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Question 62

Let $$Z_1$$ and $$Z_2$$ be any two complex number. Statement 1: $$|Z_1 - Z_2| \geq |Z_1| - |Z_2|$$ Statement 2: $$|Z_1 + Z_2| \leq |Z_1| + |Z_2|$$

Solution

The two inequalities used in the question are standard results for vectors (hence also for complex numbers regarded as vectors in the Argand plane).

Statement 2: $$|Z_1+Z_2|\le |Z_1|+|Z_2|$$

This is the ordinary triangle inequality.
Geometrically, the length of one side of a triangle (the vector $$Z_1+Z_2$$) cannot exceed the sum of the lengths of the other two sides (the vectors $$Z_1$$ and $$Z_2$$).
Algebraically, representing $$Z_1$$ and $$Z_2$$ by their coordinates and squaring both sides confirms the result.
Therefore Statement 2 is always true.

Statement 1: $$|Z_1-Z_2|\ge |Z_1|-|Z_2|$$

This is the reverse triangle inequality.
Start from the triangle inequality applied to $$Z_1$$ and $$-Z_2$$:

$$|Z_1- Z_2|\le |Z_1|+|-Z_2|=|Z_1|+|Z_2|$$ $$-(1)$$

Interchange $$Z_1$$ and $$Z_2$$ in $$-(1)$$ to get

$$|Z_2- Z_1|\le |Z_2|+|Z_1|$$

But $$|Z_2-Z_1|=|Z_1-Z_2|$$, so $$-(1)$$ is symmetric and provides no new information.
To obtain the reverse form, write the triangle inequality for $$Z_1$$ and $$Z_2$$ in the alternative way:

$$|Z_1| = |(Z_1-Z_2)+Z_2|\le |Z_1-Z_2|+|Z_2|$$

Re-arranging gives $$|Z_1|-|Z_2|\le |Z_1-Z_2|$$.
If $$|Z_1| \lt |Z_2|$$, then $$|Z_1|-|Z_2|$$ is negative while $$|Z_1-Z_2|\ge 0$$, so the inequality is still satisfied.
Thus Statement 1 is also always true.

Are the statements logically connected as explanation ↔ result?
Statement 2 states the ordinary triangle inequality, whereas Statement 1 states the reverse triangle inequality. Although both arise from the geometry of a triangle, Statement 2 does not logically imply Statement 1, nor is Statement 1 derived by a direct application of Statement 2 alone. They are therefore independent truths rather than an explanation-conclusion pair.

Hence the correct choice is:
Option B which is: Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is true, Statement 2 is not a correct explanation of Statement 1.

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