Q. $If\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{\alpha}} = x\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right) + y\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right) + z\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right)\$and$\ \left\lbrack \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right\rbrack = \frac{1}{8},\$then x + y + z is equal to

A) $8\ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})$
B) $\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})$
C) $8\ (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})$
D) None of these
Explanation

(a)
We have ,$\overrightarrow{\alpha} = x\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right) + y\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right) + z(\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}})$
Taking dot product with $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}},\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}},\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ respectively, we get
$\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} = y\left\lbrack \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right\rbrack\ \ \Longrightarrow y = 8\left( \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right)$
$\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} = z\left( \left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right) \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right)$
$\Longrightarrow \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} = z\left\lbrack \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right\rbrack\ \Longrightarrow z = 8\left( \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right)$
$and\ \ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} = x\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}.\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right)$
$\ \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} = x\left\lbrack \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right\rbrack \Longrightarrow x = 8\left( \overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right)$
$\therefore x + y + z = 8\overrightarrow{\alpha} \bullet (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})$

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