MCQ
The unit vector perpendicular to the plane passing through points $\text{P}\big(\hat{\text{i}}-\hat{\text{j}}+2\hat{\text{k}}\big),\text{Q}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}-\hat{\text{k}}\big)$ and $\text{R}\big(2\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$ is:
  • A
    $2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}$
  • B
    $\sqrt{6}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$
  • $\frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$
  • D
    $\frac{1}{6}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$

Answer

Correct option: C.
$\frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$
The vector $\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}$ is perpendicular to the vectors $\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}.$
$\therefore$ Required unit vector $=\frac{\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}}{\big|\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}\big|}$
Now,
$\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}=\text{P.V}\text{ of }\text{Q}-\text{P.V}.\text{ of P}$
$=\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}}$
$\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}=\text{P.V}\text{ of }\text{R}-\text{P.V}.\text{ of P}$
$=-\hat{\text{i}}+3\hat{\text{j}}-\hat{\text{k}}$
$\therefore\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}=\begin{vmatrix}\hat{\text{i}}&\hat{\text{j}}&\hat{\text{k}}\\1&1&-3\\-1&3&-1 \end{vmatrix}$
$=8\hat{\text{i}}+4\hat{\text{j}}+4\hat{\text{k}}$
$=4\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$
$\Rightarrow\big|\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}\big|=\sqrt{64+16+16}$
$=\sqrt{96}$
$=4\sqrt{6}$
Required unit vector $=\frac{\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}}{\big|\overrightarrow{\text{PQ}}\times\overrightarrow{\text{PR}}\big|}$
$=\frac{4\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)}{4\sqrt{6}}$
$=\frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\big(2\hat{\text{i}}+\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}\big)$

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