VECTOR ALGEBRA

Scalar Product:
If ̅ and ̅ are two vectors and is the angle between them then the scalar quantity | ̅|| ̅ | is called
̅ ̅
the scalar product or the dot product of ̅ and ̅ and is denoted by ̅ ̅ and hence | ̅|| ̅ |

 , , ̅ ̅
 If ̅ and ̅ then ̅ ̅ NOTE: ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
 Two vectors ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ are perpendicular if ̅ ̅

Vector Product:
Let ̅ ̅ be two vectors and be the angle between them . The vector product of ̅ and ̅ is
defined as a vector ̂ where ̂ is a unit vector perpendicular to the plane of ̅ ̅ and ̅ ̅ ̂ form a right
handed screw system.
The vector product of ̅ and ̅ is denoted by ̅ ̅ and read as ̅ cross ̅ .
Thus, ̅ ̅ ̂
 ̅ ̅ is a vector perpendicular to both vectors ̅ and ̅ .
̅ ̅
 Unit vector perpendicular to the plane of ̅ and ̅ = | ̅ ̅|

 i) ̅ ̅ ii) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
iii) iv)
v)

 If ̅ and ̅ then ̅ ̅ | |

 The area of parallelogram of sides ̅ and ̅ |̅ ̅|

 The area of parallelogram of diagonals ̅ and ̅ |̅ ̅|

 The area of the triangle whose sides are co initial vectors, ̅ ̅ is |̅ ̅|

 The vector ̅ ̅ is called the vector area of the parallelogram

 The vector ̅ ̅ is called the vector area of the triangle.

Scalar Triple Product:

If ̅ ̅ ̅ are three vectors then the scalar product ̅ ̅ ̅ is called scalar triple product of the vectors
̅ ̅ and ̅ . It is denoted by[ ̅ ̅ ̅ ]. Thus, [ ̅ ̅ ̅ ] ̅ ̅ ̅
 If ̅ , ̅ , ̅ then

[̅ ̅ ̅ ] ̅ (̅ ̅) | |

 [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] changing the order of vectors cyclically does not change the value of the product
 [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅]
Interchanging the positions of two vector change the sign of the product
 [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅] If two vectors are same the value of the product is zero.

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 [ ̅ ̅ ̅] [̅ ̅ ̅] [̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅]
Multiplying any vector by a scalar multiplies the product by .
 ̅ (̅ ̅) (̅ ̅) ̅ Dot and cross can be interchanged.
 If ̅ ̅ ̅ are three non-coplanar vectors in space with same initial point then the volume of the
parallelepiped formed by them is given by [ ̅ ̅ ̅]
 If ̅ ̅ ̅ are three non-zero vectors in space with same initial point, they will be coplanar if and only if the
volume of the parallelepiped form by them is zero. i.e. if [ ̅ ̅ ̅]
 If ̅ ̅ ̅ are three non-coplanar vectors in space with same initial point then the volume of the tetrahedron
formed by them is given by [ ̅ ̅ ̅]

Vector Triple Product:

If ̅ ̅ ̅ are three vectors then the vector or cross product of ̅ ̅ with ̅ is called the vector triple product
of the three vectors ̅ ̅ and ̅ and is written ̅ ̅ ̅
The vector triple product is given by (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅

The vector triple product ̅ (̅ ̅) is given by ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅

In general, ̅ (̅ ̅) (̅ ̅) ̅

Scalar Product of four vectors:

If ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ are any four vectors then the product ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ is called the scalar product of four

vectors ̅ ̅ ̅ and ̅
̅
Lagrange’s identity: The product of four vectors ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ by (̅ ̅ ) (̅ ̅) |̅ ̅ ̅|
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
Proof: Let ̅ ̅ ̅
(̅ ̅ ) (̅ ̅) (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅)
̅ [̅ (̅ ̅ )]

̅ [( ̅ ̅ ) ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ]
̅ ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅ )( ̅ ̅)
̅ ̅
(̅ ̅ ) (̅ ̅) | ̅ ̅̅ ̅ ̅|
̅
Note: If we put ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ in Lagrange’s identity then
(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅ )( ̅ ̅ )

(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅)
Vector Product of Four Vectors:
If ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ are any four vectors then the product ( ̅ ̅ ( ̅ ̅ ) is called the vector product of the four
vectors ̅ ̅ ̅ and ̅
 Geometrical Meaning:
Let ̅ ( ̅ ̅ ) ( ̅ ̅ ) ̅ is a vector perpendicular to both vectors ( ̅ ̅ ) and ( ̅ ̅ ) hence, ̅ represent
a vector parallel to line of intersection of two planes – one of which is parallel to the plane containing

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̅ and ̅ and the other plane is parallel to the plane containing ̅ and ̅
 Expansion of (̅ ̅) (̅ ̅)

The vector product of four vectors ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ can be expressed

(i) in terms of vector ̅ and ̅ as (̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅
(ii) in terms of vector ̅ and ̅ as ( ̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅
Proof: (i) Let ( ̅ ̅) ̅
(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) (̅ ̅) ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅)̅
[̅ ( ̅ ̅ )] ̅ [̅ ( ̅ ̅ )] ̅

(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅
(ii) Let ̅ ̅ ̅
(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ( ̅ ̅)

( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
[( ̅ ̅) ̅] ̅ [( ̅ ̅ ) ̅] ̅

(̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅

Examples:
1. Find the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are given by
Solution: If and are the sides of the parallelogram then the diagonals are ̅ ̅ and ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ and ̅ ̅
̅ ⁄
̅ ⁄
The area of parallelogram of sides ̅ and ̅ |̅ ̅|

Area of parallelogram | |

Magnitude of the area √ √ sq units

Note: We can use formula, the area of parallelogram of diagonals ̅ and ̅ |̅ ̅|

2. If prove that
Solution: Since ̅ ( ) ̅
̅

Similarly we get the other results

3. If and then prove that

Solution: ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅

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̅ (̅ ̅)
But ̅ ̅ ̅ or ̅ (̅ ̅) …………. (1)
Also ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
̅ (̅ ̅)
But ̅ ̅ ̅ or ̅ (̅ ̅) …………. (2)
From (1) and (2) ̅ ̅

4. Prove that the points and are coplanar

Solution: Let the four points be Let be the origin
Then ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅

Now, [̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ] | |

Hence, are coplanar

5. Find the volume of parallelepiped whose conterminal edges are

Solution: The volume of parallelepiped is the scalar triple product of the given vectors

̅ (̅ ̅) | | units

6. A parallelopiped has concurrent edges of lengths along the lines ⁄ ⁄ ⁄

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ respectively. Find the volume of the parallelepiped
Solution: Unit vector along the is
√

̅
√

Similarly ̅ ̅
√ √

Volume of parallelepiped [ ̅ ̅ ̅] | |
√ √

7. Find the volume of the tetrahedron formed by and

Solution: Let the points be respectively and be the origin
Then ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅

volume of the tetrahedron [ ̅ ̅ ̅] | |

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 VECTOR ALGEBRA

8. Prove that [ ]
Solution:
LHS [ ]
[ ]

But

LHS [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

9. Prove that [ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ] [ ]
Solution: LHS [ ]
[ ]

But

LHS ̅ ̅ ̅ [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

10. Prove that [( ) ( )] ( )

Solution: LHS [̅ ( ) ̅ ( ) ̅ ( )] ̅
[( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) (̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ] ̅
(̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
(̅ ̅) ̅ other terms being zero
̅ (̅ ̅)

11. If are the position vectors of the points A, B, C, prove that the vector
is perpendicular to the plane of the triangle ABC.
Solution: We have ̅̅̅̅ ̅ ̅
(̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅)
(̅ ̅) ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅
The given vector is perpendicular to ̅̅̅̅
Similarly we can show that it is perpendicular to ̅̅̅̅ and ̅̅̅̅

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12. If are three non – coplanar vectors, prove that [ ]( ) | |

Solution: Let ̅ and ̅ ̅

̅ Then,

[ ]( ) | || | (Two determinates are multiplied by row by row

| |

̅
| ̅| | |

13. Prove that [ ] | |

Solution: [ ] [ ][ ]
Let ̅ ̅ ̅
By definition of scalar triple product

[ ] | || |

Now, the product of two determinants is obtained by row row multiplication

[ ] | |

| |

14. If ̅ ̅ ̅ find ̅ (̅ ̅)

Solution: ̅ ̅ | |

̅ (̅ ̅) | |

Alternatively, we have,
̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ̅
But ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
( ̅ ̅) ̅
̅ (̅ ̅)

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15. Find the scalars if ( ) ( ) where .

Solution: We have
( ) ( ) ……….. (1) ( ) ( ) ……….. (2)
Now

(1) and (2) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

Equating coefficient of we get

Hence, and

16. Prove that, .

Solution: By definition of vector triple product ( ) ( )

But
If
̅ ̅ ̅
LHS ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅

17. If are coplanar vectors, prove that are also coplanar vectors.
Solution: Since are coplanar [ ]
The vectors will be coplanar if [ ]
LHS [ ]
( ) [( ) ]
( ) {[ ̅] ̅ [ ̅] ̅}
( ) [ ̅] ̅ [ ̅]

(( ) ̅) [ ̅]

[ ̅][ ̅]
[ [ ] ]
Hence, are coplanar

18. If the vectors are non – coplanar show that the vectors are also non –coplanar.
Hence, obtain the scalars l, m, n such that .

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 VECTOR ALGEBRA

Solution: To prove non-coplanarity of the vectors and we have to prove that their scalar triple
product is non-zero.
Hence, consider [ ] [ ]
{[ ] [ ] }
{[ ] }
[ ] ̅ [ ][ ]
[ ][ ] [ ]
Hence, are also non-coplanar
Hence, can be expressed as a linear combination of and
where are scalars to be determined
Now
[ ] [ ]

[ ]

Similarly [ ] [ ]

19. Prove that the vectors ( ) ( ) are coplanar.

Solution: We have ( ) ( ) say
( ) ( ) say
( ) ( ) say
The given vectors are coplanar if
[ ( ) ( )]
Now LHS [ ]
( ) [ ( )]
( ) [ ( ) ( )]
̅ ( ) ( )
( ) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅)

But ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ( ̅ ̅) ̅ ̅ ̅
(If two vectors are same then the scalar triple product in zero)
LHS ̅ ̅ (̅ ̅) [̅ ̅ (̅ ̅ )]

{[ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅ ]} {[ ̅ ̅ ̅] [ ̅ ̅ ̅]}
( changing the order of the vectors cyclically does not change the value of the scalar triple product)

20. If the vector and a scalar satisfy the equation , find the values of and in
terms of . Also determine them if and .
Solution: To find we multiply the given equation scalarly by ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅ ]

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 VECTOR ALGEBRA

…………… (1)

To find we multiply the given equation vectorially by

But ̅ ̅ and ̅ ̅ by data

̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ …………… (2)
For the second part, put and ̅ in (1) and (2),
From (1),
[ ]
(2), ̅

[ ] [ ] [ ]
21. If[ ] , prove that a vector can be expressed as
[ ]

Solution: Since [ ] ̅ ̅ ̅ are non-coplanar vectors and any vector can be uniquely expressed as a linear
combination of
Let ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ …….(i)
Taking dot product of ̅ with
( ) ( ) ̅ ( ) ̅ ( ) ̅ ( )
[ ]
[ ]

[ ] [ ]
Similarly taking dot product of with and we get
[ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ]
Putting the values of we get from (i) ̅
[ ]

22. By considering the product ( ) ( ) in two different ways, show that

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] where a, b, c are non coplanar vectors
Solution:
(i) (̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅
(ii) (̅ ̅) ( ̅ ̅) [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅ [ ̅ ̅ ̅] ̅
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

23. Prove that [ ( )] [ ]( )

Solution: LHS [( ) ( ) ]

( )( ) ( )( )

( )[ ] [ ]( )

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 VECTOR ALGEBRA

24. Prove that * [ ( )]+ ( )[ ]

Solution: LHS [̅ {( ) ̅ ( ) ̅ }]
[( ) ( )( )] ̅

( )( ̅) ( ) (( ) ̅) ( )( ̅)

( )[ ]

25. Prove that [ ( )] ( ) ( )( )

Solution: By vector triple product
[ ( )] [( ) ̅ ( ) ̅]
( ) ( )( )

26. Prove that ( ) [( ) ] [ ( )]

Solution: LHS ( ) [( ) ]
( ) {[ ̅] ̅ [ ̅] ̅}
( ) [ ̅] ̅ [ ̅]

(( ) ̅) [ ̅]

[ ̅][ ̅]

[( ) ̅] RHS

27. Prove that [ ] [ ]

Solution: Since [ ] ̅ ( ) we have
LHS ( ) [ ( )]
( ) {[ ̅] ̅ [ ̅] ̅ }
( ) {[ ]̅ } [ ̅]

[ ] (( ) ̅) [ ][ ̅ ̅ ̅]

[ ][ ] [ ]

28. Prove that ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Solution: By the above Lagrange’s identity

LHS | | | | | | ( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )

( )( ) ( )( )
29. Prove that [( ) ] [ ]( )
Solution: LHS [( ) ]
([ ]̅ [ ] ̅) ̅

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*[ ]̅ + ̅ [ ]

[ ]( )
30. Prove that ( ) [( ) ]
Solution: LHS ( )
[ ]̅ [ ] ̅
[ ]̅ [ ]
[( ) ̅] ̅
31. Prove that ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
Solution: LHS ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
([ ] [ ] ) ([ ] [ ] ) ([ ] [ ] )
([ ] [ ] ) ( [ ] [ ] ) ([ ] [ ] )
LHS [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]
[ ]

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