Prove that $(\vec{a}+\vec{b}) \cdot(\vec{a}+\vec{b})=|\vec{a}|^{2}+|\vec{b}|^{2},$ if and only if $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ are perpendicular,given $\vec{a} \neq \vec{0}, \vec{b} \neq \vec{0}.$

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(A) Given the equation: $(\vec{a}+\vec{b}) \cdot(\vec{a}+\vec{b})=|\vec{a}|^{2}+|\vec{b}|^{2}$
Using the distributive property of the dot product:
$\vec{a} \cdot \vec{a} + \vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} + \vec{b} \cdot \vec{a} + \vec{b} \cdot \vec{b} = |\vec{a}|^{2} + |\vec{b}|^{2}$
Since $\vec{a} \cdot \vec{a} = |\vec{a}|^{2}$,$\vec{b} \cdot \vec{b} = |\vec{b}|^{2}$,and the dot product is commutative $(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \vec{b} \cdot \vec{a})$:
$|\vec{a}|^{2} + 2(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}) + |\vec{b}|^{2} = |\vec{a}|^{2} + |\vec{b}|^{2}$
Subtracting $|\vec{a}|^{2} + |\vec{b}|^{2}$ from both sides:
$2(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}) = 0$
$\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = 0$
Since $\vec{a} \neq \vec{0}$ and $\vec{b} \neq \vec{0}$,the dot product of two non-zero vectors is zero if and only if they are perpendicular. Thus,$\vec{a} \perp \vec{b}$.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Show that the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are given by $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ is $\frac{|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|}{2}$. Also,find the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are $2 \hat{i}-\hat{j}+\hat{k}$ and $\hat{i}+3 \hat{j}-\hat{k}$.

Difficult
View Solution

If $\theta$ is the angle between the vectors $4 \hat{i}-\hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$ and $\hat{i}+3 \hat{j}-2 \hat{k}$,then $\sin 2 \theta=$

Let the vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ be such that $|\vec{a}|=3$ and $|\vec{b}|=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}$. Then $\vec{a} \times \vec{b}$ is a unit vector if the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ is

Let $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ be two unit vectors such that $\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = 0$. For some $x, y \in \mathbb{R}$,let $\vec{c} = x\vec{a} + y\vec{b} + (\vec{a} \times \vec{b})$. If $|\vec{c}| = 2$ and the vector $\vec{c}$ is inclined at the same angle $\alpha$ to both $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$,then the value of $8 \cos^2 \alpha$ is . . . . .

$A, B, C, D$ are four points in a plane with position vectors $\overline{a}, \overline{b}, \overline{c}, \overline{d}$ respectively such that $(\overline{a}-\overline{d}) \cdot(\overline{b}-\overline{c})=(\overline{b}-\overline{d}) \cdot(\overline{c}-\overline{a})=0$. Then the point $D$ is the $\dots$ of $\triangle ABC$.

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo