Question Details

If a + b + c = 0 and |a| = 3, |b| = 5, |c| = 7 , then the angle between a and b is

Options

A

π2

B

π3

C

π4

D

π6

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option B

π3

Solution :

The correct option is:
π3

Step-by-step Derivation:

We are given the vector equation:
a + b + c = 0
We are also given the magnitudes of the vectors:
|a| = 3 , |b| = 5 , |c| = 7

To find the angle between vectors a and b, we can rearrange the given vector equation to isolate the vector c on one side:
a + b = c

Next, we take the dot product of each side with itself (which is equivalent to squaring the magnitude of both sides):
| a + b | 2 = | c | 2
Using the properties of the vector dot product, we can expand the left-hand side:
| a | 2 + | b | 2 + 2 ( a · b ) = | c | 2

Recall that the dot product of two vectors is defined as:
a · b = | a | | b | cos θ
where θ is the angle between vectors a and b. Substituting this definition into our expanded equation, we get:
| a | 2 + | b | 2 + 2 | a | | b | cos θ = | c | 2

Now, we substitute the given numerical magnitudes into the equation:
3 2 + 5 2 + 2 ( 3 ) ( 5 ) cos θ = 7 2

Simplify each term:
9 + 25 + 30 cos θ = 49
34 + 30 cos θ = 49

Subtract 34 from both sides to isolate the term containing cosθ:
30 cos θ = 49 34
30 cos θ = 15

Divide by 30:
cos θ = 15 30 = 1 2

Since the angle θ between two vectors lies in the interval [0,π], we find the principal value:
θ = arccos ( 1 2 ) = π 3
Therefore, the angle between the vectors is π3 radians (or 60°).

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