Vectors a\mathbf{a}, b\mathbf{b} and c\mathbf{c} are such that b≠0\mathbf{b} \ne 0 and 3a×b=7b×c3\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = 7\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c}.

  1. (i)

    Show that 3a+7c=λb3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c} = \lambda \mathbf{b}, where λ\lambda is a constant.

  2. (ii)

    It is now given that a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} are unit vectors, that the modulus of c\mathbf{c} is 37\frac{3}{7} and that the angle between a\mathbf{a} and c\mathbf{c} is 60∘60^\circ. Using a suitable scalar product, find exactly the two possible values of λ\lambda.

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Worked solution

1(i)

1. Use the anticommutative property of the vector product to rewrite the right side of the equation.

Given 3a×b=7b×c3\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = 7\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c}.
Since b×c=−c×b\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c} = -\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{b}, we have:
3a×b=−7c×b3\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = -7\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{b}

2. Rearrange the terms and factorise using the distributive property.

3a×b+7c×b=03\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} + 7\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{b} = \mathbf{0}
(3a+7c)×b=0(3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c}) \times \mathbf{b} = \mathbf{0}

3. Deduce the relationship between the vectors from the zero vector product.

The vector product of (3a+7c)(3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c}) and b\mathbf{b} is the zero vector. Since it is given that b≠0\mathbf{b} \ne \mathbf{0}, it must be that the vector (3a+7c)(3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c}) is parallel to b\mathbf{b} (or is the zero vector itself).
Therefore, we can write:
3a+7c=λb3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c} = \lambda \mathbf{b}
where λ\lambda is a scalar constant. (Shown)

Answer

Shown that 3a+7c=λb3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c} = \lambda \mathbf{b} through vector product properties.

1(ii)

1. Take the scalar product of the vector equation from part (i) with itself.

Using the result from (i), 3a+7c=λb3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c} = \lambda \mathbf{b}. Taking the scalar product of both sides with themselves:
(3a+7c)⋅(3a+7c)=(λb)⋅(λb)(3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c}) \cdot (3\mathbf{a} + 7\mathbf{c}) = (\lambda \mathbf{b}) \cdot (\lambda \mathbf{b})
9∣a∣2+42(a⋅c)+49∣c∣2=λ2∣b∣29|\mathbf{a}|^2 + 42(\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{c}) + 49|\mathbf{c}|^2 = \lambda^2 |\mathbf{b}|^2

2. Evaluate the scalar product $\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{c}$.

Using the definition of the scalar product with the given angle and magnitudes:
a⋅c=∣a∣∣c∣cos⁡60∘\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{c} = |\mathbf{a}| |\mathbf{c}| \cos 60^\circ
a⋅c=(1)(37)(12)=314\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{c} = (1)\left(\frac{3}{7}\right)\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \frac{3}{14}

3. Substitute the known values into the expanded equation to solve for $\lambda$.

Substitute ∣a∣=1|\mathbf{a}| = 1, ∣b∣=1|\mathbf{b}| = 1, ∣c∣=37|\mathbf{c}| = \frac{3}{7} and a⋅c=314\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{c} = \frac{3}{14} into the expanded equation:
9(1)2+42(314)+49(37)2=λ2(1)29(1)^2 + 42\left(\frac{3}{14}\right) + 49\left(\frac{3}{7}\right)^2 = \lambda^2 (1)^2
9+3(3)+49(949)=λ29 + 3(3) + 49\left(\frac{9}{49}\right) = \lambda^2
9+9+9=λ29 + 9 + 9 = \lambda^2
λ2=27\lambda^2 = 27
λ=±27=±33\lambda = \pm\sqrt{27} = \pm 3\sqrt{3}

Answer

±33\pm 3\sqrt{3}

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