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Relative to an origin O, the position vector of A is 41-2j and the position rector of B is λi +2j. The unit vector in the direction of AB is 0.31 +0.4j. Find the value of λ.

User Rudra Shah
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

λ = -37.9

Explanation:

The position vector of A is given by 41-2j, which means that point A has coordinates (41, -2) relative to the origin O. Similarly, the position vector of B is given by λi +2j, which means that point B has coordinates (λ, 2) relative to the origin O.

The vector AB is given by the difference between the position vectors of B and A:

AB = (λi + 2j) - (41 - 2j)

= (λi + 4j) - 41

The unit vector in the direction of AB is given as 0.31 + 0.4j. Since this is a unit vector, its length is equal to 1, which means we can find the length of AB as follows:

|AB| = |0.31 + 0.4j| * |(λi + 4j) - 41|

= 1 * |(λi + 4j) - 41|

= |(λi + 4j) - 41|

We know that the direction of AB is in the same direction as the vector (λi + 4j) - 41, which means that we can find a scalar multiple k such that:

0.31 + 0.4j = k * [(λi + 4j) - 41]

Expanding this equation, we get:

0.31 + 0.4j = kλi + 4kj - 41k

Since the left-hand side is a complex number, we must equate the real and imaginary parts separately. Equating the real parts gives:

0.31 = kλ - 41k

Equating the imaginary parts gives:

0.4 = 4kj

Since we want to find the value of λ, we can solve for k in the second equation:

k = 0.1/j = -0.1i

Substituting this value of k into the first equation, we get:

0.31 = -0.1λi + 4(-0.1i)(2) - 41(-0.1i)

Simplifying this equation, we get:

0.31 = -0.1λi - 0.8i + 4.1i

Equating the real and imaginary parts separately, we get:

-0.1λ = 3.79 (real parts)

-0.8 + 4.1 = 3.3i (imaginary parts)

Solving for λ, we get:

λ = -37.9

Therefore, the value of λ is -37.9.

User MeanEYE
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