VECTOR ALGEBRA

Equal vectors: 𝒂⃗ = 𝒃⃗ , If and only of 𝒂𝟏 = 𝒃𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 and 𝒂𝟑 = 𝒃𝟑

1. Find the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 so that the vectors 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ and 𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ are equal.
2. Find the value of 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 so that the vectors 𝑎⃗ = 𝑥𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ +𝑧𝑘 & 𝑏⃗=2𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝑘
are equal.
For any vectors 𝒂⃗ = 𝒂𝟏 ̂ + 𝒂𝟐 ̂ + 𝒂𝟑 𝒌 & 𝒃⃗ = 𝒃𝟏 ̂ + 𝒃𝟐 ̂ + 𝒃𝟑 𝒌 then,
 𝒂⃗ + 𝒃⃗ = (𝒂𝟏 + 𝒃𝟏 ) ̂ + (𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 ) ̂ + (𝒂𝟑 + 𝒃𝟑 ) 𝒌
 𝒂⃗ − 𝒃⃗ = (𝒂𝟏 − 𝒃𝟏 ) ̂ + (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐 ) ̂ + (𝒂𝟑 − 𝒃𝟑 ) 𝒌
 𝝀𝒂⃗ = 𝝀(𝒂𝟏 ̂ + 𝒂𝟐 ̂ + 𝒂𝟑 𝒌⃗) = 𝝀𝒂𝟏 ̂ + 𝝀𝒂𝟐 ̂ + 𝝀𝒂𝟑 𝒌)
3. Find the sum of the vectors 𝑎⃗ = 𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂ + 𝑘 , 𝑏⃗ = −2𝚤̂ +4𝚥̂ +5𝑘 & 𝑐⃗ =3𝚤̂ − 6𝚥̂ − 7𝑘
4. If 𝑎⃗ = 3𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ +5 𝑘 and 𝑏⃗ = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 , then find 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗ and 𝑎⃗ − 𝑏⃗
5. For any three vectors 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗ , 𝑐⃗, prove that (𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗ )+ 𝑐⃗ = 𝑎⃗ + (𝑏⃗ + 𝑐⃗) [M 2010]
Vectors joining two points:
Let A (𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 , 𝒛𝟏 ) and B (𝒙𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐 , 𝒛𝟐 ) be two points, then
𝑨𝑩⃗ = Position vector of the terminal point – Position vector of the initial
point = 𝑶𝑩⃗ − 𝑶𝑨⃗
= (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ) ̂ + (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 ) ̂ + (𝒛𝟐 − 𝒛𝟏 ) 𝒌
6. Find the vector joining the points 𝑃(2, 3, 0) and 𝑄(−1, −2, −4) directed from P
to Q.
7. Find the scalar and vector components of the vectors with initial point (2, 1)
and terminal point (−5, 7).
The Magnitude of a vector:
If 𝒂⃗ = 𝒙 ̂ + 𝒚 ̂ + 𝒛 𝒌, then magnitude of 𝒂⃗, |𝒂⃗| = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐
8. Find the magnitude of the vector 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟑𝒌
9. the magnitude of the vector 𝒂⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟓 ̂ − 𝟐𝒌
10. Write two different vectors having the same magnitude.
11. Write two different vectors having the same direction.
12. the magnitude of the vector 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ − ̂ + 𝟑𝒌
13. Show that the points A, B and C with position vectors, 𝟑 ̂ − 𝟒 ̂ − 𝟒𝒌 , 𝟐 ̂ − ̂
+ 𝒌 and ̂ − 𝟑 ̂ − 𝟓𝒌 respectively form the vertices of a right triangle.
14. Compute the magnitude of the following vectors
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
a) 𝒂⃗ = ̂ + ̂ + 𝒌 b) 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ − 𝟕 ̂ − 𝟑𝒌 c) 𝒂⃗ = ̂+ ̂− 𝒌
√𝟑 √𝟑 √𝟑

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 𝒂⃗
The unit vector in the direction of 𝒂⃗ = 𝒙 ̂ + 𝒚 ̂ + 𝒛 𝒌 is 𝒂 = |𝒂⃗|
=
𝒙 ̂ 𝒚 ̂ 𝒛𝒌
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒛𝟐

15. Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector 𝒂⃗ = ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝒌

16. Find the unit vector in the direction of vector 𝐏𝐐⃗ , where P and Q are the
points (1, 2, 3) and (4, 5, 6) respectively.
17. Find the direction cosines of the vectors joining the points 𝑨(𝟏, 𝟐, −𝟑) and
𝑩(−𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟏), directed from A to B.
18. For given vectors 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ − ̂ + 𝟐𝒌 and 𝒂⃗ = − ̂ + ̂ − 𝒌 , find the unit vector in
the direction of the vector 𝐚⃗ + ⃗𝐛 .
19. Find the unit vector along 𝐚⃗ − ⃗𝐛, where 𝒂⃗ = ̂ + 𝟑 − 𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟐 + 𝒌
[M2016]
20. Consider the vectors 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟐 − 𝟓𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = − ̂ + 𝟕 ̂
i. Find 𝐚⃗ + ⃗𝐛
⃗ . [Imp 2008, 15]
ii. Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector 𝐚⃗ + 𝐛
21. Let A(1, 2, 4) and B(2, -1, 3) be two points.
i. Find 𝐀𝐁⃗
ii. Find the unit vector along 𝐀𝐁⃗ [ Imp 2009 ]
22. Find a vector in the direction of vector 𝟓 ̂ − ̂ + 𝟐𝒌 which has magnitude 8
units.
23. Find a vector in the direction of 𝒓⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ − 𝟒 that has a magnitude 9. [M 2010]
24. Find the value of 𝒙 for which 𝒙( ̂ + ̂ + 𝒌) is a unit vector.
DIRECTION RATIOS of a line joining P(𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 , 𝒛𝟏 ) and Q(𝒙𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐 , 𝒛𝟐 ) is
a = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
b = 𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚 𝟏
c = 𝒛𝟐 − 𝒛𝟏
DIRECTION COSINES of a vector 𝒓⃗ = 𝒂 ⃗ + 𝒃 ⃗ + 𝒄 𝒌⃗ are [ if a, b, c
are the direction ratios of a line]
𝒂 𝒂
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶 = 𝒍 = |𝒓⃗| = 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
𝒃 𝒃
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 = 𝒎 = |𝒓⃗|
= 𝒍 𝟐 + 𝒎 𝟐 + 𝒏𝟐 = 1
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐
𝒄 𝒄
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜸 = 𝒏 = |𝒓⃗|
=
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒄𝟐
If two vectors have same d.c’s then the vectors have same direction.
25. The dr’s of a line are 𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟓. Find the direction cosines of the line.

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 26. If a line has the direction ratios −𝟏𝟖, 𝟏𝟐, −𝟒, then what are the d.c’s ?
27. Find the direction cosines of the vectors ̂ + 𝟐 + 𝟑𝒌
28. Find the d.c’s of the line passing through the points (−𝟐, 𝟒, −𝟓) and (𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑)
29. Find the direction cosines of the vector joining the points 𝑨(𝟏, 𝟐, −𝟑) and
𝑩(−𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟏), directed from A to B
30. Find the d.c’s of the sides of the triangle whose vertices are
(𝟑, 𝟓, −𝟒), (−𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟐) and (−𝟓, −𝟓, −𝟐).
31. Show that the vector ̂ + ̂ + 𝒌 is equally inclined to the axes OX, OY and
OZ.
32. Find the direction cosines of a line which makes equal angles with the co-
ordinate axes [ M 2010 ]
33. If a line makes angles 900, 1350, 450 with the 𝒙, 𝒚 and 𝒛 axes respectively, find
its direction cosines.
34. Find the direction cosines of x, y and z axis.
35. If 𝜶, 𝜷, 𝜸 are the direction angles of a line.
i. Show that 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝜶 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝜷 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝜸 = 2
ii. Find the value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 +𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜸
Collinear vectors or parallel vectors
If 𝒂⃗ and 𝒃⃗ are collinear/parallel, 𝒂⃗ = 𝝀𝒃⃗ or dr’s are proportional.
36. Let 𝒂⃗ = ̂ + ̂ + 𝒌 , 𝒃⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ +𝟑 ̂ , 𝒄⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ +𝟓 ̂ − 𝟐𝒌 and 𝒅⃗ = – ̂ + 𝒌
i. Find ⃗𝐛 − 𝐚⃗
ii. Find the unit vector along 𝐛 ⃗ − 𝐚⃗
iii. Prove that ⃗𝐛 − 𝐚⃗ and 𝐝⃗ − 𝐜⃗ are parallel vectors. [ M 2009 ]
37. Show that the vectors 𝟐 ̂ − 𝟑 ̂ +𝟒𝒌 and −𝟒 ̂ +𝟔 ̂ −𝟖𝒌 are collinear.
38. Show that the points with position vectors 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟔 ̂ + 𝟑𝒌, ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟕𝒌 and
𝟑 ̂ + 𝟏𝟎 ̂ − 𝒌 are collinear. [ Imp 2009 ]
39. If 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ + ̂ − 𝒌, 𝒃⃗ = ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝒌 and 𝒄⃗ = 3 ̂ − 𝟑𝒌 are the position vectors of
three points 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪. PT 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 are collinear.
40. Show that the points 𝑨(𝟐, 𝟑, −𝟒), 𝑩(𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟑) and 𝑪(𝟑, 𝟖, −𝟏𝟏) are collinear.
41. Show that the points (𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟒), (−𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟏) and (𝟓, 𝟖, 𝟕) are collinear.
42. Using vectors, show that the points 𝑨(𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟕), 𝑩(𝟐, 𝟔, 𝟑) and 𝑪(𝟑, 𝟏𝟎, −𝟏) are
collinear.
Section formula:
If 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ be the position vectors of the points A and B respectively,
then the position vector of the point which divides AB in the ratio

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m:n ,
𝒎𝒃⃗ 𝒏𝒂⃗
 Internally is
𝒎 𝒏
𝒎𝒃⃗ 𝒏𝒂⃗
 Externally is
𝒎 𝒏
𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗
 Midpoint formula
𝟐
43. Find the position vector of a point R which divides the line joining two points
P and Q whose position vectors are 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 and −𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 𝑘 respectively, in
the ratio 2:1
i. Internally ii. Externally
44. Find the position vector of the midpoint of the vector joining the points
𝑃(2,3,4) and 𝑄(4,1, −2).
PRODUCT OF TWO VECTORS:
Scalar or Dot product of two vectors:
𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = |𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗ 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽, where 𝜽 is the angle between 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ , 0≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝝅

 If 𝜽 = 𝟎 or 𝜽 = 𝝅 , then the vectors are parallel or collinear.

𝝅
 If = , then the vectors are perpendicular or orthogonal.
𝟐
 If 𝜽 is an acute angle, then 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ is positive. (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 is positive)
 If 𝜽 is an right angle, then 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ is zero. (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 = 0)
 If 𝜽 is an obtuse angle, then 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ is negative. (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 is negative)
 If 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ are unit vectors, then 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽.
 ̂. ̂ = ̂. =̂ 𝒌. 𝒌 = 1 and ̂. =
̂ ̂. 𝒌 = 𝒌. ̂ = 0
 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ is a real number.
Scalar product ( Component form )
Let 𝒂⃗ = 𝒂𝟏 ̂ + 𝒂𝟐 ̂ + 𝒂𝟑 𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = 𝒃𝟏 ̂ + 𝒃𝟐 ̂ + 𝒃𝟑 𝒌 be two vectors
then 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = 𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟏 + 𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒂𝟑 𝒃𝟑
45. Find 𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗ , when 𝑎⃗ = 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ +2𝑘 and 𝑏⃗ = 3𝚤̂ + 2𝚥 − 𝑘 .
Perpendicular
If 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ be non-zero vectors, then 𝒂⃗ is perpendicular to 𝒃⃗ if and
only if 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = 0.
46. Prove that the vectors 3 ̂ + ̂ +𝟐𝒌 and ̂ − ̂ − 𝒌 are perpendicular.

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 47. Find 𝝀 for which 𝒂⃗ = 𝝀 ̂ − ̂ +𝟓𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟒 ̂ − 𝒌 are orthogonal. [Imp
2009]
𝟏
48. Show that each of the given three vectors is a unit vector: (𝟐 ̂ + 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟔𝒌),
𝟕
𝟏 𝟏
(𝟑 ̂ − 𝟔 ̂ + 𝟐𝒌), (𝟔 ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ − 𝟑𝒌). Also, show that they are mutually
𝟕 𝟕
perpendicular to each other.
49. If 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟑𝒌, 𝒃⃗ = − ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ + 𝒌 and 𝒄⃗ = 𝟑 ̂ + ̂ are such that 𝒂⃗ + 𝝀𝒃⃗ is
perpendicular to 𝒄⃗, then find 𝝀.
Angle between two vectors
𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗
The angle between two vectors 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ is given by 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 = |𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗
or
𝟏 𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗
𝜽 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 |𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗

50. Find the angle between the vectors ̂ − 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟑𝒌 and 𝟑 ̂ − 𝟐 ̂ + 𝒌.

51. Find the cosine of the angle b/w the vectors ̂ + ̂ + 𝒌 and ̂ − ̂ + 𝒌 [Imp17]
52. Find the angle between the vectors ̂ + ̂ and ̂ + 𝒌. [ March 2017 ]
53. Find the angle between the vectors ̂ + ̂ − 𝒌 and ̂ − ̂ + 𝒌. [M 2016]
54. Find the angle between the vectors 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟒 ̂ + 𝒌 and 2 ̂ + 𝟑 ̂ − 𝒌. [Imp 2013]
55. Find the angle between the vectors ̂ − 𝟕 ̂ + 𝟕𝒌 and 𝟑 ̂ − 𝟐 ̂ +𝟐𝒌. [Imp 2014]
56. Consider the vectors 𝒂⃗ = ̂ + 𝟑 ̂ + 𝒌 and 𝒂⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ − ̂ − 𝒌
i. Find 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗
ii. Find the angle between 𝒂⃗ and 𝒃⃗ [ M 2007 ]
57. If ̂ + ̂ +𝒌, 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟓 ̂ , 𝟑 ̂ + 𝟐 ̂ −𝟑𝒌 and ̂ − 𝟔 ̂ − 𝒌 are the position vectors of
points A, B, C and D respectively, then find the angle between 𝑨𝑩⃗ and 𝑪𝑫⃗.
Deduce that 𝑨𝑩⃗ and 𝑪𝑫⃗ are collinear.
58. If the vectors A, B, C of a ∆ABC are (𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑), (−𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟎), (𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐), respectively,
then find ∠𝐀𝐁𝐂.
59. Find the angle between two vectors 𝒂⃗ and 𝒃⃗ with magnitudes √𝟑 and 2,
respectively having 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = √𝟔.
60. Find the angle b/w the vectors 𝒂⃗ and 𝒃⃗ such that |𝒂⃗| = 𝒃⃗ =√𝟐 and 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗
=1[M16]
Projection of a vector on a line:
𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗ 𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗
Projection of 𝒃⃗ on 𝒂⃗ = Projection of 𝒂⃗ on 𝒃⃗ =
|𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗

61. Find the projection of ̂ + ̂ +𝒌 in the direction of ̂ + ̂ [ Imp 2009 ]

62. Find the projection of the vectors ̂ − ̂ on the vector ̂ + ̂. [M 2016]
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 63. Find the projection of the vector ̂ + 𝟑 ̂ +𝟕𝒌 on the vector 𝟕 ̂ − ̂ +𝟖𝒌.
64. Find the projection of the vector 2 ̂ + 𝟑 ̂ +𝟐𝒌 on the vector ̂ + ̂ +𝒌.[M 2017]

65. Let 𝒂⃗ = 𝝀 ̂ + ̂ + 𝟒𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = 𝟐 ̂ + 𝟔 ̂ +𝟑𝒌. If the projection of 𝒂⃗ on 𝒃⃗ is 4 unit.

Find 𝝀.
Properties of scalar product:
 Commutative property: 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ = 𝒃⃗. 𝒂⃗
 Distributive law : 𝒂⃗. ( 𝒃⃗ + 𝒄⃗ ) = 𝒂⃗. 𝒃⃗ + 𝒂⃗. 𝒄⃗
 If 𝝀 is any scalar, then (𝝀𝒂⃗). 𝒃⃗ = 𝝀(𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗ ) = 𝒂⃗.(𝝀𝒃⃗ )
 𝒂⃗. 𝒂⃗ = (𝒂⃗)2 = |𝒂⃗|2
 If 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ are any two vectors
𝟐 𝟐
 𝒂⃗ + 𝒃⃗ = |𝒂⃗|𝟐 + 𝒃⃗ + 2 𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗
𝟐 𝟐
 𝒂⃗ − 𝒃⃗ = |𝒂⃗|𝟐 + 𝒃⃗ − 2 𝒂⃗.𝒃⃗
𝟐
 (𝒂⃗ + 𝒃⃗).(𝒂⃗ − 𝒃⃗) = |𝒂⃗|𝟐 + 𝒃⃗
𝒃 𝒃 𝒃
⇛ If 𝒂⃗ is parallel to 𝒃⃗ , then 𝟏 = 𝟐 = 𝟑 = 𝝀
𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟑

66. Find |𝑎⃗| and 𝑏⃗ , if (𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗ ). (𝑎⃗ − 𝑏⃗ ) = 8 and |𝑎⃗| = 8 𝑏⃗ .

67. Evaluate the product (3𝑎⃗ − 5𝑏⃗ ). (2𝑎⃗ + 7𝑏⃗ )
68. Find |𝑥⃗|, if for a unit vector 𝑎⃗, (𝑥⃗ − 𝑎⃗).( 𝑥⃗ + 𝑎⃗)=12.
69. Find the magnitude of two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗, having the same magnitude and
such that the angle between them is 600 and their scalar product is .
70. If 𝑎⃗. 𝑎⃗ = 0 and 𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗ = 0, then what can be concluded about the vector 𝑏⃗?
71. If 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗, 𝑐⃗ are unit vectors such that 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐⃗ = 0⃗, find the value of
𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗ + 𝑏⃗. 𝑐⃗ + 𝑐⃗. 𝑎⃗
72. If either vector 𝑎⃗ = 0⃗ or 𝑏⃗ = 0⃗, then 𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗ = 0. but the converse need not be
true. Justify your answer with an example.
Vector (or cross) product of two vectors:
𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ = |𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗ 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 𝒏
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ is a vector
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒂⃗ = 𝟎⃗
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ = 𝟎⃗ , if and only if 𝒂⃗ ∥ 𝒃⃗
 ̂ × ̂ = ̂ × ̂ = 𝒌 × 𝒌 = 0 and ̂ × ̂ = −𝒌 , 𝒌× ̂= − ̂ , ̂×𝒌=− ̂

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  ̂× ̂=𝒌, ̂×𝒌= ̂, 𝒌× ̂= ̂
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ = − 𝒃⃗ × 𝒂⃗
 𝒂⃗ × (𝒃⃗ + 𝒄⃗ ) = 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ + 𝒂⃗ × 𝒄⃗
𝝀𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ = 𝝀 (𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ ) = 𝒂⃗ × (𝝀𝒃⃗ )
Angle between two vectors
𝒂⃗×𝒃⃗
The angle between two vectors 𝒂⃗ & 𝒃⃗ is given by 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = or
|𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗
𝟏 𝒂⃗×𝒃⃗
𝜽 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧
|𝒂⃗| 𝒃⃗

Geometrical interpretations:
⃗ is 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗
 Area of the parallelogram with adjacent sides 𝐚⃗ & 𝐛
 Vector area of the parallelogram = 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗
𝟏
⃗ is
 Area of the triangle with adjacent sides 𝐚⃗ & 𝐛 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗
𝟐
vector product ( Component form )
Let 𝒂⃗ = 𝒂𝟏 ̂ + 𝒂𝟐 ̂ + 𝒂𝟑 𝒌 and 𝒃⃗ = 𝒃𝟏 ̂ + 𝒃𝟐 ̂ + 𝒃𝟑 𝒌 be two vectors
̂ ̂ 𝒌
⃗
𝒂⃗ × 𝒃 = 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟑
𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟑
Scalar triple product :
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ . 𝒄⃗ or 𝒄⃗ . 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ is called scalar triple product. Also denoted by
𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗
 𝒂⃗ × 𝒃⃗ . 𝒄⃗ = 𝒂⃗ . 𝒃⃗ × 𝒄⃗ = 𝒃⃗ . (𝒄⃗ × 𝒂⃗) or 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗ = 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗ 𝒂⃗ = 𝒄⃗ 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗
 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗ = − 𝒂⃗ 𝒄⃗ 𝒃⃗
 [𝒂⃗ 𝒂⃗ 𝒄⃗ ] = 𝟎
 𝝀𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗ = 𝝀 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗
 Scalar triple product of three vectors is zero if any two of them are parallel
or collinear.
 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗ = 𝟎 then 𝒂⃗, 𝒃⃗, 𝒄⃗ are coplanar vectors.
 If 𝒂⃗, 𝒃⃗, 𝒄⃗ represent the three co-terminus edges of parallelepiped then its
volume = 𝒂⃗ 𝒃⃗ 𝒄⃗
Scalar triple product ( Component form )
Let 𝑎⃗ = 𝑎 𝚤̂ + 𝑎 𝚥̂ + 𝑎 𝑘 , 𝑏⃗ = 𝑏 𝚤̂ + 𝑏 𝚥̂ + 𝑏 𝑘 and 𝑐⃗ = 𝑐 𝚤̂ + 𝑐 𝚥̂ + 𝑐 𝑘 be 3
vectors

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 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
𝑎⃗ . 𝑏⃗ × 𝑐⃗ = 𝑏⃗ 𝑐⃗ 𝑎⃗ = 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐

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