STUDYORB

EXERCISE 3(a)
→ → →
1. Determine [ a , b , c ] if
→ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^
(i) a = 2 i − 3 j, b = i + j − k, c = 3 i − k (CBSE 1991)
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
(ii) a = 2 i − 3 j + 4 k , b = i + 2 j − k , c = 3 i − j + 2 k (CBSE 1992)
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
(iii) a = 5 i − 4 j + k , b = − 4 i + 3 j − 2 k, c = i − 2 j − 7 k
^ ^ ^
2. If i , j, k is an orthogonal unit vector triad in a right handed system, then prove that

(i) [^i ^j k^ ] = [ ^j k^ ^i ] = [k^ ^i ^j] = 1 (ii) [^i k^ ^j] = [ ^j ^i k^ ] = [k^ ^j ^i ] = − 1

(iii) [^i ^j k^ ] + [^i k^ ^j] = 0

→ → → →
3. If α and β are any vectors. Prove that β ⋅ ( α × β ) = 0
4. Find the volume of the parallelopiped whsoe edges are represented by the vectors
→ → →
(i) a = 2 ^i − 3 ^j + k^ , b = ^i − ^j + 2 k^ and c = 2 ^i + ^j − k^ (CBSE 2000 C)
→ ^ → ^ →
(ii) a = 2 ^i + 3 ^j + 4 k , b = ^i + 2 ^j − k , c = 3 ^i − ^j + 2 k^ (Pb 1994)
→ → →
(iii) a = 2 ^i − 3 ^j + 4 k^ , b = ^i + 2 ^j − k^ , c = 2 ^i − ^j + 2 k^ (CBSE 1992)
→ → →
(iv) a = 11^i , b = 2 ^j, c = 13 k^ (Pb)
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
5. The volume of a parallelopiped whose edges are represented by − 12 i + λ k , 3 j − k , 2 i + j − 15 k is 546.
Find the value of λ.
6. A (1, 1, 1), B (2, 1, 3), C (3, 2, 2) and D (3, 3, 4). Find the volume of the parallelopiped of which the
segments AB, AC and AD are coterminous edges.
→ → →
[Hint. Volume = AB ⋅ ( AC × AD ) ]
7. Find the volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices have the position vectors
(i) 0, ^i + ^j − k^ , ^i − ^j + k^ , − ^i + ^j + k^
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
(ii) − i + k , − 2 i − j, 3 i + 2 j + 5 k , i + 2 j + k
8. Find the volume of the tetrahedron with vertices (1, 2, 1), (3, 2, 5), (2, − 1, 0) and (− 1, 0, 1).
^ ^ ^
9. Find the value of λ if the volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices have position vectors i − 6 j + 10 k,
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
− i − 3 j + 7 k , 5 i − j + λ k and 7 i − 4 j + 7 k is 11 cubic units.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
10. Prove that [i − j, j − k, k − i ] = 0
11. Show that each of the following triads of vectors are coplanar :
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
(i) a = i + 2 j − k, b = 3 i + 2 j + 7 k, c = 5 i + 6 j + 5 k (CBSE 1992)
→
(ii) a = ^i − 2 ^j + 3 k^ , − 2 ^i + 3 ^j − 4 k^ , and ^i − 3 ^j + 5 k^
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → → →
12. If a = 2 i − j + k, b = i − 3 j − 5 k, c = 3 i − 4 j − 4 k, determine [ a , b , c ] and interpret the result.
13. Find the value of λ such that the following vectors are coplanar :
(i) 2 ^i − 4 ^j + 5 k^ , ^i − λ ^j + k^ , 3 ^i + 2 ^j − 5 k^ (CBSE 1992)
→ → →
(ii) a = ^i − ^j + k^ , b = 2 ^i + ^j − k^ , c = λ ^i − ^j + λ k^ (CBSE 1995)
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
(iii) 2 i − j + k , i + 2 j − 3 k , 3 i + λ j + 5 k
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
14. Prove that the four points 4 i + 5 j + k , − ( j + k ), 3 i + 9 j + 4 k and 4 (− i + j + k ) are coplanar.
(NMOC 1995)
15. Show that the four points having position vectors i − j + 2 k , 6 i + 11 j + 2 k , i + 2 j + 6 k , i + 1 j + 4 k are
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
2
coplanar. (CBSE 1993)
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
16. Show that the four points having position vectors 6 i − 7 j, 16 i − 19 j − 4 k, 3 j − 6 k, 2 i − 5 j + 10 k are
not coplanar. (CBSE 1999, 93)
 STUDYORB

17. Show that the poitns A (− 1, 4, − 3), B (3, 2, − 5), C (− 3, 8, − 5) and D (− 3, 2, 1) are coplanar.
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
18. Show that the four points − a + 4 b − 3 c , 3 a + 2 b − 5 c , − 3 a + 8 b − 5 c and − 3 a + 2 b + c are
coplanar.
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
19. Prove that four points 2 a + 3 b − c , a − 2 b + 3 c , 3 a + 4 b − 2 c and a − 6 b + 6 c are coplanar.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
20. Find the value of λ so that the four points with position vectors − j + k, 2 i − j − k, i + λ j + k and
^ ^
3 j + 3 k are coplanar. (CBSE 2000, (S.P.) 2003)
→ → → → → → → → →
21. Show that a , b , c are coplanar if and only if b + c , c + a , a + b are coplanar.
→ → → → →→→ →→→ →→→ →→→
22. Show that the four poitns a , b , c , d are coplanar if [ b c d ] + [ c a d ] + [ a b d ] = [ a b c ]
(A.P. 2000)
→ → → →
[Hint. Let a , b , c , d be the position vectors of A, B, C, D respectively. Then these points will be
→ → → → → →
coplanar if DA , DB and DC are coplanar, i.e., if [ DA , DB , DC ] = 0
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
i.e., if [ a − d , b − d , c − d ] = 0 ⇒ ( a − d ) [( b − d ) × ( c − d )] = 0
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
⇒ a ⋅ ( b × c ) − a ⋅ ( b × d ) − a (d × c ) − d ⋅ ( b × c ) + d ⋅ ( b × d ) − d ⋅ (d × c ) =
→→→ →→→ →→→ →→→
⇒ [ a b c ] − [ a b d ] − [ a d c ] − [d b c ] = 0
→→→ →→→ →→→ →→→
⇒ [ a b c ] = [ a b d ] + [ a d c ] + [d b c ]
→→→ →→→ →→→ →→→
⇒ [a b c ] = [a b d ] + [c a d ] + [b c d ] (Theorem 2, Art 3.6)
→ → → →→→
23. If a , b , c are unit vectors perpendicular to each other, prove that [ a b c ]2 = 1.
→ → → → → → → → →
24. Simplify (i) a ⋅ ( a × b ) (ii) ( b + c ) ⋅ [( c + a ) × ( a + b )].
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
25. Find a unit vector coplanar with i + j + 2 k and i + 2 j + k and perpendicular to i + j + k .
(I.I.T. 1992)
^ ^ ^
[Hint. Let the reqd. vector be x i + y j + z k . Since it is coplanar with other two given vectors, their
x y z
scalar triple product is 0, i.e., 1 1 2 = 0 ⇒ 3x − y − z = 0.
1 2 1
^ ^ ^
Also it is perp. to i + j + k = 0 ∴ x + y + z = 0.
^ ^
^ ^ y ( j − k)
Solving, we get x = 0, y = − z. Hence the reqd. vector is y j − y k or unti vector is
±y 2
^ ^
j−k
=± ]
2
→ → →
26. Three vectors a = (12, 4, 3), b = (8, − 12, − 9), c = (33, − 4, − 24) define a parallelopiped. Evaluate the
length of its edges, area of its faces and its volume. (Roorkee)
→ → →
[Lengths are | a |,| b | and | c | C E
→ →
Area OABD = area CFGE = | a × b | F G
→ →
Area FABG = area CODE = | a × c | →
c
→ →
Area FAOC = area GBDE = | b × c | →
O a
→→→ D
Volume = [ a b c ]. →
b
→ → → → → →
a⋅ a a⋅b a⋅ c A B
→→→ 2 → → → → → →
27. Prove that [ a b c ] = b ⋅ a b⋅b b⋅ c (B.I.T. Mesra 1997)
→ → → → → →
c⋅a c⋅b c⋅c
→
[Hint. Take a = a1 ^i + a2 ^j + a3 k^ etc.
 STUDYORB

→ → →
Σa1
2
Σa1b1 Σa1c1 a⋅ a
→→→2
a1 a2 a3 a1 a2 a3 → → →
2
[ a b c ] = b1 b2 b3 × b1 b2 b3 = Σa1b1 Σb1 Σb1c1 = b ⋅ a
c1 c2 c3 c1 c2 c3 2 → → →
Σa1c1 Σb1c1 Σc1 c⋅a

[For product of two determinants see Art. 1.27 (Property 10) in Part I]
→ → → → → →
→ → → A⋅ B × C B⋅ A × C
28. If A, B , C are three non-coplanar vectors, then → → →
+ → → →
= .... (I.I.T.)
C × A⋅ B C⋅ A × B
→→→ →→→ →→→ →→→ 
A B C] [B A C] [ A B C] − [ A B C]
[Hint. L.H.S. [→ →→
+ →→→
= →→→
= 0.

[C A B ] [C A B ] [ A B C] 
→ → → → →
29. If l , m, n are three non-coplanar vectors and a , b are two vectors, then prove that
→ → → → →
l⋅a l⋅b l
→ → → → → → → → → →
[ l , m, n ] ( a × b ) = m ⋅ a m⋅ b m (A.P. 2000)
→ → → → →
n⋅ a n⋅ b n
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
[Hint. Type solved Ex. 18. Let l = l1 i + l2 j + l3 k, m = m1 i + m2 j + m3 k, n = n1 i + n2 j + n3 k and
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k , b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k
^ ^ ^
→→→
l1 l2 l3 → → i j k
Then [ l m n ] = m1 m2 m3 and a × b a1 a2 a3
n1 n2 n3 b1 b2 b3
^ ^ ^ 
→→→ → →
l1 l2 l3 i j k 
∴ [ l m n ] ( a × b ) = m1 m2 m3 ⋅ a1 a2 a3  .
n1 n2 n3 b1 b2 b3 


ANSWERS
1. (i) − 14 (ii) − 7 (iii) 0
4. (i) 14 cubic units (ii) 37 cubic units (iii) 10 cubic units
(iv) 286 cubic units 5. − 3 or 197 6. 5 cubic units
2 2
7. (i) 3
cubic units (ii) 3 cubic units 8. 6 cubic units
26
9. λ = 7 12. 0, given vectors are coplanar
13. (i) 25
(ii) 1 (iii) − 4 20. λ = 1
26. Lengths of edges are 13, 17 and 41 units, Area of faces are 220 sq. units 435 sq. units and 455 sq. units,
volume is 3696 cubic units.
 STUDYORB

EXERCISE 3(b)
1. Write down the value of
(i) (
i ×
j) × k
(A.P. 1998) (ii)
j × (k
×
i) + k
× (
i ×
j)
(iii)
i × (
j × k
) +
j × (k
×
i) + k
× (
i ×
j)
→ → → → → → → → →
(iv) a × ( b × c ) + b × ( c × a ) + c × ( a × b ) . (A.P. 1997, 98)
→ → → → → →
2. If a = (2, − 10, 2), b = (3, 1, 2) and c = (2, 1, 3), then find the value of | a × ( b × c ) | .
→ → →
3. Find a × ( b × c ) if
→ → →
(i) a = 3i
− 2
j + 2k
, b = 6i
+ 4
j − 2k
, c = − 3i
− 2
j − 4k

→ → →
(ii) a = 2
i +
j − k
, b =
i − 2
j + 2k
, c = 3
i −
j + 2k

→ → →
(iii) a =
i − 2
j + k
, b = 2
i +
j + k
, c =
i + 2
j − k
(A.P. 1996, 99)
→ → → → → →
4. Evaluate ( b × c ) × a where a = 2i
+ 3
j − 5k
, b = − i
+
j + k
and c = 4i
+ 2
j + 6k
.
→ → →
5. Find | ( a × b ) × c | if
→ → →
(i) a =
i − 2
j + k
, b = 2
i +
j + k
, c =
i + 2
j − k

→ → →
(ii) a =
i − 2
j + 3k
, b = 2
i +
j + k
and c =
i +
j + 2k

→ → → → → →
6. Compute a × ( b × c ) and ( a × b ) × c and determine whether these are not the same
→ → →
(i) a = 2i
+ 5
j − 7k
, b = − 3
i + 4
j + k
c =
i − 2
j − 3k
(CBSE)
→ → →
(ii) a =
i − 2
j − 3k
, b = 2
i +
j − k
and c =
i + 3
j − 2k
(A.P. 1998)
→ → → → →
7. Define the vector product of two vectors a and b . If a = 2
i −
j + k
, b =
i + 2
j − k
and c = 2
i + 3
j,
→ → → → → →
then find ( a × b ) × c and a × ( b × c ). (CBSE)
→ → → → → →
8. Define vector product of two vectors and show that ( b × c ) × a ≠ b × ( c × a ) where
→ → →
a = 2i
+ 3
j − 5k
, b = − i
+
j + 2 k
and c = 4i
− 2
j + 3k
. (CBSE)
→ → → → → → → → →
9. Verify that a × ( b × c ) = ( a ⋅ c ) b − ( a ⋅ b ) c by taking
→ → →
(i) a =
i + 2
j + 3k
, b = 2
i +
j − k
and c =
j + k

→ → →
(ii) a = 2
i + 2
j − k
, b = 3
i −
j − k
and c =
i + 2
j − 3k
(CBSE 2001)
→ → →
(iii) a =
i −
j + 2k
, b = 2
i +
j − 3k
and c =
i + 2
j − k
(CBSE 2001)
→ → →
(iv) a =
i +
j, b =
j − 3k
and c =
i + 4 k
(AICBSE 2003)
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
10. If a = 2i
− 3
j + 4k
, b = i
+ 2
j − k
and c = 3i
−
j + 2k
, verify that ( b × c ) × a = ( b ⋅ a ) c − ( c ⋅ a ) b .
→ → → → → → →
11. If α = 2
i +
j − 3k
, β = −
i + 2
j − k
, γ =
i +
j + k
find ( α × β ) ⋅ ( α × γ ).
12. Prove that
i × (
j × k
) = (
i ×
j) × k
= 0. [Hint.
i × (
j × k
) = (
i ⋅ k
)
j − (
i ⋅
j)k
= 0
j − 0k
= 0 ]
13. Prove that
i × (
j × k
) +
j × (k
×
i) + k
× (
i ×
j) = 0.
→ → → →
14. Prove that a × ( b × a ) is coplanar with a .
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
[Hint. a ⋅ [ a × ( b × a )] = a [( a ⋅ a ) b − ( a ⋅ b ) a ] = ( a ⋅ b ) ( a ⋅ a ) − ( a ⋅ a ) ( a ⋅ b ) = 0
→ → →
⇒ a and ( b × a ) are coplanar.]
→ → → → → →
15. Prove that a × ( b × a ) = ( a × b ) × a .
→ → → → →→→ →
16. Prove that ( b × c ) × ( c × a ) = [ a b c ] c .
→ → → → → → → → → → → → →→→ → →→→ →
[Hint. ( b × c ) × ( c × a ) = [( b × c ) ⋅ a ] c − [( b × c ) ⋅ c ] a = [ a b c ] c − [ c b c ] a = ]
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
17. Prove that ( A × B ) ⋅ ( B × C ) × (C × A) = ( A⋅ B × C ) 2. Hence show that the vectors A, B , C are non-
→ → → → → →
coplanar, if and only if A × B , B × C , C × A are non-coplanar.
 STUDYORB

→ → → →→→
[Hint. A, B, C , are non-coplanar ⇒ [ A B C] ≠ 0
→→→ → → → → → → → → → → → →
⇒ [ A B C ]2 ≠ 0 ⇒ [( A × B ), ( B × C ), (C × A)] ≠ 0 ⇒ A × B, B × C , C × A are non-coplanar].
→ → → → → → → →
18. Prove that a × [ a × ( a × b )] = ( a ⋅ a ) ( b × a ).

[Hint. → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
a × [ a × ( a × b )] = a × [( a ⋅ b ) a − ( a ⋅ a ) b ] = ( a ⋅ b ) ( a × a ) − ( a ⋅ a ) ( a × b )
→ → → → → → → → →
= 0 + ( a⋅ a ) ( b × a ) = ( a⋅ a ) ( b × a ) ]

19. If → → → → → →
A, B , C and a , b , c are any vectors, prove that
→ → → → → →
A⋅ a A⋅ b A⋅ c
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
( A⋅ B × C ) ( a ⋅ b × c ) = B⋅ a B⋅ b B⋅ c
→ → → → → →
C⋅ a C⋅ b C⋅ c
→ →
[Hint. Let A = A1
i + A2
j + A3 k
, a = a1
i + a2
j + a3 k
etc, then
A1 A2 A3 a1 a2 a3
→ → → → → →
( A⋅ B × C ) ( a ⋅ b × c ) = B1 B2 B3 b1 b2 b3
C1 C2 C3 c1 c2 c3
A1a1 + A2a2 + A3a3 A1b1 + A2b2 + A3b3 A1c1 + A2c2 + A3c3
= B1a1 + B2a2 + B3a3 B1b1 + B2b2 + B3b3 B1c1 + B2c2 + B3c3
C1a1 + C2 a2 + C3a3 C1b1 + C2b2 + C3b3 C1c1 + C2c2 + C3c3
→ → → → → → 
A⋅ a A⋅ b A⋅ c 
→ → → → → →
= B⋅ a B⋅ b B⋅ c 
→ → → → → →

C⋅ a C⋅ b C ⋅ c 

ANSWERS
→ → → →
1. (i) 0 (ii) 0 (iii) 0 (iv) 0
2. 0 3. (i) − 60
i − 40
j + 50k
(ii) 9
i − 8
j + 10k
(iii) − 9
i − 6
j − 3k

4. − 32
i + 8
j − 8k
5. (i) 174 (ii) 5 14
→ → → → → →
6. (i) ( a × b ) × c = − 11
i + 122
j − 85k
, a × ( b × c ) = − 46
i + 66
j + 34k
(ii) No
→ → → → → →
7. ( a × b ) × c = − 15
i + 10
j − 9k
, a × ( b × c ) = 3
i + 5
j − k
.
→ → →
8. ( b × c ) × a = (6 − 20 2 − 5 3
i) − (4 − 10 2 − 5 3)
j + ( 3 − 2 2)k
.
→ → →
b × ( c × a ) = (16 − 20 2 − 2 6)
i + (16 + 10 2 − 3 6)
j + ( 3 − 30)k
. 11. 0
 STUDYORB

EXERCISE 3(c)
→ → → →
1. If a =
i + 2
j − k
, b = 3
i − 4k
, c = −
i +
j and d = 2
i −
j + 3k
, then evaluate
→ → → → → → → →
(i) ( a × b ) ⋅ ( c × d ) (ii) ( a × b ) × ( c × d )
→ → → → → → → →
2. If a = 2
i +
j − 3k
, b =
i − 2
j + k
, c = −
i +
j − 4k
and d =
i +
j + k
find | ( a × b ) × ( c × d ) | .
→ → → →
3. If a = 2
i +
j − 3k
, b =
i − 2
j + k
, c = −
i +
j − 4k
and d =
i +
j + k
, then find the value of
→ → → →
( a × b ) × ( c × d ). (A.P. 1997)
→ → → →
4. If a = (2, 1, − 3), b = (1, − 2, 1), c = (− 1, 1, − 4) and d = (1, 1, 1) then find the value of
→ → → → → → → →
(i) | ( a × b ) ⋅ ( c × d ) | (ii) | ( a × b ) × ( c × d ) |
→ → → →
5. If a , b , c , d are four vectors, then prove that
→ → → → → → → → → → → → →→→ →
( a × b ) × ( c × d ) + ( a × c ) × (d × b ) + ( a × d ) × ( b × c ) = − 2 [ b c d ] a .
→ → → → →→→ → →→→ →
[Hint. ( a × b ) × ( c × d ) = [ a b d ] c − [ a b c ] d ...(1)

→ → → → → → → → →→→ → →→→ →
( a × c ) × (d × b ) = − (d × b ) × ( a × c ) = − [d b c ] a + [d b a ] c ...(2)

→ → → → → → → → →→→ → →→→ →
(a × d ) × (b × c ) = − (b × c ) × (a × d ) = − [b c d ] a + [b c a] d ...(3)
Add (1), (2) and (3)].

ANSWERS

1. (i) − 15 (ii) 17
i − 26
j − 27k
2. 5 114

3. − 5
i − 35
j + 40k
4. (i) 0 (ii) 2850