Let AA, BB, CC be three points in xyxy -plane, whose position vectors are given by 3i^+j^\sqrt{3} \hat{i}+\hat{j}, i^+3j^\hat{i}+\sqrt{3} \hat{j} and ai^+(1−a)j^a \hat{i}+(1-a) \hat{j} respectively with respect to the origin OO. If the distance of the point CC from the line bisecting the angle between the vectors OA⃗\vec{OA} and OB⃗\vec{OB} is θ2\frac{\theta}{\sqrt{2}}, then the sum of all the possible values of aa is:

Answer: 1

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Find the unit vectors and angle bisector

First, we find the unit vectors along OA⃗\vec{OA} and OB⃗\vec{OB}. The magnitude of OA⃗\vec{OA} is (3)2+12=3+1=2\sqrt{(\sqrt{3})^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{3+1} = 2, and similarly for OB⃗\vec{OB}. The vector along the angle bisector of OA⃗\vec{OA} and OB⃗\vec{OB} is given by the sum of their unit vectors. We denote this bisector vector as d⃗\vec{d}.

Step 2: Determine the equation of the angle bisector line

From the previous step, we see that the angle bisector vector d⃗\vec{d} is proportional to i^+j^\hat{i} + \hat{j}. This means the line passes through the origin and has a slope of 1. Therefore, the equation of the line bisecting the angle between OA⃗\vec{OA} and OB⃗\vec{OB} is x−y=0x - y = 0.

Step 3: Calculate the distance from point C to the line

The position vector of point CC is ai^+(1−a)j^a\hat{i} + (1-a)\hat{j}, so its coordinates are (a,1−a)(a, 1-a). We use the formula for the distance from a point (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) to a line Ax+By+C=0Ax + By + C = 0, which is ∣Ax1+By1+C∣A2+B2\frac{|Ax_1 + By_1 + C|}{\sqrt{A^2 + B^2}}. Substituting the coordinates of CC and the line equation x−y=0x - y = 0, we get the distance as ∣a−(1−a)∣12+(−1)2\frac{|a - (1-a)|}{\sqrt{1^2 + (-1)^2}}.

Step 4: Solve for 'a' using the given distance

The problem states that the distance of point CC from the line is 32\frac{3}{\sqrt{2}}. We equate our calculated distance to this given value. This leads to an absolute value equation, ∣2a−1∣=3|2a - 1| = 3, which can be split into two linear equations: 2a−1=32a - 1 = 3 and 2a−1=−32a - 1 = -3.

Step 5: Find the possible values of 'a' and their sum

Solving the first equation, 2a−1=32a - 1 = 3, we get 2a=42a = 4, so a=2a = 2. Solving the second equation, 2a−1=−32a - 1 = -3, we get 2a=−22a = -2, so a=−1a = -1. The sum of all possible values of aa is 2+(−1)=12 + (-1) = 1.

More from this chapter

All Vector Algebra solutions →

Solve your own maths question free →