If the vectors $a \hat{i}+\hat{j}+\hat{k}, \hat{i}+b \hat{j}+\hat{k}, \hat{i}+\hat{j}+c \hat{k}$ $(a \neq b,…

If the vectors $a \hat{i}+\hat{j}+\hat{k}, \hat{i}+b \hat{j}+\hat{k}, \hat{i}+\hat{j}+c \hat{k}$ $(a \neq b, c \neq 1)$ are coplanar, then $\frac{1}{1-a}+\frac{1}{1-b}+\frac{1}{1-c}$ has the value $\qquad$
  1. 1
  2. -1
  3. -2
  4. 5

Solution

Since $\left|\begin{array}{lll}a & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & b & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & c\end{array}\right|=0$ Applying $\mathrm{R}_2 \rightarrow \mathrm{R}_2-\mathrm{R}_1$ and $\mathrm{R}_3 \rightarrow \mathrm{R}_3-\mathrm{R}_1$, we get $\begin{aligned} & \left|\begin{array}{ccc} a & 1 & 1 \\ 1-a & b-1 & 0 \\ 1-a & 0 & c-1 \end{array}\right|=0 \\ & \Rightarrow a(b-1)(c-1)-(1-a)(c-1)-(1-a)(b-1)=0 \end{aligned}$
Dividing by $(1-a)(1-b)(1-c)$, we get $\frac{a}{1-a}+\frac{1}{1-b}+\frac{1}{1-c}=0$ Consider, $\frac{1}{1-\mathrm{a}}+\frac{1}{1-\mathrm{b}}+\frac{1}{1-\mathrm{c}}$ $=\frac{1}{1-a}-\frac{a}{1-a}$ ....[From (i)] $=1$

Asked in: MHT CET 2024 (09 May Shift 1)

Practice more Vectors questions on Aicharya