PROBLEMS ON TRIOLE ORODUCT OF VECTORS

1. Compute the following scalar triple products

(i)(2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 ) . ( 𝑖⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 ) × ( 2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 )

(ii) (2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 ) . (3 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 4 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 ) × (4 𝑖⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 5 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 )

(iii) (- 2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 ) . (-2 𝑖⃗⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 ) × (4 𝑖⃗⃗ - 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 )

2. Find the volume of a parallelepiped whose concurrent edges are represented by the vectors

(i)2 𝑖⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 , 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 , 2 𝑖⃗⃗ + 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 3 𝑖⃗⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 5 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 3𝑘 𝑘 , 𝑖⃗⃗ - 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 3 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑖⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑘

(iii)2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 3 𝑖⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

3. Prove that the following four points are coplanar

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 3 𝑘

(i)2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 3 𝑖⃗⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 2 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑖⃗⃗ - 6 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 6 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑘
(ii)4 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 5 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 3𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 9 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗ , and 4 ( - 𝑖⃗⃗ + 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 3 𝑘

(iii)- 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 4 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 6 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗ and -12 𝑖⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

4. Find the constant 𝛼 such that the given vectors are coplanar

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑖⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑘

(i)2 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 3 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + a 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 5 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 3 𝑖⃗⃗ + 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 𝑘

(ii) 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 2 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , -3 𝑖⃗⃗ - 6 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + a 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

(iii)3𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 , 4 𝑖⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 , a 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘

5. Find the volume of tetrahedron whose vertices are

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , - 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 7 𝑘

(i) 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 6 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 10 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 5 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 7 𝑖⃗⃗ - 4 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 7 𝑘
⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 2 𝑖⃗⃗ + 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 4 𝑘

(ii) 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 4 𝑖⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑘
𝑘 , 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
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 (iii) 𝑖⃗⃗⃗ - 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 , 2 𝑖⃗⃗ + 3 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 , 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 and 𝑖⃗⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ - ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑘

6. Prove that (i) 𝑖 × ( 𝑎

⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑖⃗⃗ ) + 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ × ( 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑗⃗⃗⃗ ) + k × ( 𝑎 𝑘 ) = 2a

⃗⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑏⃗ ) ⃗⃗⃗⃗
(ii) ( 𝑎 𝑏 + ⃗𝑏⃗ × ( 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗2 ) 𝑎
𝑏 ) = (𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑏⃗, ⃗⃗⃗

(iii)[𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑏⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ]
⃗⃗⃗ ] = 2 [𝑎
𝑏 + 𝑐 , 𝑐⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑎

⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) × ( 𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎

(iv)(𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑏⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ] 𝑐⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) = [𝑎

⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏⃗ ) × (𝑎
(v)[(𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) ] . ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑑 = [𝑎 𝑏 𝑐⃗⃗ ] ( 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ )
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑

2
7. ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏⃗, 𝑏
Prove that (i) [𝑎 ⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ ] = [𝑎 ⃗⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ]
⃗⃗⃗ 𝑏

⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) . (𝑎
(ii)(𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ ) + (𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑑 ⃗⃗ × 𝑑
⃗⃗⃗ ) . (𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ ) + (𝑎 ⃗⃗ ) . (𝑐 × 𝑑
⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ ) = 0

⃗⃗⃗ ) × (𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏
(iii) (𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) × (𝑏
⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) + (𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ ) + (𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ ) = [𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ ) × (𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑏 ⃗⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ] (𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ 𝑏 ⃗⃗ + 𝑐⃗⃗ )
⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑏

(iv) 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) , 𝑏

⃗⃗⃗ × (𝑏 ⃗⃗ × (𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ ) , 𝑐⃗⃗ × (𝑎 ⃗⃗ ) are coplanar .
⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏

𝑎 . 𝑎 𝑎. 𝑏⃗ 𝑎. 𝑐 2
8. Prove that | 𝑏⃗ . 𝑎 𝑏⃗. 𝑏⃗ 𝑏⃗. 𝑐 | = [𝑎 𝑏⃗ 𝑐 ]
𝑐 . 𝑎 𝑐 . 𝑏⃗ 𝑐 . 𝑐

⃗𝑖 . 𝑎 𝑖. 𝑏⃗ 𝑖. 𝑐
9. Prove that |𝑚
⃗⃗ . 𝑎 𝑚 ⃗⃗ . 𝑐 | = [𝑖⃗ 𝑚
⃗⃗ . 𝑏⃗ 𝑚 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗𝑏⃗ ⃗⃗𝑐 ]
⃗⃗⃗ ] [𝑎
𝑛⃗. 𝑎 𝑛⃗. 𝑏⃗ 𝑛⃗. 𝑐

10. If 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎1 𝑖⃗ + 𝑎2 𝑚 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑎3 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗𝑏⃗ = 𝑏1 𝑖⃗ + 𝑏2 𝑚
⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑏3 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ = 𝑐1 𝑖⃗ + 𝑐 𝑚
⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑐3 𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗𝑏⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ]=
⃗⃗⃗ then [𝑎
𝑎1 𝑎1 𝑎1
| 𝑏1 𝑏1 𝑏1 | [𝑖⃗ 𝑚
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ ] where 1, m, n are non coplanar vectors.
𝑐1 𝑐1 𝑐1

11. ⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗

If 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗𝑏⃗ , ⃗𝑏⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎
𝑏 , 𝑐⃗⃗ are coplanar vectors then prove that 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ are also coplanar .

12. Prove that the equation of plane through the points 𝑎 ⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑏 and 𝑐⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ] + [𝑟⃗⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ 𝑎
is [𝑟⃗⃗ 𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ ] +
⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
[𝑟⃗⃗ 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗𝑏⃗ 𝑐⃗⃗ ] ,
𝑏 ] = [𝑎

13. If 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ be three unit vectors such that 𝑎

⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑏 ⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) = ½ 𝑏
⃗⃗⃗ × ( 𝑏 ⃗⃗ , 𝑏
⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ are non – parallel then
find the angle between 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 also 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ .
Abhyaas Tutorial 2Venue : Near M.I.T. Exchange Gate,
Bairiya Road, LaxmiChowk, Muzaffarpur
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14. If 𝑎⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗𝑏⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ , ⃗𝑏⃗ = 𝑐⃗⃗ × 𝑎
𝑏 , 𝑐⃗⃗ are three non-zero vectors such that 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗𝑏⃗ find |𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ = 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ |
⃗⃗⃗ | , |𝑏
, |𝑐⃗⃗ |

15. Find the scalars 𝛼 and 𝛽 if 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) + (𝑎

⃗⃗⃗ × (𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 ) ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 = (4 – 2 𝛽 – sin𝛼 ) ⃗𝑏⃗ + ( 𝛽 - 1 ) 𝑐⃗⃗ and (𝑐⃗⃗ . 𝑐⃗⃗ )
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑐⃗⃗ where ⃗𝑏⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ are non – collinear.
𝑎

16. ⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑏⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ are such that 𝑎

Vectors 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑏⃗ = 𝑐⃗⃗ , ⃗𝑏⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ = 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑏⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ are mutually
⃗⃗⃗ then prove that 𝑎
perpendicular vectors.

17. ⃗⃗⃗ = 0, 𝑟⃗⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗

If 𝑟⃗⃗ . 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 = 0 , 𝑟⃗⃗ . 𝑐⃗⃗ = 0 for non – zero 𝑟⃗⃗ , then find value of [𝑎 𝑏 𝑐⃗⃗ ] .

⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑐
𝑏 ⃗⃗
18. ⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑏⃗ , 𝑐⃗⃗ are three non-coplanar units vectors and 𝑎
If 𝑎 ⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗⃗ ) =
⃗⃗⃗ × ( 𝑏 then find the angle
√2
between 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ .

19. If 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ = 2 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ - 2𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗𝑏⃗ = 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ and 𝑐⃗⃗ is a vector such that 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑐⃗⃗ = |𝑐⃗⃗ | , |𝑐⃗⃗ − 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗ | = 2 √2 and the
angle between 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 and 𝑐⃗⃗ is 30° , then find the value of |(𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗𝑏⃗ ) × 𝑐⃗⃗ |.

20. A particle acted on by constant forces 4 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ - 3 ⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 and 3 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ - ⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 is displaced from the point 𝑖⃗ + 2
⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑗⃗ + 3 𝑘 to the point 5 𝑖⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗ + 𝑘 . find the work done by the forces.

21. Constant force 𝑃⃗⃗⃗ = 2 𝑖⃗ - 5 𝑗⃗ + 6 𝑘⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑄 ⃗⃗⃗ act on a particle . determind the work
⃗⃗⃗ = - 𝑖⃗ + 2 𝑗⃗ - 𝑘
done when the particle is displaced from a point A with position vector 4 𝑖⃗ - 3 𝑗⃗ - 2 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑘 to the point
⃗⃗⃗
B with position vector 6 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ - 3𝑘 .

22. Forces acting on a particle have magnitudes 5, 3, 1 and act in the direction of the vectors (6, 2 ,3 ),
(3, -2,6), (2, -3, 6) respectively. These remain constant while the particle is displaced from the point
A (4, -2, -6 ) to B (7, -2, -2). Find the work done by the fprces.

23. Find the moment vector of the force 4 𝑖⃗ - 𝑗⃗ + 2 ⃗⃗⃗

𝑘 about the point (1,1, -2) passing through the
point (3, -1, 4).

24. Find the magnitude of the torque ( moment vector ) about (1, -1, -1) of the force 3 𝑖⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗ -5 ⃗⃗⃗
𝑘
acting at ( 1, 0, -2 ).

25. The vertices of a triangle ABC are A (-1, 0, 2), B (1, 2, 0) and C (2, 3, 4). Find the moment of a force
of magnitude 10N acting at A along AB, about C.

ANSWER
1. (i) -14 (ii) 21 (iii) 0

Abhyaas Tutorial 2Venue : Near M.I.T. Exchange Gate,

Bairiya Road, LaxmiChowk, Muzaffarpur
Mob. 7654129419, 8863852869, 9709799480
2. (i) 6 (ii) 56 (iii)7

3.
4. (i) a = -4 (ii) a = 6 (iii) a = 6

5. (i) 11 cubic units (ii) 6 cubic units (iii) 3 cubic units

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. 90° , 60°

14. |𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ | = |𝑐⃗⃗ | = 1

⃗⃗⃗ | = |𝑏

𝜋
15. 𝛼 = 2 , 𝛽 = 1
16.
17. 0

3𝜋 𝜋
18. ,4
4

19. 3/2

20. 40 units

21. 15 units

22. 33 units

⃗⃗⃗
23. 2 𝑖⃗ + 20 𝑗⃗ + 6 𝑘

24. √19 units

50 √6
25. 3

Abhyaas Tutorial 2Venue : Near M.I.T. Exchange Gate,

Bairiya Road, LaxmiChowk, Muzaffarpur
Mob. 7654129419, 8863852869, 9709799480
 Abhyaas Tutorial 2Venue : Near M.I.T. Exchange
Gate, Bairiya Road, LaxmiChowk, Muzaffarpur
Mob. 7654129419, 8863852869, 9709799480