Let $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ be unit vectors with $\theta$ as the acute angle between them. If…

Let $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ be unit vectors with $\theta$ as the acute angle between them. If $\frac{1}{2}|\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{b}|=\sin \lambda \theta$, then $4 \lambda^2=$
  1. 4
  2. 1
  3. 3
  4. 2

Solution

It is given, that $\frac{1}{2}|\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{b}|=\sin (\lambda \theta)$ On squaring both sides, we get $ \begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow|\mathbf{a}|^2+|\mathbf{b}|^2-2|\mathbf{a}||\mathbf{b}| \cos \theta=4 \sin ^2(\lambda \theta) \\ & \Rightarrow 1+1-2 \cos \theta=4 \sin ^2(\lambda \theta) \\ & \Rightarrow 2(1-\cos \theta)=4 \sin ^2(\lambda \theta) \Rightarrow 4 \sin ^2\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=4 \sin ^2(\lambda \theta) \\ & \Rightarrow \quad \lambda=\frac{1}{2} \quad\left[\because(1-\cos \theta)=2 \sin ^2 \frac{\theta}{2}\right] \\ & \therefore \quad 4 \lambda^2=4\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2=1 \end{aligned} $ Hence, option (b) is correct

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2019 (20 Apr Shift 2)

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