Question Video: Determining the Relation between Two Vectors | Nagwa Question Video: Determining the Relation between Two Vectors | Nagwa

Question Video: Determining the Relation between Two Vectors Mathematics • Third Year of Secondary School

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Which of the following is true of the vectors 𝚨 = βŒ©βˆ’3, 7, βˆ’8βŒͺ and 𝚩 = βŒ©βˆ’6, βˆ’1, βˆ’1βŒͺ? [A] They are parallel. [B] They are perpendicular. [C] They are neither parallel nor perpendicular.

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Video Transcript

Which of the following is true of the vectors 𝚨 equal to negative three, seven, negative eight and 𝚩 negative six, negative one, negative one. Is it (A) they are parallel, (B) they are perpendicular, or (C) they are neither parallel nor perpendicular?

In order to answer this question, we need to recall the properties of two vectors when they’re parallel or perpendicular. Two vectors are parallel if vector 𝚨 is equal to π‘˜ multiplied by vector 𝚩, where π‘˜ is a scalar quantity not equal to zero. This means that each of their components must be multiplied by the same scalar.

In this question, the value of π‘˜ would have to satisfy the three equations. Negative three is equal to negative six π‘˜, seven is equal to negative one π‘˜, and negative eight is equal to negative one π‘˜. It is clear from the second and third equation that this will not be correct, as negative one π‘˜ cannot be equal to seven and negative eight. Dividing both sides of the bottom equation by negative one gives us π‘˜ is equal to eight, whereas dividing both sides of the second equation by negative one gives us π‘˜ is equal to negative seven. If we divide both sides of the top equation by negative six, we get π‘˜ is equal to one-half.

As the value of π‘˜ is not the same for all three equations, we can conclude that vector 𝚨 is not equal to a scalar quantity π‘˜ multiplied by vector 𝚩. This means that the two vectors are not parallel and option (A) is incorrect.

We know that two vectors are perpendicular if their dot product is equal to zero. We calculate the dot product of two vectors by firstly multiplying their corresponding components. We then find the sum of these three values. Negative three multiplied by negative six is equal to 18. Seven multiplied by negative one is negative seven. And adding this is the same as subtracting seven. Finally, negative eight multiplied by negative one is equal to eight. The dot product of vector 𝚨 and vector 𝚩 is equal to 18 minus seven plus eight. This is equal to 19.

As this is not equal to zero, the dot product of vector 𝚨 and vector 𝚩 is not equal to zero. We can, therefore, conclude that the two vectors are not perpendicular, so option (B) is also incorrect. The correct answer is, therefore, option (C). Vector 𝚨 and vector 𝚩 are neither parallel nor perpendicular.

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