If $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ are two unit vectors such that $\mathbf{a}+\mathbf{b}$ is also $\mathbf{a}$…

If $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ are two unit vectors such that $\mathbf{a}+\mathbf{b}$ is also $\mathbf{a}$ unit vector, then $|\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{b}|^2=$
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 0

Solution

If resultant of two unit vectors is unit vector, then angle between them is $\frac{2 \pi}{3}$, so $ \begin{aligned} |\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{b}|^2 & =|a|^2+|b|^2-2|\mathbf{a}||\mathbf{b}| \cos \frac{2 \pi}{3} \\ & =1+1-2(1)(1)(-1 / 2)=2+1=3 . \end{aligned} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2018 (23 Apr Shift 2)

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