Join WhatsApp Icon JEE WhatsApp Group

JEE Vector Algebra Questions

Question 1

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}=-\widehat{i}+2\widehat{j}+2\widehat{k},\overrightarrow{b}=8\widehat{i}+7\widehat{j}-3\widehat{k} \text { and } \overrightarrow{c}$$ be a vector such that $$\overrightarrow{a}\times\overrightarrow{c}=\overrightarrow{b}$$. If $$\overrightarrow{c}\cdot(\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}+\widehat{k})=4$$, then $$\mid\overrightarrow{a}+\overrightarrow{c}\mid^{2}$$ is equal to :

Video Solution
Question 2

Let $$\overrightarrow{c} \text{ and } \overrightarrow{d}$$ be vectors such that $$\mid\overrightarrow{c}+\overrightarrow{d}\mid=\sqrt{29}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{c}\times( 2\widehat{i}+3\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k})=(2\widehat{i}+3\widehat{j}+4\widehat{k})\times\overrightarrow{d}$$. If $$\lambda_{1}, \lambda_{2}( \lambda_{1}> \lambda_{2})$$ are the possible values of $$(\overrightarrow{c}+\overrightarrow{d})\cdot(-7\widehat{i}+2\widehat{j}+3\overrightarrow{k})$$, then the equation $$K^{2}x^{2}+(K^{2}-5K+\lambda_{1})xy+\left(3K+\frac{\lambda_{2}}{2} \right)y^{2}-8x+12y+\lambda_{2}=0$$ represents a circle, for K equal to :

Question 3

For three unit vectors $$\overrightarrow{a},\overrightarrow{b},\overrightarrow{c}$$ satisfying $$|\overrightarrow{a}-\overrightarrow{b}|^{2}+|\overrightarrow{b}-\overrightarrow{c}|^{2}+|\overrightarrow{c}-\overrightarrow{a}|^{2}=9$$ and $$|2\overrightarrow{a}+k\overrightarrow{b}+k\overrightarrow{c}|=3$$. the positive value of k is

Video Solution
Question 4

If $$\vec{a}$$ and $$\vec{b}$$ are two vectors such that $$|\vec{a}| = 2$$ and $$|\vec{b}| = 3$$, then the maximum value of $$3|3\vec{a} + 2\vec{b}| + 4|3\vec{a} - 2\vec{b}|$$ is :

Question 5

Let the vectors $$\vec{a} = -\hat{i} + \hat{j} + 3\hat{k}$$ and $$\vec{b} = \hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + \hat{k}$$. For some $$\lambda, \mu \in \mathbb{R}$$, let $$\vec{c} = \lambda\vec{a} + \mu\vec{b}$$. If $$\vec{c} \cdot (3\hat{i} - 6\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}) = 10$$ and $$\vec{c} \cdot (\hat{i} + \hat{j} + \hat{k}) = -2$$, then $$|\vec{c}|^2$$ is equal to :

Question 6

Let $$\vec{a} = 4\hat{i} - \hat{j} + 3\hat{k}$$, $$\vec{b} = 10\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - \hat{k}$$ and a vector $$\vec{c}$$ be such that $$2(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}) + 3(\vec{b} \times \vec{c}) = \vec{0}$$. If $$\vec{a} \cdot \vec{c} = 15$$, then $$\vec{c} \cdot (\hat{i} + \hat{j} - 3\hat{k})$$ is equal to :

Question 7

Let $$\vec{a} = \sqrt{7}\hat{i} + \hat{j} - \hat{k}$$ and $$\vec{b} = \hat{j} + 2\hat{k}$$. If $$\vec{r}$$ is a vector such that $$\vec{r} \times \vec{a} + \vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{0}$$ and $$\vec{r} \cdot \vec{a} = 0$$, then $$|3\vec{r}|^2$$ is equal to :

Question 8

Let $$\hat{u}$$ and $$\hat{v}$$ be unit vectors inclined at acute angle such that $$|\hat{u} \times \hat{v}| = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$$. If $$\vec{A} = \lambda\hat{u} + \hat{v} + (\hat{u} \times \hat{v})$$, then $$\lambda$$ is equal to :

Question 9

Let $$\vec{a} = 2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}$$ and $$\vec{b} = 6\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}$$. Then the square of the area of the triangle with adjacent sides determined by the vectors $$(2\vec{a} + 3\vec{b})$$ and $$(\vec{a} - \vec{b})$$ is :

Question 10

Let $$O$$ be the origin, $$\overrightarrow{OP} = \vec{a}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{OQ} = \vec{b}$$.If $$R$$ is the point on $$\overrightarrow{OP}$$ such that $$\overrightarrow{OP} = 5\overrightarrow{OR}$$, and $$M$$ is the point such that $$\overrightarrow{OQ} = 5\overrightarrow{RM}$$. Then $$\overrightarrow{PM}$$ is equal to :

Question 11

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}=2\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}-2\widehat{k}, \overrightarrow{b}=\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}\text{ and }\overrightarrow{c}=\overrightarrow{a}\times \overrightarrow{b}$$. Let $$\overrightarrow{d}$$ be a vector such that $$|\overrightarrow{d}-\overrightarrow{a}|=\sqrt{11},|\overrightarrow{c}\times \overrightarrow{d}|=3$$ and the angle between $$\overrightarrow{c}\text{ and }\overrightarrow{d}$$ is $$\frac{\pi}{4}$$. Then $$\overrightarrow{a}. \overrightarrow{d}$$ is equal to

Question 12

Let $$\overrightarrow{a},\overrightarrow{b},\overrightarrow{c}$$ be three vectors such that $$\overrightarrow{a}\times\overrightarrow{b}=2(\overrightarrow{a}\times\overrightarrow{c}).$$ If $$ \mid \overrightarrow{a}\mid, \mid\overrightarrow{b}\mid = 4, \mid \overrightarrow{c}\mid = 2,$$ and the angle between $$\overrightarrow{b}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{c}$$ is $$60^{o}$$, then $$\mid\overrightarrow{a}\cdot\overrightarrow{c}$$ is

Question 13

Two adjacent sides of a parallelogram $$PQRS$$ are given by $$\vec{PQ} = \hat{j} + \hat{k}$$ and $$\vec{PS} = \hat{i} - \hat{j}$$. If the side $$PS$$ is rotated about the point $$P$$ by an acute angle $$\alpha$$ in the plane of the parallelogram so that it becomes perpendicular to the side $$PQ$$, then $$\sin^2\left(\frac{5\alpha}{2}\right) - \sin^2\left(\frac{\alpha}{2}\right)$$ is equal to :

Question 14

Let $$(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)$$ be the co-ordinates of the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point (5, 4, 2) on the line $$\overrightarrow{r}=(-\widehat{i}+3\widehat{j}+\widehat{k})+\lambda(2\widehat{i}+3\widehat{j}-\widehat{k}).$$ Then the length of the projection of the vector $$\alpha\widehat{i}+\beta\widehat{j}+\gamma\widehat{k}$$ on the vector $$6\widehat{i}+2\widehat{j}+3\widehat{k}$$ is:

Question 15

Let $$\overrightarrow{AB} = 2\widehat{i}+4\widehat{j}-5\widehat{k}$$ and $$ \overrightarrow{AD} = \widehat{i}+2\widehat{j}+\lambda\widehat{k}, \lambda\text{ }\epsilon \text{ } R$$. Let the projection of the vector $$ \overrightarrow{v}=\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}+\widehat{k}$$ on the disgonal $$\overrightarrow{AC}$$ of the parallelogram ABCD be of length one unit. If $$\alpha> \beta$$, be the roots of the equation $$\lambda^{2}x^{2}-6\lambda x+5=0$$, then $$2\alpha-\beta$$ is equal to

Question 16

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}=\widehat{i}-2\widehat{j}+3\widehat{k}, \overrightarrow{b}=2\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}-\widehat{k}, \overrightarrow{c}=\lambda \widehat{i}+\widehat{j}+\widehat{k}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{v}= \overrightarrow{a} \times \overrightarrow{b}$$. If $$\overrightarrow{v}\cdot\overrightarrow{c}=11$$ and the length of the projection of $$\overrightarrow{b}$$ on $$\overrightarrow{c}$$ is p, then $$9p^{2}$$ is equal to

Question 17

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}= 2\widehat{i}-\widehat{j}+\widehat{k}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{b}= \lambda \widehat{j}+2\widehat{k}, \lambda\in Z$$ be two vectors. Let $$\overrightarrow{c}= \overrightarrow{a} \times \overrightarrow{b} \text{and } \overrightarrow{d}$$ be a vector of magnitude 2 in yz-plane. If $$|\overrightarrow{c}|=\sqrt{53}$$, then the maximum possible value of $$\left(\overrightarrow{c}\cdot\overrightarrow{d}\right)^{2}$$ is equal to :

Question 18

Let PQR be a triangle such that $$\overrightarrow{PQ}=-2\widehat{i}-\widehat{j}+2\widehat{k}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{PR}=a\widehat{i}+b\widehat{j}-4\widehat{k},a,b \in Z$$. Let S be the point on QR, which is equidistant from the lines PQ and PR. If $$|\overrightarrow{PR}|=9$$ and $$\overrightarrow{PS}=\widehat{i}-7\widehat{j}+2\widehat{k}$$, then the value of 3a - 4b is_______

Question 19

If $$\vec{a} = \hat{i} + \hat{j} + \hat{k}$$, $$\vec{b} = \hat{j} - \hat{k}$$ and $$\vec{c}$$ be three vectors such that $$\vec{a} \times \vec{c} = \vec{b}$$ and $$\vec{a} \cdot \vec{c} = 3$$, then $$\vec{c} \cdot (\vec{a} - 2\vec{b})$$ is equal to _______.

Question 20

Let $$\vec{a_k} = (\tan\theta_k)\hat{i} + \hat{j}$$ and $$\vec{b_k} = \hat{i} - (\cot\theta_k)\hat{j}$$, where $$\theta_k = \frac{2^{k-1}\pi}{2^n + 1}$$, for some $$n \in \mathbb{N}$$, $$n > 5$$. Then the value of $$\frac{\sum_{k=1}^{n}|\vec{a_k}|^2}{\sum_{k=1}^{n}|\vec{b_k}|^2}$$ is _____.

Question 21

Let $$\vec{a},\vec{b}$$ be two vectors, and let $$P,Q$$ and $$R$$ be the points with position vectors $$\vec{a}$$, $$\vec{b}$$ and $$\vec{a}+\vec{b}$$, respectively, with respect to the origin $$O$$. If $$|\vec{a}+\vec{b}|=\sqrt{21}$$, $$|\vec{a}-\vec{b}|=3$$, and $$\vec{a}$$ and $$(\vec{a}-\vec{b})$$ are perpendicular to each other, then the area of the triangle $$OPR$$ is

Question 22

For real numbers $$\alpha,\beta,\gamma,\delta$$ and $$\mu$$, consider the matrix $$M=\begin{bmatrix}\alpha&\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}&-\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\\[2pt]\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}&\beta&\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\\[2pt]\gamma&\delta&\mu\end{bmatrix}.$$

Suppose that $$MM^{T}=I$$, where $$M^{T}$$ is the transpose of $$M$$ and $$I$$ is the $$3\times 3$$ identity matrix. Let $$\vec{u}=\alpha\hat{i}+\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\hat{j}+\gamma\hat{k},\quad \vec{v}=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\hat{i}+\beta\hat{j}+\delta\hat{k},\quad \vec{w}=-\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\hat{i}+\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\hat{j}+\mu\hat{k}.$$

Match each entry in List-I to the correct entry in List-II and choose the correct option.

image
Question 23

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}= 2\widehat{i}-\widehat{j}-\widehat{k}, \overrightarrow{b}=\widehat{i}+ 3\widehat{j}-\widehat{k}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{c} = 2\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}+3\widehat{k}.$$ Let $$\overrightarrow{\nu}$$ be the vector in the plane of the vectors $$\overrightarrow{a}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{b}$$, such that the length of its projection on the vector $$\overrightarrow{C}$$ is $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{14}}$$. Then $$\mid \overrightarrow{\nu} \mid$$ is euqal to

Question 24

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}=-\widehat{i}+\widehat{j}+2\widehat{k},\overrightarrow{b}=\widehat{i}-\widehat{j}-3\widehat{k},\overrightarrow{c}=\overrightarrow{a} \times \overrightarrow{b}\text{ and }\overrightarrow{d}=\overrightarrow{c}\times\overrightarrow{a}$$. Then $$\large (\overrightarrow{a}-\overrightarrow{b}).\overrightarrow{d}$$ is equal to:

Question 25

Let $$\overrightarrow{a}= 2\widehat{i}-5\widehat{j}+5\widehat{k}$$ and $$\overrightarrow{b}= \widehat{i}-\widehat{j}+3\widehat{k}$$. If $$\overrightarrow{C}$$ is a vector such that $$2(\overrightarrow{a}\times\overrightarrow{c})+3(\overrightarrow{b}\times\overrightarrow{c})= \overrightarrow{0}$$ and $$(\overrightarrow{a}-\overrightarrow{b})\cdot\overrightarrow{c}=-97,$$ then $$\mid \overrightarrow{c}\times\widehat{k} \mid^{2}$$ is equal to

Vector Algebra is a high-weightage and broadly applicable chapter in JEE Mathematics that introduces directed quantities and their algebraic operations. Vectors provide a unified language for geometry, physics, and three-dimensional analysis, and the chapter's tools of dot product and cross product appear throughout JEE problems involving planes, lines, areas, and projections. Because vector methods often provide the most elegant and fastest solutions to geometric problems, JEE Vector Algebra questions reward students who build fluency with both the component and geometric perspectives. This chapter covers the definition and representation of vectors, position vectors, types of vectors, vector addition and scalar multiplication, the dot product and its geometric interpretation, the cross product and its geometric applications including area, the scalar triple product and volume of parallelepiped, and linear independence and dependence. JEE Main typically tests dot and cross products, projections, and component-based problems. JEE Advanced combines vectors with three-dimensional geometry in problems requiring planes, lines, and distances. Practising topic-wise questions on JEE Questions helps you apply dot and cross products confidently and interpret their geometric meanings quickly.

Vector Algebra Topic Overview

ParameterDetails
Topic NameVector Algebra
SubjectMathematics
JEE Main Weightage~5-6% (2 questions on average)
JEE Advanced Weightage~5-7% (often combined with 3D)
Difficulty LevelModerate
Important ConceptsDot Product, Cross Product, Scalar Triple Product, Projections, Linear Dependence
Recommended Practice LevelHigh - attempt 70+ mixed problems

Why Practice JEE Vector Algebra Questions?

  • High weightage: Vector Algebra contributes 2 questions in JEE Main consistently.
  • Combined with 3D: Vectors and 3D Geometry are tightly linked and often appear together.
  • Geometric interpretation: Dot and cross products give intuitive geometric answers.
  • Area and volume: Cross-product and scalar-triple-product results yield direct scoring questions.
  • Projection utility: Projection of one vector onto another is a standard and frequent question type.
  • Linear dependence: Collinearity and coplanarity conditions are tested regularly.
  • Elegant problem-solving: Vector methods often reduce complex geometry to clean algebra.

Important Concepts and Subtopics

ConceptImportanceDifficulty LevelFrequently Asked In
Vector Addition and Scalar MultiplicationHighEasyJEE Main
Dot Product and Its PropertiesVery HighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Projection of One Vector onto AnotherVery HighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Cross Product and Its PropertiesVery HighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Area of Triangle and ParallelogramHighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Scalar Triple Product and VolumeHighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Collinearity and Coplanarity ConditionsHighModerateJEE Main and Advanced
Unit Vector and Direction CosinesModerateEasy-ModerateJEE Main

Preparation Strategy for JEE Vector Algebra

Concept learning: Begin with vector operations and the geometric meaning of addition and scalar multiplication. Then study the dot product thoroughly: formula, properties, and its use in finding angles and projections. Move to the cross product, understanding both the determinant form and the magnitude as area. Then learn the scalar triple product as both a determinant and as the volume of a parallelepiped.

Formula revision: Keep the dot and cross product formulas in component form, the projection formula, the area of triangle and parallelogram expressions, the scalar triple product, and the collinearity-coplanarity conditions together for quick review. Structured JEE Online Coaching helps you practise geometric vector problems and resolve doubts on triple products and coplanarity conditions efficiently.

Problem-solving techniques: For angle problems, use the dot product. For perpendicularity, check that the dot product is zero. For area problems, use the cross product magnitude. For volume, use the scalar triple product. For collinearity, check whether vectors are scalar multiples. For coplanarity, check whether the scalar triple product is zero.

Common mistakes: Computing the cross product in the wrong order (reversing the sign), not normalising before computing projections, errors in the determinant expansion for the cross product, and mixing up collinearity with coplanarity conditions.

Exam strategy: Solve direct dot-product, projection, and area questions first, then tackle triple-product and coplanarity problems that need more steps.

JEE Main and Advanced Weightage Analysis

ExamAverage QuestionsExpected Marks
JEE Main28
JEE Advanced2-3 (combined with 3D)8-14

Vector Algebra is a consistent contributor in JEE Main and a frequent component of JEE Advanced 3D geometry problems. Mastery here directly supports the Three Dimensional Geometry chapter that follows.

Tips to Solve Vector Algebra Questions Faster

  • Use the dot product for angle and projection problems, and the cross product for area and perpendicular-vector problems.
  • Check perpendicularity immediately using the zero dot product condition.
  • Use the scalar triple product determinant to test coplanarity: zero means coplanar.
  • For the area of a triangle, compute half the magnitude of the cross product of two side vectors.
  • Normalise a vector by dividing by its magnitude before using it as a unit direction.
  • Remember that the cross product of two parallel vectors is the zero vector.

Practising these with a timed JEE Mock Test builds the product-selection speed and geometric fluency that vector problems reward.

Frequently Asked Questions