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If a line makes angles α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma with the positive directions of xx - axis, y -axis, z -axis respectively, then the value of cos2α+cos2β+cos2γcos2\alpha + cos2\beta + cos2\gamma is equal to

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 2

When a line makes angles α, β, γ with the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, the direction cosines are:

l=cos⁡αl = \cos \alpha

m=cos⁡βm = \cos \beta

n=cos⁡γn = \cos \gamma

The fundamental property of direction cosines:

cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ=1\cos^2\alpha + \cos^2\beta + \cos^2\gamma = 1


Using the double angle formula cos⁡2θ=2cos⁡2θ−1\cos2\theta = 2\cos^2\theta - 1 for each angle:

cos⁡2α=2cos⁡2α−1\cos2\alpha = 2\cos^2\alpha - 1

cos⁡2β=2cos⁡2β−1\cos2\beta = 2\cos^2\beta - 1

cos⁡2γ=2cos⁡2γ−1\cos2\gamma = 2\cos^2\gamma - 1


Adding these expressions:

cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ\cos2\alpha + \cos2\beta + \cos2\gamma

=(2cos⁡2α−1)+(2cos⁡2β−1)+(2cos⁡2γ−1)= (2\cos^2\alpha - 1) + (2\cos^2\beta - 1) + (2\cos^2\gamma - 1)

=2cos⁡2α+2cos⁡2β+2cos⁡2γ−3= 2\cos^2\alpha + 2\cos^2\beta + 2\cos^2\gamma - 3

=2(cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ)−3= 2(\cos^2\alpha + \cos^2\beta + \cos^2\gamma) - 3


Substituting cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ=1\cos^2\alpha + \cos^2\beta + \cos^2\gamma = 1:

=2(1)−3= 2(1) - 3

=−1= -1

Therefore, cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ=−1\cos2\alpha + \cos2\beta + \cos2\gamma = -1

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