CHAPTER-6

APPLICATIONS OF VECTOR
ALGEBRA
Scalar triple product:
For a given set of three vectors 𝑎, 𝑏,and 𝑐 the scalar (𝑎×𝑏).𝑐 is called a
scalar triple product of 𝑎, 𝑏,and 𝑐.
The following are scalar triple products:
(𝑎×𝑏).𝑐, (𝑏×𝑐).𝑎, (𝑐×𝑎).𝑏, 𝑎.(𝑏×𝑐), 𝑏.(𝑐×𝑎), 𝑏.(𝑎×𝑐)
Geometrical interpretation of scalar triple product:
Geometrically, the absolute value of the scalar triple product ( 𝑎×𝑏).𝑐 is
the volume of the parallelepiped formed by using the three vectors 𝑎,
𝑏,and 𝑐 as coterminous edges.
Theorem 6.1: If 𝑎=𝑎1 𝑖+𝑎2 𝑗+𝑎3 𝑘, 𝑏=𝑏1 𝑖+𝑏2 𝑗+𝑏3 𝑘 and 𝑐=𝑐1 𝑖+𝑐2 𝑗+𝑐3 𝑘,
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
then (𝑎×𝑏).𝑐= 𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3 .
𝑐1 𝑐2 𝑐3
Properties of the scalar triple product:
1.For any three vectors 𝑎, 𝑏,and 𝑐, (𝑎×𝑏).𝑐=𝑎.(𝑏×𝑐)
2.For any three vectors 𝑎, 𝑏,and 𝑐 the scalar triple product (𝑎×𝑏).𝑐 is
denoted by 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 . A scalar triple product is also called a box
product.
3.[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=[𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑎]=[𝑐, 𝑎, 𝑏]
4.[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=[𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑎]=[𝑐, 𝑎, 𝑏]=-[𝑎, 𝑐, 𝑏]=-[𝑐, 𝑏, 𝑎]=-[𝑏, 𝑎, 𝑐]
Theorem 6.3
The scalar triple product preserves addition and scalar multiplication.
[(𝑎 + 𝑏), 𝑐, 𝑑]=[𝑎, 𝑐, 𝑑]+[𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑]
[λ𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=λ[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐], λ∈R
[𝑎, (𝑏+𝑐), 𝑑]=[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑑]+[𝑎, 𝑐, 𝑑]
[𝑎, λ𝑏, 𝑐]=λ[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐], λ∈R
[𝑎, 𝑏, (𝑐+𝑑)]=[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]+[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑑]
[𝑎, 𝑏, λ𝑐]=λ[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐], λ∈R
Theorem 6.4:
The scalar triple product of three product of three non-zero vectors is
zero if and only if the three vectors are coplanar.
Theorem 6.5:
Three vectors 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are coplanar if and only if there exist scalars
r,s,t∈R such that r𝑎+s𝑏+t𝑐=0
Theorem 6.6: If 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟 are any two systems of three
vectors, and if 𝑝=𝑥1 𝑎+𝑦1 𝑏+𝑧1 𝑐, 𝑞=𝑥2 𝑎+𝑦2 𝑏+𝑧2 𝑐 and 𝑟=𝑥3 𝑎+𝑦3 𝑏+𝑧3 𝑐,
then
𝑥1 𝑦1 𝑧1
[𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟]= 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2 [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
𝑥3 𝑦3 𝑧3
Example 6.12: If 𝑎=-3𝑖-𝑗+5𝑘, 𝑏=𝑖-2𝑗+𝑘, 𝑐=4𝑗-5𝑘, find 𝑎.(𝑏×𝑐)
Solution:
−3 −1 5
𝑎.(𝑏×𝑐)= 1 −2 1
0 4 −5
=-3(10-4)+1(-5-0)+5(4-0)
=-3(6)+1(-5)+5(4)
=-18-5+20
=-3
Example 6.13: Find the volume of the parallelepiped whose coterminous
edges are given by the vectors 2𝑖-3𝑗+4𝑘, 𝑖+2𝑗-𝑘 and
3𝑖-𝑗+2𝑘.
Solution:
let 𝑎=2𝑖-3𝑗+4𝑘, 𝑏=𝑖+2𝑗-𝑘, 𝑐=3𝑖-𝑗+2𝑘
Volume of the parallelepiped= [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
2 −3 4
[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]= 1 2 −1
3 −1 2
=2(4-1)+3(2+3)+4(-1-6)
=2(3)+3(5)+4(-7)
=6+15-28=-7
volume of the parallelepiped= −7 =7 cu.units
Example 6.14:
Show that the vectors 𝑖+2𝑗-3𝑘, 2𝑖-𝑗+2𝑘 and 3𝑖+𝑗-𝑘 are coplanar.
Solution:
Let 𝑎=𝑖+2𝑗-3𝑘, 𝑏=2𝑖-𝑗+2𝑘 and 𝑐=3𝑖+𝑗-𝑘
Condition for coplanar: [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=0
1 2 −3
[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]= 2 −1 2
3 1 −1
=1(1-2)-2(-2-6)-3(2+3)=1(-1)-2(-8)-3(5)
=-1+16-15=16-16=0
∴ The given vectors are coplanar.
Example 6.15: If 2𝑖-𝑗+3𝑘 , 3𝑖+2𝑗+𝑘, 𝑖+m𝑗+4𝑘 are coplanar, find the
value of m.
Solution:
let 𝑎=2𝑖-𝑗+3𝑘, 𝑏=3𝑖+2𝑗+𝑘, 𝑐=𝑖+m𝑗+4𝑘
Given vectors are coplanar
[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=0
2 −1 3
3 2 1 =0
1 𝑚 4
2(8-m)+1(12-1)+3(3m-2)=0
16-2m+11+9m-6=0 7m+21=0
7m=-21 m=-3
Example 6.16: show that the four points (6,-7,0), (16,-19,-4), (0,3,-6), (2,-
5,10) lie on a same plane.
Solution:
Let A=(6,-7,0), B=(16,-19,-4), C=(0,3,-6), D=(2,-5,10)
𝐴𝐵=𝑂𝐵 − 𝑂𝐴=10𝑖-12𝑗-4𝑘
𝐴𝐶=𝑂𝐶 − 𝑂𝐴=-6𝑖+10𝑗-6𝑘
𝐴𝐷=𝑂𝐷 − 𝑂𝐴=-4𝑖+2𝑗+10𝑘
10 −12 −4
[𝐴𝐵, 𝐴𝐶, 𝐴𝐷]= −6 10 −6
−4 2 10
=10(100+12)+12(-60-24)-4(-12+40)
=1120-1008-112=0
∴ The given points are coplanar
Example 6.17: If the vectors 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are coplanar the prove that the
vectors 𝑎+𝑏, 𝑏+𝑐, 𝑐+𝑎 are also coplanar.
Solution:
Given 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are coplanar
∴ [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=0----(1)
To prove:𝑎+𝑏, 𝑏+𝑐, 𝑐+𝑎 are coplanar
1 1 0
[𝑎+𝑏, 𝑏+𝑐, 𝑐+𝑎]= 0 1 1 [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
1 0 1
={1(1-0)-1(0-1)+0} [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]={1+1} [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
=2 [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=2(0)=0 [using(1)]
Hence 𝑎+𝑏, 𝑏+𝑐, 𝑐+𝑎 are coplanar
Example 6.18: If 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are three vectors, prove that
[𝑎+𝑐, 𝑎+𝑏, 𝑎+𝑏+𝑐]=[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
Solution:
1 0 1
[𝑎+𝑐, 𝑎+𝑏, 𝑎+𝑏+𝑐]= 1 1 0 [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
1 1 1
={1(1-0)+0+1(1-1)}[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
=1[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]=[𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐]
Hence proved.
 Homework
Exercise 6.2
1.If 𝑎=𝑖-2𝑗+3𝑘, 𝑏=2𝑖+𝑗-2𝑘, 𝑐=3𝑖+2𝑗+𝑘, find 𝑎.(𝑏×𝑐)
2.Find the volume of the parallelepiped whose coterminous edges are
represented by the vectors -6𝑖+14𝑗+10𝑘, 14𝑖-10𝑗-6𝑘 and 2𝑖+4𝑗-2𝑘.
3.The volume of the parallelepiped whose coterminous edges are
7𝑖+λ𝑗-3𝑘, 𝑖+2𝑗-𝑘, -3𝑖+7𝑗+5𝑘 is 90 cubic units. Find the value of λ.
6.Determine whether the three vectors 2𝑖+3𝑗+𝑘, 𝑖-2𝑗+2𝑘 and 3𝑖+𝑗+3𝑘
are coplanar.
7.Let 𝑎=𝑖+𝑗+𝑘, 𝑏=𝑖 and 𝑐=𝑐1 𝑖+𝑐2 𝑗+𝑐3 𝑘. If 𝑐1 =1 and 𝑐2 =2, find 𝑐3 such
that 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are coplanar.