Let $u$ and $v$ be two vectors. Then $|u-v|=|| u|-| v||$ if and only if

Let $u$ and $v$ be two vectors. Then $|u-v|=|| u|-| v||$ if and only if
  1. $|u|=|v|$
  2. $u$ and $v$ have the same direction
  3. $u$ and $v$ have the opposite direction
  4. $u=v$

Solution

Since, $|u-v|^2=|u|^2+|v|^2-2 \vec{u} \cdot \vec{v}$ and $\| u|-| v||^2=|u|^2+|v|^2-2|\vec{u}||\vec{v}|$ Now, $|u-v|^2=\left.|| u|-| v\right|^2$ only, when It only happens when $u$ and $v$ have same direction. $ \begin{aligned} \vec{u} \cdot \vec{v} & =|\vec{u}||\vec{v}| \\ |\vec{u}| \| \vec{v} \mid \cos \theta & =|\vec{u}||\vec{v}| \Rightarrow \cos \theta=1 \\ \theta & =0 \end{aligned} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2021 (23 Aug Shift 1)

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