If an unit vector $a\hat{i}+b\hat{j}$is perpendicular to $\left( \hat{i}-\hat{j} \right)$ then the value of $a$ and $b$ are : \[\]
A).$\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$\[\]
B). $\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}},-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$\[\]
C). $-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}},-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$\[\]
D). Cannot be determined \[\]
Answer
639.6k+ views
Hint: We use the condition of two vectors $\overrightarrow{a}={{a}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{a}_{2}}\hat{j},\overrightarrow{b}={{b}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{b}_{2}}\hat{j}$ perpendicular that is ${{a}_{1}}{{b}_{1}}+{{a}_{2}}{{b}_{2}}=0$ to find a relation between to express $b$ in terms of $a$. We use the magnitude of a unit vector as 1 to make the equation , put $b$ in terms of $a$ and then solve for $a$. We then find $b$. \[\]
Complete step-by-step solution:
We know that the unit vector is a vector with magnitude 1. We also know that $\hat{i}$ and $\hat{j}$ are unit vectors (vectors with magnitude 1) along $x,y$ axes respectively. So the magnitudes of these vectors are $\left| {\hat{i}} \right|=\left| {\hat{j}} \right|=1$.
We know that any vector $\overrightarrow{a}$ on a plane can be expressed in terms of unit vectors with its components ${{a}_{1}}$ along $x-$axis and ${{a}_{2}}$ along $y-$axis respectively as
\[\overrightarrow{a}={{a}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{a}_{2}}\hat{j}\]
The magnitude of the vector $\overrightarrow{a}$ is given as
\[\left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|=\sqrt{a_{1}^{2}+a_{2}^{2}}\]
We know that if two vectors $\overrightarrow{a}={{a}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{a}_{2}}\hat{j},\overrightarrow{b}={{b}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{b}_{2}}\hat{j}$ are perpendicular to each other then their sum of products of corresponding components is zero which means ;
\[{{a}_{1}}{{b}_{1}}+{{a}_{2}}{{b}_{2}}=0\]
We are given in the question that the unit vector $a\hat{i}+b\hat{j}$is perpendicular to $\left( \hat{i}-\hat{j} \right)$. Lee us denote the unit vector as $\hat{n}=a\hat{i}+b\hat{j}$ and the vector as $\overrightarrow{v}=\hat{i}-\hat{j}$. The $x-$components of $\hat{n}$ and $\overrightarrow{v}$ are $a$ and 1 respectively. The $y-$components of f $\hat{n}$ and $\overrightarrow{v}$ are $b$ and 1 respectively. We use the perpendicular condition of two vectors and have;
\[\begin{align}
& a\left( 1 \right)+b\left( -1 \right)=0 \\
& \Rightarrow a-b=0 \\
& \Rightarrow a=b \\
\end{align}\]
The magnitude of $\hat{n}$ is 1 since $\hat{n}$ is a unit vector. So we have;
\[\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}=1\]
We put previously obtained $a=b$ in the above step to have;
\[\begin{align}
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{a}^{2}}}=1 \\
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{2{{a}^{2}}}=1 \\
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{{{a}^{2}}}=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\
& \Rightarrow \left| a \right|=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\
\end{align}\]
We use the property of modulus function to have;
\[\Rightarrow a=\pm \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
So the values of $a$ and $b$ are;
\[\Rightarrow a=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Rightarrow b=a=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
Since we have obtained 2 values of $a$,
\[\Rightarrow a=-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Rightarrow b=a=-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
So the correct options are A and C.
Note: We should remember the relation between square root and modulus as $\sqrt{{{x}^{2}}}=\left| x \right|$ and also the property of modulus $\left| x \right|=a\Rightarrow x=\pm a$. We have also used here the property of square root $\sqrt{a}\cdot \sqrt{b}=\sqrt{ab}$.If the angle between two vectors is given by $\theta ={{\cos }^{-1}}\left( {{a}_{1}}{{a}_{2}}+{{b}_{1}}{{b}_{2}} \right)$. So when ${{a}_{1}}{{b}_{1}}+{{a}_{2}}{{b}_{2}}=0$ we get the perpendicular condition as $\theta ={{\cos }^{-1}}\left( 0 \right)=\dfrac{\pi }{2}$.
Complete step-by-step solution:
We know that the unit vector is a vector with magnitude 1. We also know that $\hat{i}$ and $\hat{j}$ are unit vectors (vectors with magnitude 1) along $x,y$ axes respectively. So the magnitudes of these vectors are $\left| {\hat{i}} \right|=\left| {\hat{j}} \right|=1$.
We know that any vector $\overrightarrow{a}$ on a plane can be expressed in terms of unit vectors with its components ${{a}_{1}}$ along $x-$axis and ${{a}_{2}}$ along $y-$axis respectively as
\[\overrightarrow{a}={{a}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{a}_{2}}\hat{j}\]
The magnitude of the vector $\overrightarrow{a}$ is given as
\[\left| \overrightarrow{a} \right|=\sqrt{a_{1}^{2}+a_{2}^{2}}\]
We know that if two vectors $\overrightarrow{a}={{a}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{a}_{2}}\hat{j},\overrightarrow{b}={{b}_{1}}\hat{i}+{{b}_{2}}\hat{j}$ are perpendicular to each other then their sum of products of corresponding components is zero which means ;
\[{{a}_{1}}{{b}_{1}}+{{a}_{2}}{{b}_{2}}=0\]
We are given in the question that the unit vector $a\hat{i}+b\hat{j}$is perpendicular to $\left( \hat{i}-\hat{j} \right)$. Lee us denote the unit vector as $\hat{n}=a\hat{i}+b\hat{j}$ and the vector as $\overrightarrow{v}=\hat{i}-\hat{j}$. The $x-$components of $\hat{n}$ and $\overrightarrow{v}$ are $a$ and 1 respectively. The $y-$components of f $\hat{n}$ and $\overrightarrow{v}$ are $b$ and 1 respectively. We use the perpendicular condition of two vectors and have;
\[\begin{align}
& a\left( 1 \right)+b\left( -1 \right)=0 \\
& \Rightarrow a-b=0 \\
& \Rightarrow a=b \\
\end{align}\]
The magnitude of $\hat{n}$ is 1 since $\hat{n}$ is a unit vector. So we have;
\[\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}=1\]
We put previously obtained $a=b$ in the above step to have;
\[\begin{align}
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{a}^{2}}}=1 \\
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{2{{a}^{2}}}=1 \\
& \Rightarrow \sqrt{{{a}^{2}}}=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\
& \Rightarrow \left| a \right|=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\
\end{align}\]
We use the property of modulus function to have;
\[\Rightarrow a=\pm \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
So the values of $a$ and $b$ are;
\[\Rightarrow a=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Rightarrow b=a=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
Since we have obtained 2 values of $a$,
\[\Rightarrow a=-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Rightarrow b=a=-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\]
So the correct options are A and C.
Note: We should remember the relation between square root and modulus as $\sqrt{{{x}^{2}}}=\left| x \right|$ and also the property of modulus $\left| x \right|=a\Rightarrow x=\pm a$. We have also used here the property of square root $\sqrt{a}\cdot \sqrt{b}=\sqrt{ab}$.If the angle between two vectors is given by $\theta ={{\cos }^{-1}}\left( {{a}_{1}}{{a}_{2}}+{{b}_{1}}{{b}_{2}} \right)$. So when ${{a}_{1}}{{b}_{1}}+{{a}_{2}}{{b}_{2}}=0$ we get the perpendicular condition as $\theta ={{\cos }^{-1}}\left( 0 \right)=\dfrac{\pi }{2}$.
Recently Updated Pages
What is BLO What is the full form of BLO class 8 social science CBSE

Explain the Treaty of Vienna of 1815 class 10 social science CBSE

10 examples of friction in our daily life

Draw a diagram of nephron and explain its structur class 11 biology CBSE

Write structures of the following compounds i 2 Chloro3methylpentane class 11 chemistry CBSE

A Paragraph on Pollution in about 100-150 Words

Trending doubts
Draw a labelled sketch of the human eye class 12 physics CBSE

Which are the Top 10 Largest Countries of the World?

Differentiate between homogeneous and heterogeneous class 12 chemistry CBSE

Draw ray diagrams each showing i myopic eye and ii class 12 physics CBSE

Which is the correct genotypic ratio of mendel dihybrid class 12 biology CBSE

What is the Full Form of PVC, PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP and PS ?

