Vector and Algebra

Geometry Level 4

If a , b , c a, b, c are direction cosines of a line and A = a i ^ + b j ^ + c k ^ \vec{A} = a\hat{i} + b\hat{j} + c\hat{k} , B = b i ^ + c j ^ + a k ^ \vec{B} = b\hat{i} + c\hat{j} + a\hat{k} , then find the maximum angle θ \theta (in degrees) between A \vec{A} & B \vec{B} where θ [ 0 , π ] \theta \in [0,\pi] .


The answer is 120.

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1 solution

Since a , b , c a, b, c are direction cosines of a line, so a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = 1 a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 1

We know that ( a + b + c ) 2 0 (a + b + c)^2 \ge 0

\implies a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2 ( a b + b c + c a ) 0 a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + 2(ab + bc + ca) \ge 0

\implies a b + b c + c a 1 2 ab+bc+ca \ge \frac{-1}{2}

Now to calculate angle between A \vec{A} & B \vec{B} we should use dot product of two vectors.

\implies A . B = A B c o s θ \vec{A}.\vec{B} = |\vec{A}||\vec{B}|cos\theta

\implies a b + b c + c a = ( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ) ( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ) c o s θ ab+bc+ca = (\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2})(\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2})cos\theta

\implies c o s θ 1 2 cos\theta \ge \frac{-1}{2}

Hence maximum possible value of θ [ 0 , π ] \theta \in [0,\pi] is 12 0 o \boxed{120^o}

Thanks for sharing the problem. I quite enjoyed attempting it. No offense, but don't you think that perhaps you could show what you did in the last three steps in slightly greater detail? As in just elaborate on the last three steps as it's not really clear what you did, especially for the last two steps. These are just suggestions. Thanks very much!

User 123 - 6 years, 2 months ago

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Also, in the second-last step, how did you just remove i ^ , j ^ \hat{i}, \hat{j} and k ^ \hat{k} ?

User 123 - 6 years, 2 months ago

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That is because i ^ . j ^ , i ^ . k ^ , j ^ . k ^ . . . . . = 0 \hat{i}.\hat{j} , \hat{i}.\hat{k},\hat{j}.\hat{k}.....=0 And i ^ . i ^ = j ^ . j ^ = k ^ . k ^ = 1 \hat{i}.\hat{i}=\hat{j}.\hat{j}=\hat{k}.\hat{k}=1

Samarpit Swain - 6 years, 2 months ago

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@Samarpit Swain I know that. I just meant to suggest that he could have written this in his solution too. Aachchaa, could you just check the comments in Extrema can be Easy ? Or simply reshare it so that people can report the question if there are problems with it. I think I've ironed out the flaws in the question...

User 123 - 6 years, 2 months ago

Lol guessed it!

Rushikesh Joshi - 6 years, 2 months ago

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