JEE Main · Maths · Class 12
Vector Algebra: JEE Main previous year questions
142 questions in 101 of the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, asked in 8 of 8 years. Here is what this chapter tests and how.
- Questions
- 142
- in 101 of 108 shifts · 8 of 8 years
- Average a shift
- 1.1
- of 25 Maths · 1.2 since 2024 0.1
- Typical range
- 0.9–1.6
- questions a shift; fewest 0.9, most 1.7
- Weighted estimate
- 1.1
- model, recent years count more · about 4.6 marks
- Typical range (fact)
- Average a shift (fact)
- Weighted estimate (model)
Questions are counted per shift, out of the 25 each subject has, in the shifts Lumi analysed; papers that offered 30 a subject (2017, 2021–2024) are scaled to 25. Typical range: the middle six of the eight years (2017, 2020–2026), leaving out the single highest and lowest year. The average and the range are historical fact. The weighted estimate is a model: each year's share, with recent years counting more (half-life three years), and chapters NTA dropped from the syllabus set near zero. It is a guide to effort, not a forecast of the paper.
What to do
How to spend time on Vector Algebra
Priority
One of the 6 Maths chapters that took Maths from half to 80% of its questions in the 108 shifts analysed. How bands are set
- Past questions
- 142in 101 of 108 shifts
- Study plan gives it
- 20 hover 12 months; 15 h over 6
Ideas asked most often
- Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products20×
- Magnitude and Sine Formula13×
- Scalar and Vector Projection11×
- Lagrange's Identity8×
- Area of Triangles and Parallelograms7×
189 of the 255 ideas in Lumi’s map of this chapter have not been asked or touched in the shifts analysed. Of its idea-tagged questions from 2024 on, 15% tested an idea not asked in an earlier year, so learn the whole chapter, not just the list above.
Within each subject, chapters in NTA's 2026 syllabus are ranked by their average questions a shift over all 8 years analysed (history, not the model). Going down that list, the chapters that together held the first half of the subject's questions are Must do; the next ones, up to 80%, are Should do; the rest are Lower priority.
Key findings
Vector Algebra at a glance
- 01
85%
of its 48 questions from 2024 on that Lumi matched to an idea tested one JEE Main had asked in an earlier year; 100% came from a topic asked in an earlier year.
- 02
74%
of the 255 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.
- 03
27%
of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 0.9 times the Maths average.
- 04
24%
of its questions were rated hard, against 26% across all Maths questions in the same shifts.
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Maths questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 11 in 12 shifts · 2021: 29 in 24 shifts · 2022: 27 in 24 shifts · 2023: 24 in 12 shifts · 2024: 34 in 18 shifts · 2025: 8 in 8 shifts · 2026: 8 in 9 shifts.
Kind of question
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Multi-step45%
- Numerical answer27%
- Calculation16%
- Application9%
- Two statements3%
- Conceptual1%
Most common asks: unknown vector from cross and dot conditions (31); area of quadrilateral from vertices (3); unknown vector from dot product conditions (1).
Profile
This chapter in numbers
Where it ranks, how steady it is, and what it costs to study.
- Rank, all JEE chapters
- #29
- of 70 by weighted estimate
- Rank in Maths
- #10
- of 21 chapters
- Share of Maths
- 4.5%
- of its questions, all shifts analysed
- Busiest year
- 2023
- 1.7 questions a shift
- Year to year
- Some swing
- varies by about 0.3 questions a shift
- Long-run direction
- +0.03
- questions a shift, per year
- Easy questions
- 12%
- 24% rated hard
- Numerical answer
- 27%
- 0.9× the Maths rate
- With a figure
- 0%
- graph, diagram or structure
- Study time
- 20 h
- 15 h on a 6-month plan
- Marks per study hour
- 0.23
- #49 of 70 chapters
- Foundation for others
- 51%
- of its ideas are used in other chapters
Difficulty, year by year
Each question rated easy, medium or hard. Each bar is that year’s split, so years compare directly; the number is the questions in that year’s analysed shifts (1 to 24 shifts a year).
- 20171
- 202011
- 202129
- 202227
- 202324
- 202434
- 20258
- 20268
- Easy
- Medium
- Hard
What it asks you to do
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Multi-step64%
- Calculation25%
- Application9%
- Conceptual2%
Coverage
How much of the chapter JEE Main has used
We split the chapter into 255 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 44 of them. Most of the chapter has never been the main idea of a question, so past questions alone leave most of it out.
- Asked as the main idea
- 44
- Touched on in a question
- 22
- Never asked
- 189
Topics
What repeats, topic by topic
This chapter's questions per topic in each year's analysed shifts. The number is the count; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. 5 questions had no close topic in Lumi's map and count for the chapter only.
- Cross Product · Asked most years71131212122245
- Dot Product · Asked most years323681932
- Triple Products · Asked most years2859572
- Linear Independence · Comes in cycles61221
| Topic | 2017 | ’20 | 2021 | ’22 | 2023 | ’24 | 2025 | ’26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross ProductAsked most years | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 71 |
| Dot ProductAsked most years | · | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 32 |
| Triple ProductsAsked most years | · | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 2 | · | · | 28 |
| Linear IndependenceComes in cycles | · | · | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | · | · | 6 |
- Cross Product
As a topic: 72 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 33% numerical answer. Recent asks: unknown vector from cross and dot conditions; numerical: solve vector cross product equation; numerical: area of triangle from vector combinations.
- Dot Product
As a topic: 36 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 28% numerical answer.
- Triple Products
As a topic: 30 questions in 5 of 8 years, most often single correct, 20% numerical answer.
- Linear Independence
As a topic: 6 questions in 4 of 8 years, most often single correct.
Drill down
Topic, idea, question
Open a topic to see every idea JEE Main tested inside it, then open an idea to read the questions. Each row shows its 8 years.
13 ideas inside
- 5 Apr ’26 S2 · Q16Let O be the origin, and . If R is the point on such that…
easySingle correct
- 4 Apr ’25 S2 · Q24Let the three sides of a triangle ABC be given by the vectors , and…
mediumNumerical value
- 11 Apr ’23 S1 · Q12Read the question
mediumTwo statements
- 15 Apr ’23 S1 · Q17Read the question
easySingle correct
- 4 Aug ’21 S1 · Q76Read the question
easySingle correct
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
The exact ideas JEE Main has asked
Inside the topics, 42 different ideas were tested; 20 came more than once. These are the repeats, then the ideas new since 2024.
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
area of triangle from vector combinations
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
area of quadrilateral from vertices
coplanarity of three vectors with parameters
vectors rotation angle then trig value
parameter values for coplanar points
value from ratio of sum and difference magnitudes
unknown scalar from vector triple product equation
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
parameter set for obtuse angle between vectors
nested vector triple product then projection
angle between edges from parallelepiped volume
vector from cross product condition
unknowns from collinearity of three points
unknown components from cross product
vector perpendicular to two given
maximum of combined vector magnitudes
unknown vector from dot product conditions
unit vector perpendicular to a within plane
dot products of vector with cross-product combination
length of internal bisector segment in vector triangle
unknown vector from cross and dot conditions
coefficients from collinearity of vector combinations
Dots are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026.
Every question
All 142 Vector Algebra questions
Newest first, shift by shift. The newest 40 show their opening words; older ones name the idea they tested. Each opens with its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20268 questions
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q14If and are two vectors such that and , then the maximum value of…HardSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q14Let the vectors and . For some…MediumSingle correct
- 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q15Let and be unit vectors inclined at an acute angle such that . If…HardSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q14Let and . If is a vector such that…MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q16Let O be the origin, and . If R is the point on such that…EasySingle correct
- 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q23If , and be three vectors such that …MediumNumerical value
- 6 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q15Let and . Then the square of the area of the triangle with…EasySingle correct
- 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q14Let , and a vector be such that…MediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20258 questions
- 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q11If is a nonzero vector such that its projections on the vectors , and…MediumSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q16Let , and a vector be such that…MediumSingle correct
- 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q24Let and …MediumNumerical value
- 3 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q24Let and…MediumNumerical value
- 4 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q24Let the three sides of a triangle ABC be given by the vectors , and…MediumNumerical value
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q15Let the angle , between two unit vectors and be…MediumSingle correct
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q15Let and be the vectors of the same magnitude such that…MediumSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q14Let and . Let be a unit vector in the plane of…MediumSingle correct
JEE Main 202434 questions
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q18Let a unit vector which makes an angle of with and an angle of with be…HardSingle correct
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q30Let ABC be a triangle of area and the vectors ,…HardNumerical value
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q17Let and . If is…MediumSingle correct
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q18For , let be the angle between the vectors and .…EasySingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q18If , , and are the vertices of a quadrilateral ABCD, then its area is :MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q29Let , and be a vector such that…MediumNumerical value
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q18Let , and be three vectors such that…MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q19Consider three vectors . Let , and . If…HardSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q19If , , and …MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q29Let , and a vector be such that…HardNumerical value
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q18Let , . Then…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q19Let and . If is a vector such that ,…HardSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q18The set of all , for which the vectors and…MediumSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q28Let , and be three given…HardNumerical value
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q17Let , and be a vector such that…HardSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q18Let , and…MediumSingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q17Let , and , where O is the origin. If…MediumSingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q18Let three vectors , , …MediumSingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q17Between the following two statements: Statement I : Let and . Then…HardTwo statements
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q18Let , where and are…MediumSingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q19Let , and…MediumSingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q17Consider a where , and . If the angle bisector of meets the line at ,…MediumSingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q30Let , and be three vectors…MediumNumerical value
- 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q19Let , . Let be the vector such that…MediumSingle correct
- 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q28Acute and Obtuse Angle Conditions · Easy · Numerical value
- 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q17Linear Combination Concept · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q18Angle Bisector Construction · Medium · Single correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q17Area of Quadrilateral via Diagonals · Medium · Single correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q18Magnitude and Sine Formula · Hard · Single correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q18Expansion of Sum of Vectors Squared · Easy · Single correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q19Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Single correct
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q18Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Single correct
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q30Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Numerical value
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q30Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Hard · Numerical value
JEE Main 202324 questions
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q15Coplanarity of Four Points · Medium · Single correct
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q16Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Single correct
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q17Coplanarity of Four Points · Medium · Single correct
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q18STP Geometric Interpretation · Medium · Single correct
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q17Collinearity of Three Position Vectors · Medium · Single correct
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q29Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Hard · Numerical value
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q15Area of Quadrilateral via Diagonals · Medium · Single correct
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q16Parametric Coplanarity via STP · Hard · Single correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q16Determinant Calculation Method · Medium · Single correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q17Unique Linear Combinations · Medium · Single correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q16Unit Normal Vector Calculation · Medium · Single correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q17Orthocenter Position Vector Relations · Medium · Single correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q11Magnitude and Sine Formula · Hard · Single correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q12Open the question · Medium · Two statements
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q17Coplanarity of Four Points · Medium · Single correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q29Magnitude and Sine Formula · Hard · Numerical value
- 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q16Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Single correct
- 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q17Condition for Parallel Vectors · Hard · Single correct
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q9Simultaneous Cross and Dot Equations · Medium · Single correct
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q28Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Numerical value
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q17Anti-commutativity and Distributivity · Medium · Single correct
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q18Area of Triangles and Parallelograms · Medium · Single correct
- 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q16Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Single correct
- 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q17Open the question · Easy · Single correct
JEE Main 202227 questions
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q15Magnitude and Sine Formula · Hard · Two statements
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q17Scalar and Vector Projection · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q15Magnitude and Sine Formula · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q13VTP BAC-CAB Expansion · Medium · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q3Independence of Three Vectors · Easy · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q6Orthogonality Condition · Medium · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q77Acute and Obtuse Angle Conditions · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q10VTP BAC-CAB Expansion · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q14Magnitude and Sine Formula · Hard · Single correct
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q18Lagrange's Identity · Hard · Single correct
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q29Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Numerical value
- 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q88Scalar and Vector Projection · Hard · Numerical value
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q16Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Hard · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q16Lagrange's Identity (Dot Product Form) · Hard · Two statements
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q14Vectors with Equal Inclination · Hard · Single correct
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q23Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Numerical value
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q26Simultaneous Cross and Dot Equations · Hard · Numerical value
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q16VTP BAC-CAB Expansion · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q16Scalar and Vector Projection · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q15Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q15Area of Quadrilateral via Diagonals · Hard · Single correct
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q24Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Numerical value
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q14Area of Triangles and Parallelograms · Medium · Single correct
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q19Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Hard · Single correct
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q5Scalar and Vector Projection · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q15Collinearity of Three Position Vectors · Easy · Single correct
- 30 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q17Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Hard · Single correct
JEE Main 202129 questions
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q90Determinant Calculation Method · Medium · Numerical value
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q76Open the question · Easy · Single correct
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q85Simultaneous Cross and Dot Equations · Medium · Numerical value
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q77Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q87Scalar and Vector Projection · Easy · Numerical value
- 27 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q89Magnitude and Sine Formula · Medium · Numerical value
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q78Expansion of Sum of Vectors Squared · Medium · Single correct
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q75VTP BAC-CAB Expansion · Hard · Single correct
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q89Constructing Orthogonal Coplanar Vectors · Medium · Numerical value
- 25 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q90Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Numerical value
- 25 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q90Area of Triangles and Parallelograms · Easy · Numerical value
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q61VTP with Repeated Vectors · Easy · Single correct
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q71Proportionality Test for Collinearity · Easy · Single correct
- 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q72Orthogonal Triad Expansion · Medium · Single correct
- 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q80STP Algebraic Properties · Hard · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q71Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q82Unit Normal Vector Calculation · Easy · Numerical value
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q78Lagrange's Identity · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q80Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q88Angle Between Vectors · Medium · Numerical value
- 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q63Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Hard · Single correct
- 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q84STP Definition and Determinant · Medium · Numerical value
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q78Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Single correct
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q90STP Definition and Determinant · Medium · Numerical value
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q63STP Definition and Determinant · Medium · Single correct
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q89Scalar and Vector Projection · Hard · Numerical value
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q80Dot Product Invariance Under Rotation · Medium · Single correct
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q66Scalar and Vector Projection · Medium · Single correct
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q80Magnitude and Sine Formula · Medium · Single correct
JEE Main 202011 questions
- 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q66STP Geometric Interpretation · Medium · Single correct
- 8 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q67Solving Vector Equations with Cross Products · Medium · Single correct
- 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q73Solving for Unknown in Coplanarity · Medium · Numerical value
- 9 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q75Magnitude and Sine Formula · Medium · Numerical value
- 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q75Algebraic Properties · Easy · Numerical value
- 2 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q73Lagrange's Identity · Medium · Numerical value
- 3 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q69Angle Between Vectors · Hard · Single correct
- 4 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q67STP Definition and Determinant · Medium · Single correct
- 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q75Perpendicular Vector Component via VTP · Medium · Numerical value
- 5 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q67STP Geometric Interpretation · Medium · Single correct
- 6 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q74Expansion of Sum of Vectors Squared · Easy · Numerical value
JEE Main 20171 question
Questions from the official JEE Main papers published by NTA. Chapter, topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s. Pattern: Asked most years.