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If a line makes angles α\alpha, β\beta and γ\gamma with the positive directions of coordinate axes respectively, then cos⁡2α+cos⁡2β+cos⁡2γ\cos 2\alpha + \cos 2\beta + \cos 2\gamma is equal to

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 2

When a line makes angles α\alpha, β\beta, and γ\gamma with the positive directions of the x, y, and z axes, the values cos⁡α\cos\alpha, cos⁡β\cos\beta, and cos⁡γ\cos\gamma are called direction cosines.

For any line in 3D space:

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


The double angle formula states:

cos⁡2θ=2cos⁡2θ−1\cos 2\theta = 2\cos^2\theta - 1

Applying this to each angle:

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

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

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


Adding the three expressions:

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


Using the property of direction cosines:

=2(1)−3= 2(1) - 3

=−1= -1

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

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