Let a, b be two vectors, and let P, Q and R be the points with position vectors a, b and a+ b, respectively, with respect to the origin O. If | a+ b|= 21, | a- b|=3, and a and ( a- b) are perpendicular to each other, then the area of the triangle OPR is
- 3
- 32
- 3 32
- 32
Answer
(3) 3 32
Solution
Area of OPR= 12| a ( a+ b)|= 12| a b|.
a ( a- b)=0 | a|2= a b.
Adding | a+ b|2=21 and | a- b|2=9: | a|2+| b|2=15; subtracting: 4 a b=12 a b=3.
So | a|2=3, | b|2=12, and | a b|2=3 12-32=27 | a b|=3 3.
Area = 3 32.
Answer: (C)