Let a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} be two unit vectors such that the angle between them is π3\frac{\pi}{3}. If λa⃗+2b⃗\lambda \vec{a} + 2 \vec{b} and 3a⃗−λb⃗3 \vec{a} - \lambda \vec{b} are perpendicular to each other, then the number of values of λ\lambda in [−1,3][-1{,}3] is:

Answer: 0

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Understand Given Information

We are given that a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} are unit vectors, which means their magnitudes are 1. The angle between them is given as π3\frac{\pi}{3} radians. This information will be used to calculate their dot product.

Step 2: Calculate Dot Product of Vectors a and b

The dot product of two vectors is defined as the product of their magnitudes and the cosine of the angle between them. Substituting the given values, we find that the dot product of a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} is 12\frac{1}{2}.

Step 3: Apply Perpendicularity Condition

Two vectors are perpendicular if and only if their dot product is zero. We set the dot product of the two given vectors, (λa⃗+2b⃗)(\lambda \vec{a} + 2 \vec{b}) and (3a⃗−λb⃗)(3 \vec{a} - \lambda \vec{b}), equal to zero.

Step 4: Expand and Solve the Equation for Lambda

We expand the dot product using the distributive property. We know that a⃗⋅a⃗=∣a⃗∣2\vec{a} \cdot \vec{a} = |\vec{a}|^2 and b⃗⋅b⃗=∣b⃗∣2\vec{b} \cdot \vec{b} = |\vec{b}|^2. Substituting the magnitudes and the dot product a⃗⋅b⃗=12\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \frac{1}{2}, we simplify the equation to a quadratic equation in terms of λ\lambda.

Step 5: Solve the Quadratic Equation for Lambda

We use the quadratic formula λ=−b±b2−4ac2a\lambda = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} to solve for λ\lambda. The two values obtained are 1+71 + \sqrt{7} and 1−71 - \sqrt{7}.

Step 6: Check Values of Lambda in the Given Interval

We approximate the values of λ\lambda to check if they fall within the interval [−1,3][-1, 3]. We find that 1+7≈3.6461 + \sqrt{7} \approx 3.646 and 1−7≈−1.6461 - \sqrt{7} \approx -1.646. Neither of these values lies within the interval [−1,3][-1, 3].

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