The points whose position vectors are $2 \mathbf{i}+3 \mathbf{j}+4 \mathbf{k}, 3 \mathbf{i}+4 \mathbf{j}+2…

The points whose position vectors are $2 \mathbf{i}+3 \mathbf{j}+4 \mathbf{k}, 3 \mathbf{i}+4 \mathbf{j}+2 \mathbf{k}$ and $4 \mathbf{i}+2 \mathbf{j}+3 \mathbf{k}$ are the vertices of
  1. an isosceles triangle
  2. right angled triangle
  3. equilateral triangle
  4. right angled isosceles triangle

Solution

$ \begin{aligned} & \text { Let } \mathbf{a}=2 \mathbf{i}+3 \mathbf{j}+4 \mathbf{k}=\mathrm{OA} \\ & \mathbf{b}=3 \mathbf{i}+4 \mathbf{j}+2 \mathbf{k}=\mathrm{OB} \\ & \text { and } \mathbf{c}=4 \mathbf{i}+2 \mathbf{j}+3 \mathbf{k}=\mathrm{OC} \\ & A B=O B-O A=i+j-2 k \\ & B C=O C-O B=\mathbf{i}-2 \mathbf{j}+\mathbf{k} \\ & \text { and } \quad C A=O A-O C=-2 i+j+k \\ & \text { Now, } \quad A B=\sqrt{1+1+4}=\sqrt{6} \\ & \mathrm{BC}=\sqrt{1+4+1}=\sqrt{6} \\ & \text { and } \mathrm{CA}=\sqrt{4+1+1}=\sqrt{6} \\ & \end{aligned} $ Since, the length of all three sides are equal. So, the triangle is an equilateral triangle

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2013

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