1.

let vector A=2i+3j-k which is anti parallel with vector B which has magnitude 6. find vector B

Answer»

Let B = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k.

Since A and B are anti-parallel, the angle between them is 180°. Then the dot product of A and B is

A • B = ||A|| ||B|| cos(180°)

⇒   A • B = - ||A|| ||B||

The magnitude of A is

||A|| = \(\sqrt{(2^2+3^2+(-1)^2)}\) = √14

so that

A • B = 2b1 + 3b2 - b3 = -6√14

Because A and B are anti-parallel, their cross product is the zero vector.

A x B = (3b3 + b2) i - (2b3 + b1) j + (2b2 - 3b1) k = 0 i + 0 j + 0 k

⇒   3b3 + b2 = 0, 2b3 + b1 = 0 and 2b2 - 3b1 = 0

Now,

2b2 - 3b1 = 0 ⇒   b2 = 3/2 b1

2b3 + b1 = 0 ⇒   b3 = -1/2 b1

so that

2b1 + 3/2 b1 - (-1/2 b1) = -6√14

7b1 = -6√14

b1 = -6/7 √14 = -6 √(2/7)

Similarly,

2b2 - 3b1 = 0 ⇒  b1 = 2/3 b2

3b3 + b2 = 0 ⇒   b3 = -1/3 b2

so that

2 (2/3 b2) + 3b2 - (-1/3 b2) = -6√14

14/3 b2 = -6√14

b2 = -18/14 √14 = -9 √(2/7)

Finally,

2 (-6 √(2/7)) + 3 (-9 √(2/7)) - b3 = -6√14

-39 √(2/7) - b3 = -6√14

b3 = 6√14 - 39 √(2/7) = 3 √(2/7)

and so the vector B is

B = -6 √(2/7) i - 9 √(2/7) j + 3 √(2/7) k

or equilvalently,

B = -3 √(2/7) (2 i + 3 j - k)

B = -3 √(2/7) A



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