# Examples On Vector Triple Product Of Vectors Set-1

Example – 33

For three arbitrary vectors $$\vec a,\vec b,\vec c,$$, prove that the vectors

\begin{align}&{{\vec r}_1} = \vec a \times (\vec b \times \vec c) \hfill \\\\&{{\vec r}_2} = \vec b \times (\vec c \times \vec a) \hfill \\\\&{{\vec r}_3} = \vec c \times (\vec a \times \vec b) \hfill \\& \end{align}

are coplanar.

Solution: Using the expansion rule for the vector triple product obtained in the proceeding discussion, we have

\begin{align}&{{\vec r}_1} = (\vec a \cdot \vec c)\vec b - (\vec a \cdot \vec b)\vec c \hfill \\\\& {{\vec r}_2} = (\vec b \cdot \vec a)\vec c - (\vec b \cdot \vec c)\vec a \hfill \\\\&{{\vec r}_3} = (\vec c \cdot \vec b)\vec a - (\vec c \cdot \vec a)\vec b \hfill \\ &\end{align}

This gives

${\vec r_1} + {\vec r_2} + {\vec r_3} = \vec 0$

which implies that  $${\vec r_1},\;\;{\vec r_2},\;\;{\vec r_3}$$ must be the sides of a triangle, and hence must be coplanar.

Example – 34

For three arbitrary vectors $$\vec a,\;\;\vec b,\;\;\vec c,$$ prove that

$[\vec a \times \vec b \quad \vec b \times \vec c \quad\vec c \times \vec a] = {[\vec a\;\;\vec b\;\;\vec c]^2}$

Solution: The left hand side, upon expansion gives,

$(\vec a \times \vec b) \cdot \left\{ {(\vec b \times \vec c) \times (\vec c \times \vec a)} \right\}$

\begin{align}& = (\vec a \times \vec b) \cdot \left\{ {[\vec a\;\;\vec b\;\;\vec c]\;\vec c} \right\} \hfill \\\\& = \left\{ {(\vec a \times \vec b) \cdot \vec c} \right\}\;[\vec a\;\;\vec b\;\;\vec c] \hfill \\\\&= {[\vec a\;\;\vec b\;\;\vec c]^2} \hfill \\ \end{align}

This also proves as a consequence that $$(\vec a \times \vec b),\;\;(\vec b \times \vec c)\;\;{\text{and}}\;\;(\vec c \times \vec a)$$ are coplanar iff  $$\vec a,\;\;\vec b\;\;{\text{and}}\;\;\vec c$$ are coplanar, a fact that can intuitively be expected.

Example – 35

Show that  $$(\vec a \times \vec b) \times \vec c = \vec a \times (\vec b \times \vec c)$$ if and only if $$\vec a\;\;{\text{and}}\;\;\vec c$$ are collinear.

Solution: Let us first assume that

\begin{align}&\quad\quad (\vec a \times \vec b) \times \vec c = \vec a \times (\vec b \times \vec c) \hfill \\\\& \Rightarrow \quad - \;\vec c \times (\vec a \times \vec b) = \vec a \times (\vec b \times \vec c) \hfill \\\\&\Rightarrow \quad( - \vec c \cdot \vec b)\vec a - ( - \vec c \cdot \vec a)\vec b = (\vec a - \vec c)\vec b - (\vec a \cdot \vec b)\vec c \hfill \\\\&\Rightarrow \quad (\vec b \cdot \vec c)\vec a = (\vec a \cdot \vec b)\vec c \hfill \\\\&\Rightarrow \quad \vec a = \left( {\frac{{\vec a \cdot \vec b}}{{\vec b \cdot \vec c}}} \right)\vec c \hfill \\\\&\qquad\quad= \lambda \vec c\,where\,\lambda \in \mathbb{R} \hfill \\ \end{align}

Since $$\vec a$$  is a scalar multiple of $$\vec c$$, this proves that  $$\vec a\;\;{\text{and}}\;\;\vec c$$ are collinear.

To prove the reverse implication is left to the reader as an exercise.

Download SOLVED Practice Questions of Examples On Vector Triple Product Of Vectors Set-1 for FREE
Vectors
grade 11 | Questions Set 1
Vectors
grade 11 | Answers Set 1
Vectors
grade 11 | Questions Set 2
Vectors
grade 11 | Answers Set 2
Three Dimensional Geometry
grade 11 | Questions Set 2
Three Dimensional Geometry
grade 11 | Answers Set 2
Three Dimensional Geometry
grade 11 | Questions Set 1
Three Dimensional Geometry
grade 11 | Answers Set 1
Learn from the best math teachers and top your exams

• Live one on one classroom and doubt clearing
• Practice worksheets in and after class for conceptual clarity
• Personalized curriculum to keep up with school