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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
If vectors $2 \mathrm{i}-\mathrm{j}+\mathrm{k}, \mathrm{i}+2 \mathrm{j}-3 \mathrm{k}$ and $3 \mathrm{i}+\mathrm{aj}+5 \mathrm{k}$ are

coplanar, then the value of a is
MathematicsVector AlgebraBITSATBITSAT 2013
Options:
  • A 2
  • B -2
  • C -1
  • D -4
Solution:
1630 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: -4
If given vectors are coplanar, then there exists two scalar quantities $\mathrm{x}$ and $\mathrm{y}$ such that $2 \hat{i}-\hat{j}+\hat{k}=x(\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}-3 \hat{k})+y(3 \hat{i}+a \hat{j}+5 \hat{k})$

Comparing coefficient of $\hat{i}, \hat{j}$ and $\hat{k}$ on both sides of (1) we get $x+3 y=2,2 x+a y=-1,-3 x+5 y=1 \ldots(2)$

Solving first and third equations, we get $\mathrm{x}=1 / 2, \mathrm{y}=1 / 2$

Since the vectors are coplanar, therefore these values of $x$ and $y$ will satisfy the equation $2 x+a y=-1$

$\therefore 2(1 / 2)+a(1 / 2)=-1 \Rightarrow a=-4$

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