Show that the direction cosines of a vector equally inclined to the axes OX, OY and OZ are
.
let the vector equally inclined to OX, OY and OZ at angle α.
Then the direction cosine of the vectors are cos α, cos α and cos α.
Because,
Cos2α + Cos2α + Cos2α = 1
⇒ 3 Cos2α = 1
⇒ Cos2α = 1/3
Hence, the direction cosines of the vector which are equally inclined to the axis are
.