If $\bar{a}$ and $\bar{b}$ are two unit vectors such that $\bar{a}+2 \bar{b}$ and $5 \bar{a}-4 \bar{b}$ are…

If $\bar{a}$ and $\bar{b}$ are two unit vectors such that $\bar{a}+2 \bar{b}$ and $5 \bar{a}-4 \bar{b}$ are perpendicular to each other, then the angle between $\overline{\mathrm{a}}$ and $\overline{\mathrm{b}}$ is
  1. $\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right)$
  2. $\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right)$
  3. $\cos ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)$
  4. $\cos ^{-1}\left(\frac{2}{7}\right)$

Solution

Since $\overline{\mathrm{a}}+2 \overline{\mathrm{b}}$ and $5 \overline{\mathrm{a}}-4 \overline{\mathrm{b}}$ are perpendicular to each other $\begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad(\overline{\mathrm{a}}+2 \overline{\mathrm{b}}) \cdot(5 \overline{\mathrm{a}}-4 \overline{\mathrm{b}})=0 \\ & \Rightarrow 5|\overline{\mathrm{a}}|^2-8|\overline{\mathrm{b}}|^2+6 \overline{\mathrm{a}} \cdot \overline{\mathrm{b}}=0 \\ & \Rightarrow-3+6|\overline{\mathrm{a}}||\overline{\mathrm{b}}| \cos \theta=0 \quad \ldots[\because|\overline{\mathrm{a}}|=|\overline{\mathrm{b}}|=1] \\ & \Rightarrow \cos \theta=\frac{1}{2} \\ & \Rightarrow \theta=\frac{\pi}{3} \end{aligned}$

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (11 May Shift 1)

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