NVAEasyJEE 2023Cross Product

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

Let a\vec{a} and b\vec{b} be two vectors such that

a=14,b=6,a×b=48.|\vec{a}| = \sqrt{14}, \quad |\vec{b}| = \sqrt{6}, \quad |\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| = \sqrt{48}.

Then (ab)2(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 is equal to:

Answer

Correct answer:36

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: a=14|\vec{a}| = \sqrt{14}, b=6|\vec{b}| = \sqrt{6}, and a×b=48|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| = \sqrt{48}.

Find: The value of (ab)2(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2.

Use the identity

a×b2+(ab)2=a2b2|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|^2 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = |\vec{a}|^2 |\vec{b}|^2

Substitute the given values:

(48)2+(ab)2=(14)2(6)2(\sqrt{48})^2 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = (\sqrt{14})^2(\sqrt{6})^2

So,

48+(ab)2=14×6=8448 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 14 \times 6 = 84

Therefore,

(ab)2=8448=36(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 84 - 48 = 36

Therefore, the required value is 3636.

Step-by-step Calculation

Given: a=14|\vec{a}| = \sqrt{14}, b=6|\vec{b}| = \sqrt{6}, a×b=48|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| = \sqrt{48}.

Find: (ab)2(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2.

The required identity is

a×b2+(ab)2=a2b2|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|^2 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = |\vec{a}|^2 |\vec{b}|^2

Now compute each squared magnitude:

a×b2=(48)2=48|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|^2 = (\sqrt{48})^2 = 48 a2=(14)2=14|\vec{a}|^2 = (\sqrt{14})^2 = 14 b2=(6)2=6|\vec{b}|^2 = (\sqrt{6})^2 = 6

Substitute into the identity:

48+(ab)2=14×648 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 14 \times 6 48+(ab)2=8448 + (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 84

Hence,

(ab)2=8448=36(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 84 - 48 = 36

So, the correct numerical value is 3636.

Common mistakes

  • Using a×b|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| instead of a×b2|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|^2 in the identity is incorrect because the relation involves squared quantities. First square the given cross product magnitude, then substitute.

  • Confusing a2b2|\vec{a}|^2 |\vec{b}|^2 with ab|\vec{a}| |\vec{b}| is wrong. Here, a=14|\vec{a}| = \sqrt{14} and b=6|\vec{b}| = \sqrt{6}, so the product on the right side becomes 14×614 \times 6 after squaring.

  • Taking ab=36\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = 36 instead of (ab)2=36(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b})^2 = 36 is incorrect. The question asks for the square of the dot product, not the dot product itself.

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