Vector Algebra
Dot Product
Grade 12
Question:
<p>If the vertices A, B, C of a △ABC have position vectors \((1, 2, 3)\), \((-1, 0, 0)\), \((0, 1, 2)\) respectively, then \(\angle ABC\) (the angle between the vectors \(\vec{BA}\) and \(\vec{BC}\)) is equal to</p>
<p>(a) \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)</p>
<p>(b) \(\frac{\pi}{4}\)</p>
<p>(c) \(\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{10}{\sqrt{102}}\right)\)</p>
<p>(d) \(\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)\)</p>
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept: To find the angle between two vectors at a vertex, we need to find the vectors from that vertex to the other two vertices, then use the dot product formula: cos θ = (u·v)/(|u||v|). If the dot product equals zero, the vectors are perpendicular and the angle is π/2.
Step 1: Determine the position vectors of $\vec{BA}$ and $\vec{BC}$.
The position vector of A is $\vec{A} = (1, 2, 3)$.
The position vector of B is $\vec{B} = (-1, 0, 0)$.
The position vector of C is $\vec{C} = (0, 1, 2)$.
The vector $\vec{BA}$ is given by $\vec{A} - \vec{B}$:
$$ \vec{BA} = (1 - (-1), 2 - 0, 3 - 0) = (2, 2, 3) $$
The vector $\vec{BC}$ is given by $\vec{C} - \vec{B}$:
$$ \vec{BC} = (0 - (-1), 1 - 0, 2 - 0) = (1, 1, 2) $$
Step 2: Calculate the dot product of $\vec{BA}$ and $\vec{BC}$.
The dot product $\vec{BA} \cdot \vec{BC}$ is:
$$ \vec{BA} \cdot \vec{BC} = (2)(1) + (2)(1) + (3)(2) = 2 + 2 + 6 = 10 $$
Step 3: Calculate the magnitudes of $\vec{BA}$ and $\vec{BC}$.
The magnitude of $\vec{BA}$ is:
$$ |\vec{BA}| = \sqrt{2^2 + 2^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{4 + 4 + 9} = \sqrt{17} $$
The magnitude of $\vec{BC}$ is:
$$ |\vec{BC}| = \sqrt{1^2 + 1^2 + 2^2} = \sqrt{1 + 1 + 4} = \sqrt{6} $$
Step 4: Use the dot product formula to find $\angle ABC$.
The cosine of the angle $\theta = \angle ABC$ between two vectors $\vec{BA}$ and $\vec{BC}$ is given by:
$$ \cos \theta = \frac{\vec{BA} \cdot \vec{BC}}{|\vec{BA}| |\vec{BC}|} $$
Substitute the calculated values:
$$ \cos \theta = \frac{10}{\sqrt{17} \cdot \sqrt{6}} = \frac{10}{\sqrt{17 \cdot 6}} = \frac{10}{\sqrt{102}} $$
Therefore, $\angle ABC$ is:
$$ \angle ABC = \cos^{-1}\left(\frac{10}{\sqrt{102}}\right) $$
Correct Answer: A