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Find a vector of length 1 satisfying given relations

Given vectors A = (1,-2,3) and B = (3,1,2) in \mathbb{R}^3 find a vector C of unit length parallel to the following vectors:

  1. A+B;
  2. A-B;
  3. A+2B;
  4. A-2B;
  5. 2A-B.

  1. First, we have

        \[ A+ B = (4,-1,5). \]

    Since C must be parallel to this we know there is a nonzero scalar x such that

        \[ C = (4x,-x,5x). \]

    Since C is unit length we have

        \[ \lVert C \rVert = 1 \quad \implies \quad \sqrt{16x^2  +x^2 + 25x^2} = 1 \quad \implies \quad x = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{42}}. \]

    Therefore, C = \frac{1}{42}(4,-1,5).

  2. First, we have

        \[ A- B = (-2,-3,1). \]

    Since C must be parallel to this we know there is a nonzero scalar x such that

        \[ C = (-2x,-3x,x). \]

    Since C is unit length we have

        \[ \lVert C \rVert = 1 \quad \implies \quad \sqrt{4x^2 + 9x^2 + x^2} = 1 \quad \implies \quad x = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{14}}. \]

    Therefore, C = \frac{1}{\sqrt{14}}(-2,-3,1).

  3. First, we have

        \[ A+2B = (7,0,7). \]

    Since C must be parallel to this we know there is a nonzero scalar x such that

        \[ C = (x,0,x). \]

    Since C is unit length we have

        \[ \lVert C \rVert = 1 \quad \implies \quad \sqrt{2x^2} = 1 \quad \implies \quad x = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}. \]

    Therefore, C = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} (1,0,1).

  4. First, we have

        \[ A - 2B = (-5,-4,-1). \]

    Since C must be parallel to this we know there is a nonzero scalar x such that

        \[ C = (-5x,-4x,-x). \]

    Since C is unit length we have

        \[ \lVert C \rVert = 1 \quad \implies \quad \sqrt{25x^2 + 16x^2 + x^2} = 1 \quad \implies \quad x = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{42}}. \]

    Therefore, C = \frac{1}{\sqrt{42}} (-5,-,4,-1).

  5. First, we have

        \[ 2A - B = (-1,-5,4). \]

    Since C must be parallel to this we know there is a nonzero scalar x such that

        \[ C = (-x,-5x,4x). \]

    Since C is unit length we have

        \[ \lVert C \rVert = 1 \quad \implies \quad \sqrt{x^2 + 25x^2  + 16x^2} = 1 \quad \implies \quad x = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{42}}. \]

    Therefore, C = \frac{1}{\sqrt{42}} (-1,-5,4).

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