k^\vec{b}=\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+3 \hat{k}, is :

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 4

To find the unit vector perpendicular to both a⃗+b⃗\vec{a}+\vec{b} and a⃗−b⃗\vec{a}-\vec{b}, we need to calculate their cross product and then normalize it.

Given:

a⃗=i^+j^+k^\vec{a} = \hat{i} + \hat{j} + \hat{k}

b⃗=i^+2j^+3k^\vec{b} = \hat{i} + 2\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}


Let's calculate a⃗+b⃗\vec{a}+\vec{b} and a⃗−b⃗\vec{a}-\vec{b}:

a⃗+b⃗=(i^+j^+k^)+(i^+2j^+3k^)=2i^+3j^+4k^\vec{a} + \vec{b} = (\hat{i} + \hat{j} + \hat{k}) + (\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}) = 2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 4\hat{k}

a⃗−b⃗=(i^+j^+k^)−(i^+2j^+3k^)=−j^−2k^\vec{a} - \vec{b} = (\hat{i} + \hat{j} + \hat{k}) - (\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}) = -\hat{j} - 2\hat{k}


A vector perpendicular to both would be their cross product:

(a⃗+b⃗)×(a⃗−b⃗)(\vec{a}+\vec{b}) \times (\vec{a}-\vec{b})

Computing this cross product using the determinant:

∣i^j^k^2340−1−2∣\begin{vmatrix} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 2 & 3 & 4 \\ 0 & -1 & -2 \end{vmatrix}

=(3×(−2)−4×(−1))i^−(2×(−2)−4×0)j^+(2×(−1)−3×0)k^= (3 \times (-2) - 4 \times (-1))\hat{i} - (2 \times (-2) - 4 \times 0)\hat{j} + (2 \times (-1) - 3 \times 0)\hat{k}

=(−6+4)i^−(−4)j^+(−2)k^= (-6 + 4)\hat{i} - (-4)\hat{j} + (-2)\hat{k}

=−2i^+4j^−2k^= -2\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} - 2\hat{k}


To make this a unit vector, we divide by its magnitude:

Magnitude = (−2)2+42+(−2)2=4+16+4=24=26\sqrt{(-2)^2 + 4^2 + (-2)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 16 + 4} = \sqrt{24} = 2\sqrt{6}

Therefore, the unit vector is:

126(−2i^+4j^−2k^)=16(−i^+2j^−k^)\dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{6}}(-2\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} - 2\hat{k}) = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{6}}(-\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - \hat{k})

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