# Examples On Vector Dot Product Set-2

Go back to  'Vectors and 3-D Geometry'

Example – 19

Let AD, BE and CF be the medians in $$\Delta ABC$$ . Prove that

$\overrightarrow {BC} \cdot \overrightarrow {AD} + \overrightarrow {CA} \cdot \overrightarrow {BE} + \overrightarrow {AB} \cdot \overrightarrow {CF} = 0$

Solutions:

Since D is the mid-point of BC, we have

\begin{align}&\quad\qquad\quad \; D \equiv \left( {\frac{{\vec b + \vec c}}{2}} \right) \hfill \\\\& \Rightarrow \qquad \overrightarrow {AD} = ({\text{Position}}\;\,{\text{vector}}\;\,{\text{of}}\;\vec D) - ({\text{Position}}\;\,{\text{vector}}\;\,{\text{of}}\;\vec A) \hfill \\\\&\quad\qquad\qquad = \frac{{\vec b + \vec c}}{2} - \vec a \hfill \\\\& \quad\qquad\qquad = \frac{1}{2}(\vec b + \vec c - 2\vec a) \hfill \\ \end{align}

Thus,

\begin{align} &\overrightarrow {BC} \cdot \overrightarrow {AD} = \frac{1}{2}(\vec c - \vec b) \cdot (\vec b + \vec c - 2\vec a) \hfill \\\\ &\qquad\qquad= \frac{1}{2}\left( {{{\left| {\vec c} \right|}^2} - {{\left| {\vec b} \right|}^2} + 2\vec a \cdot (\vec b - \vec c)} \right)\quad\qquad\qquad...\left( 1 \right) \hfill \\ \end{align}

Similarly,

\begin{align}&\overrightarrow {CA} \cdot \overrightarrow {BE} = \frac{1}{2}\left( {{{\left| {\vec a} \right|}^2} - {{\left| {\vec c} \right|}^2} + 2\vec b \cdot (\vec c - \vec a)} \right)\qquad\qquad...\left( 2 \right) \hfill \\\\& \overrightarrow {AB} \cdot \overrightarrow {CF} = \frac{1}{2}\left( {{{\left| {\vec b} \right|}^2} - {{\left| {\vec a} \right|}^2} + 2\vec c \cdot (\vec a - \vec b)} \right)\qquad\qquad...\left( 3 \right) \hfill \\ \end{align}

It is now immediately apparent that the right hand sides (1), (2) and (3) sum to zero. Thus, the stated assertion is true.

Example – 20

Prove that the altitudes in a triangle are concurrent.

Solution: Assume the three vertices of the triangle to be A, B and C.

Assume H to be the origin  $$\vec 0$$ and A, B, C to have the position vectors  $$\vec a,\vec b,\vec c,$$ .

Since  $$AH \bot BC,$$ we have

\begin{align}& \qquad\;\vec a \cdot (\vec b - \vec c) = 0 \hfill \\\\& \Rightarrow \quad \vec a \cdot \vec b = \vec a \cdot \vec c\qquad\qquad\qquad...\left( 1 \right) \hfill \\ \end{align}

Similarly, since $$BH \bot AC$$ ,

\begin{align} &\qquad\;\; \vec b \cdot (\vec c - \vec a) = 0 \hfill \\\\ & \Rightarrow \quad \vec a \cdot \vec b = \vec b \cdot \vec c\qquad\qquad\qquad...\left( 2 \right) \hfill \\ \end{align}

From (1) and (2), we have

\begin{align}& \qquad\;\;\vec a \cdot \vec c = \vec b \cdot \vec c \hfill \\\\& \Rightarrow \quad (\vec a - \vec b) \cdot \vec c = 0 \hfill \\\\&\Rightarrow \quad CH \bot AB \hfill \\ \end{align}

Thus, the altitude through C passes through H, implying that the three altitudes are concurrent.

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grade 11 | Questions Set 1
Vectors
grade 11 | Answers Set 1
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grade 11 | Questions Set 2
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grade 11 | Answers Set 2
Three Dimensional Geometry
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