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Vector Algebra

Question
CBSEENMA12034003

If the sum of two unit vectors is a unit vector, show that the magnitude of their difference is square root of 3

Solution

Let straight a with rightwards arrow on top space equals space straight x subscript 1 straight i with hat on top space plus space straight y subscript 1 straight j with hat on top space plus space straight z subscript 1 straight k with hat on top comma space space straight b with rightwards arrow on top space equals space straight a with rightwards arrow on top space equals straight x subscript 2 straight i with hat on top space space plus space straight y subscript 2 space straight j with hat on top space plus space straight z subscript 2 straight k with hat on top  be two units vectors such that 
straight a with rightwards arrow on top plus straight b with rightwards arrow on top is also a unit vector. 
therefore space space space space open vertical bar straight a with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1 comma space space space open vertical bar straight b with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1 comma space space space open vertical bar straight a with rightwards arrow on top plus straight b with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1
          open vertical bar straight a with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1 space space space space rightwards double arrow space space space space square root of straight x subscript 1 squared plus straight y subscript 1 squared plus straight z subscript 1 squared end root space equals space 1 space space space space space rightwards double arrow space space space space straight x subscript 1 squared plus space straight y subscript 1 squared plus straight z subscript 1 squared space equals space 1 space space space space space space... left parenthesis 1 right parenthesis
open vertical bar straight b with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1 space rightwards double arrow space space space square root of straight x subscript 2 squared plus straight y subscript 2 squared plus straight z subscript 2 squared end root space equals space 1 space space space space space space space space space space rightwards double arrow space space straight x subscript 2 squared plus straight y subscript 2 squared plus straight z subscript 2 squared space equals space 1 space space space space space space space space space space... left parenthesis 2 right parenthesis
open vertical bar straight a with rightwards arrow on top space plus space straight b with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space 1 space space rightwards double arrow space space space space square root of left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 plus straight x subscript 2 right parenthesis squared space plus space left parenthesis straight y subscript 1 plus straight y subscript 2 right parenthesis squared plus left parenthesis straight z subscript 1 plus straight z subscript 2 right parenthesis squared end root space equals space 1
rightwards double arrow space space space space space left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 plus straight x subscript 2 right parenthesis squared plus space left parenthesis straight y subscript 1 plus straight y subscript 2 right parenthesis squared space plus space left parenthesis straight z subscript 1 plus straight z subscript 2 right parenthesis squared space equals space 1
rightwards double arrow space space space space left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 squared plus straight y subscript 1 squared plus straight z subscript 1 squared right parenthesis space plus space left parenthesis straight x subscript 2 squared plus straight y subscript 2 squared plus straight z subscript 2 squared right parenthesis space plus space 2 left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 straight x subscript 2 plus straight y subscript 1 straight y subscript 2 plus straight y subscript 1 plus straight z subscript 1 straight z subscript 2 right parenthesis space equals 1
rightwards double arrow space space space 1 plus 1 plus 2 space left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 straight x subscript 2 space plus space straight y subscript 1 straight y subscript 2 plus straight z subscript 1 straight z subscript 2 right parenthesis space equals space minus 1 space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space... left parenthesis 3 right parenthesis
Now comma space open vertical bar straight a with rightwards arrow on top minus space straight b with rightwards arrow on top close vertical bar space equals space square root of left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 minus straight x subscript 2 right parenthesis squared plus left parenthesis straight y subscript 1 minus straight y subscript 2 right parenthesis squared plus left parenthesis straight z subscript 1 minus straight z subscript 2 right parenthesis squared end root
space space space space equals space square root of left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 squared plus straight y subscript 1 squared plus straight y subscript 1 squared right parenthesis space plus space left parenthesis straight x subscript 2 squared plus straight y subscript 2 squared plus straight z subscript 2 squared right parenthesis space minus space 2 left parenthesis straight x subscript 1 straight x subscript 2 plus straight y subscript 1 straight y subscript 2 plus straight z subscript 1 straight z subscript space 2 end subscript right parenthesis end root
space space space space equals space square root of 1 plus 1 plus 1 end root space equals space square root of 3 space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space left square bracket because space of space left parenthesis 1 right parenthesis comma space left parenthesis 2 right parenthesis comma space left parenthesis 3 right parenthesis right square bracket space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space