MCQMediumJEE 2026Cross Product

JEE Mathematics 2026 Question with Solution

Let c\vec{c} and d\vec{d} be vectors such that c+d=29|\vec{c}+\vec{d}| = \sqrt{29} and c×(2i^+3j^+4k^)=(2i^+3j^+4k^)×d\vec{c} \times (2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}) = (2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}) \times \vec{d}. If λ1,λ2\lambda_1, \lambda_2 (λ1>λ2)\left(\lambda_1 > \lambda_2\right) are the possible values of (c+d)(7i^+2j^+3k^)(\vec{c}+\vec{d}) \cdot (-7\hat{i}+2\hat{j}+3\hat{k}), then the equation K2x2+(K25K+λ1)xy+(3K+λ22)y28x+12y+λ2=0K^2x^2+(K^2-5K+\lambda_1)xy+(3K+\lambda_2^2)y^2-8x+12y+\lambda_2 = 0 represents a circle, for KK equal to:

  • A

    22

  • B

    1-1

  • C

    11

  • D

    44

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: c+d=29|\vec{c}+\vec{d}| = \sqrt{29} and c×(2i^+3j^+4k^)=(2i^+3j^+4k^)×d\vec{c} \times (2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}) = (2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}) \times \vec{d}.

Find: The value of KK for which K2x2+(K25K+λ1)xy+(3K+λ22)y28x+12y+λ2=0K^2x^2+(K^2-5K+\lambda_1)xy+(3K+\lambda_2^2)y^2-8x+12y+\lambda_2 = 0 represents a circle.

Let

v=2i^+3j^+4k^\vec{v} = 2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}

The given relation is

c×v=v×d\vec{c} \times \vec{v} = \vec{v} \times \vec{d}

Using v×d=(d×v)\vec{v} \times \vec{d} = -(\vec{d} \times \vec{v}),

c×v+d×v=0\vec{c} \times \vec{v} + \vec{d} \times \vec{v} = \vec{0}

so

(c+d)×v=0(\vec{c}+\vec{d}) \times \vec{v} = \vec{0}

Hence c+d\vec{c}+\vec{d} is parallel to v\vec{v}, therefore

c+d=m(2i^+3j^+4k^)\vec{c}+\vec{d} = m(2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k})

for some scalar mm.

Now use the magnitude condition:

m22+32+42=29|m|\sqrt{2^2+3^2+4^2} = \sqrt{29} m29=29|m|\sqrt{29} = \sqrt{29} m=1|m| = 1

So the possible values are

m=1orm=1m = 1 \quad \text{or} \quad m = -1

Compute

λ=(c+d)(7i^+2j^+3k^)\lambda = (\vec{c}+\vec{d}) \cdot (-7\hat{i}+2\hat{j}+3\hat{k})

If m=1m=1, then

λ=2(7)+3(2)+4(3)=14+6+12=4\lambda = 2(-7)+3(2)+4(3) = -14+6+12 = 4

If m=1m=-1, then

λ=(2)(7)+(3)(2)+(4)(3)=14612=4\lambda = (-2)(-7)+(-3)(2)+(-4)(3) = 14-6-12 = -4

Since λ1>λ2\lambda_1 > \lambda_2,

λ1=4,λ2=4\lambda_1 = 4, \qquad \lambda_2 = -4

Substitute these into the conic equation:

K2x2+(K25K+4)xy+(3K+16)y28x+12y4=0K^2x^2+(K^2-5K+4)xy+(3K+16)y^2-8x+12y-4 = 0

For a second-degree equation

Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0Ax^2+Bxy+Cy^2+Dx+Ey+F=0

to represent a circle, we need

B=0andA=CB=0 \quad \text{and} \quad A=C

First apply the condition that the coefficient of xyxy must be zero:

K25K+4=0K^2-5K+4=0 (K1)(K4)=0(K-1)(K-4)=0

So

K=1orK=4K=1 \quad \text{or} \quad K=4

Now apply the condition A=CA=C:

K2=3K+16K^2 = 3K+16 K23K16=0K^2-3K-16=0

Checking the two values from the first condition:

  • For K=1K=1, 1316=1801-3-16=-18 \neq 0.
  • For K=4K=4, 161216=12016-12-16=-12 \neq 0.

Thus the two circle conditions are inconsistent for the printed equation, which indicates a flaw or typo in the question statement.

The solution explicitly states that the exam's intended correct option is C, and among the values obtained from the necessary condition B=0B=0, that corresponds to K=1K=1.

Therefore, the correct option is C, that is, K=1K=1.

Why the Printed Question Appears Flawed

Given: The computed values are λ1=4\lambda_1=4 and λ2=4\lambda_2=-4.

Find: Whether the resulting conic satisfies all circle conditions.

After substitution, the equation becomes

K2x2+(K25K+4)xy+(3K+16)y28x+12y4=0K^2x^2+(K^2-5K+4)xy+(3K+16)y^2-8x+12y-4=0

Here

A=K2,B=K25K+4,C=3K+16A=K^2, \qquad B=K^2-5K+4, \qquad C=3K+16

For a circle, both necessary conditions are:

  1. B=0B=0
  2. A=CA=C

From B=0B=0,

K25K+4=0K^2-5K+4=0

which gives

K=1,4K=1,4

But from A=CA=C,

K2=3K+16K^2=3K+16

Neither K=1K=1 nor K=4K=4 satisfies this.

Therefore, the algebra extracted from the solution shows that the printed conic does not represent a circle for any listed option if both conditions are enforced exactly. The answer C is therefore the intended exam key rather than a fully consistent consequence of the printed equation.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming directly that c\vec{c} is parallel to 2i^+3j^+4k^2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+4\hat{k}. This is wrong because the cross-product relation only implies (c+d)(\vec{c}+\vec{d}) is parallel to that vector. First combine the two cross products before drawing the parallelism conclusion.

  • Forgetting the anti-commutative property u×v=(v×u)\vec{u} \times \vec{v} = -(\vec{v} \times \vec{u}). If this sign change is missed, the relation (c+d)×v=0(\vec{c}+\vec{d}) \times \vec{v} = \vec{0} will not be obtained correctly. Always rewrite v×d\vec{v} \times \vec{d} as (d×v)-(\vec{d} \times \vec{v}) first.

  • Using only one circle condition. Setting the coefficient of xyxy to zero is necessary, but not sufficient. A circle also requires equal coefficients of x2x^2 and y2y^2. In this question, checking both reveals the inconsistency in the printed statement.

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