Q. If $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\mathbf{,}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\mathbf{,}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ be three non-coplanar vectors and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}}\mathbf{,}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}\mathbf{,}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}}$ constitute the corresponding reciprocal system of vectors then for any arbitrary vector $\overrightarrow{\alpha}$

A) $\overrightarrow{\alpha} = \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + (\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$
B) $\overrightarrow{\alpha} = \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} + \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}\ \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}} + (\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}})\mathbf{r}$
C) $\overrightarrow{\alpha} = \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}\ \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + (\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}})\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$
D) None of the above
Explanation

(c)
Let $\overrightarrow{\alpha} = \lambda\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \mu\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + t\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ …(i)
Now, $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\mathbf{\bullet}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}}\mathbf{=}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\mathbf{\bullet}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}\mathbf{=}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}\mathbf{\bullet}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}} = 1$
$\Rightarrow \ \ \overrightarrow{\alpha}\mathbf{\bullet}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} = \lambda\ \left( \mathbf{\ }\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\mathbf{\bullet}\overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} \right) + 0 + 0$
$\Rightarrow \ \lambda = \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}}$
Similarly, $\mu = \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}$
and $t = \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}}$
From Eq. (i), we get
$\overrightarrow{\alpha} = \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{p}} \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \left( \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{q}}\ \right)\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + (\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{r}})\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

Want more practice?
Practice Vector algebra MCQs