If the vectors $\hat{\mathbf{i}}+3 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+4 \hat{\mathbf{k}}, \lambda \hat{\mathbf{i}}-4…

If the vectors $\hat{\mathbf{i}}+3 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+4 \hat{\mathbf{k}}, \lambda \hat{\mathbf{i}}-4 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+\hat{\mathbf{k}}$ are orthogonal to each other, then $\lambda$ is equal to
  1. $5$
  2. $-5$
  3. $8$
  4. $-8$

Solution

Let $\mathbf{a}=\hat{\mathbf{i}}+3 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+4 \hat{\mathbf{k}}$ and $ \mathbf{b}=\lambda \hat{\mathbf{i}}-4 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+\hat{\mathbf{k}} $ Since, $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ are orthogonal to each other $ \begin{array}{lc} \therefore & \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b}=0 \\ \Rightarrow & (\hat{\mathbf{i}}+3 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+4 \hat{\mathbf{k}}) \cdot(\lambda \hat{\mathbf{i}}+4 \hat{\mathbf{j}}+\hat{\mathbf{k}})=0 \\ \Rightarrow & \lambda-12+4=0 \Rightarrow \lambda=8 \end{array} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2004

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