MCQ
If $a,\,\,b,\,\,c$ are non-coplanar vectors and $ \lambda$ is a real number, then the vectors $a + 2b + 3c,\,\lambda \,b + 4c$ and $(2\lambda - 1)c$ are non-coplanar for
  • A
    No value of $\lambda$
  • B
    All except one value of $\lambda$
  • All except two values of $\lambda$
  • D
    All values of $\lambda$

Answer

Correct option: C.
All except two values of $\lambda$
c
(c) $\because $ As $a,\,\,b,\,\,c$ are non coplanar vectors

$[a\,b\,c] \ne 0$.

Now $a + 2b + 3c,\,\,\,\lambda b + 4c$ and $(2\lambda - 1)c$ will be non- coplanor, iff $(a + 2b + 3c).\{ \lambda b + 4c) \times (2\lambda - 1)c\} \ne 0$

i.e., $(a + 2b + 3c)\{ \lambda (2\lambda - 1)(b \times c)\} \ne 0$

i.e., $\lambda (2\lambda - 1)[a\,b\,c] \ne 0$, .? $\lambda \ne 0,\frac{1}{2}$

Thus given vectors will be non-coplanar for all values of $\lambda $ except two values, $\lambda = 0$ and $\lambda = 1/2$.

Trick : For coplanarity, $\left| {\,\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}1&2&3\\0&\lambda &4\\0&0&{2\lambda - 1}\end{array}\,} \right| = 0 \Rightarrow \lambda = 0,\,\frac{1}{2}$

$\therefore $ All values except two values of $\lambda $ = $0,$  $\frac{1}{2}$.

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