Question:easy

Three vectors \(\vec{a},\vec{b},\vec{c}\) satisfy the condition \[ \vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=\vec{0}. \] If \[ |\vec{a}|=1,\quad |\vec{b}|=3,\quad |\vec{c}|=4, \] then \[ \vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a} = \] is:

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If \[ \vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=\vec{0}, \] then squaring both sides gives a direct relation between magnitudes and dot products.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • \(12\)
  • \(-12\)
  • \(-13\)
  • \(13\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Square the given vector sum.
Given $\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=\vec{0}$. Take the dot product of each side with itself: \[ |\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}|^2 = 0 \]

Step 2: Expand $|\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}|^2$.
\[ |\vec{a}|^2+|\vec{b}|^2+|\vec{c}|^2+2(\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a})=0 \]

Step 3: Substitute the given magnitudes.
$|\vec{a}|=1$, $|\vec{b}|=3$, $|\vec{c}|=4$, so $|\vec{a}|^2=1$, $|\vec{b}|^2=9$, $|\vec{c}|^2=16$: \[ 1+9+16+2(\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a})=0 \] \[ 26+2(\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a})=0 \]

Step 4: Solve for the dot product sum.
\[ 2(\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a})=-26 \] \[ \vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{c}+\vec{c}\cdot\vec{a}=-13 \]

Step 5: Interpret the result.
The negative value tells us that on average, the vectors make obtuse angles with each other, which makes sense since they must sum to zero (they form a closed triangle in vector terms).

Step 6: State the answer.
\[ \boxed{-13} \]
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