Related Formula
A vector c$\vec{\mathbf{c}}$ coplanar with a$\vec{\mathbf{a}}$ and b$\vec{\mathbf{b}}$ and perpendicular to b$\vec{\mathbf{b}}$ can be expressed using the vector triple product command template:
c = λ ( b × ( a × b)) = λ [( b · b) a - ( a · b) b]$$\vec{\mathbf{c}} = \lambda (\vec{\mathbf{b}} \times (\vec{\mathbf{a}} \times \vec{\mathbf{b}})) = \lambda [(\vec{\mathbf{b}} \cdot \vec{\mathbf{b}})\vec{\mathbf{a}} - (\vec{\mathbf{a}} \cdot \vec{\mathbf{b}})\vec{\mathbf{b}}]$$
Core Logic
First, find the dot products of the given vectors:
b · b = 3² + 1² + (-1)² = 9 + 1 + 1 = 11$$\vec{\mathbf{b}} \cdot \vec{\mathbf{b}} = 3^2 + 1^2 + (-1)^2 = 9 + 1 + 1 = 11$$
a · b = (1)(3) + (2)(1) + (3)(-1) = 3 + 2 - 3 = 2$$\vec{\mathbf{a}} \cdot \vec{\mathbf{b}} = (1)(3) + (2)(1) + (3)(-1) = 3 + 2 - 3 = 2$$
Substituting these values into the expression for c$\vec{\mathbf{c}}$:
c = λ [11 a - 2 b]$$\vec{\mathbf{c}} = \lambda [11\vec{\mathbf{a}} - 2\vec{\mathbf{b}}]$$
c = λ [11( i + 2 j + 3 k) - 2(3 i + j - k)]$$\vec{\mathbf{c}} = \lambda [11(\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 2\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 3\hat{\mathbf{k}}) - 2(3\hat{\mathbf{i}} + \hat{\mathbf{j}} - \hat{\mathbf{k}})]$$
c = λ (5 i + 20 j + 35 k) = 5λ ( i + 4 j + 7 k)$$\vec{\mathbf{c}} = \lambda (5\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 20\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 35\hat{\mathbf{k}}) = 5\lambda (\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 4\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 7\hat{\mathbf{k}})$$
Step 1: Determine Lambda
Using the given condition a · c = 5$\vec{\mathbf{a}} \cdot \vec{\mathbf{c}} = 5$:
a · [5λ ( i + 4 j + 7 k)] = 5$$\vec{\mathbf{a}} \cdot [5\lambda (\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 4\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 7\hat{\mathbf{k}})] = 5$$
5λ (1 · 1 + 2 · 4 + 3 · 7) = 5$$5\lambda (1 \cdot 1 + 2 \cdot 4 + 3 \cdot 7) = 5$$
5λ (1 + 8 + 21) = 5 30λ = 1 λ = (1)/(30)$$5\lambda (1 + 8 + 21) = 5 \implies 30\lambda = 1 \implies \lambda = \frac{1}{30}$$
Thus, the vector c$\vec{\mathbf{c}}$ is:
c = (5)/(30)( i + 4 j + 7 k) = (1)/(6)( i + 4 j + 7 k)$$\vec{\mathbf{c}} = \frac{5}{30}(\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 4\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 7\hat{\mathbf{k}}) = \frac{1}{6}(\hat{\mathbf{i}} + 4\hat{\mathbf{j}} + 7\hat{\mathbf{k}})$$
Step 2: Calculate Magnitude
The magnitude of c$\vec{\mathbf{c}}$ is evaluated as:
| c| = √(1² + 4² + 7²)6 = √(1 + 16 + 49)6 = √(66)6 = √((66)/(36)) = √((11)/(6))$$\|\vec{\mathbf{c}}\| = \frac{\sqrt{1^2 + 4^2 + 7^2}}{6} = \frac{\sqrt{1 + 16 + 49}}{6} = \frac{\sqrt{66}}{6} = \sqrt{\frac{66}{36}} = \sqrt{\frac{11}{6}}$$
Pattern Recognition
Whenever a vector is specified to be coplanar with a, b$\vec{\mathbf{a}}, \vec{\mathbf{b}}$ and perpendicular to b$\vec{\mathbf{b}}$, direct setup with the cross-product template b × ( a × b)$\vec{\mathbf{b}} \times (\vec{\mathbf{a}} \times \vec{\mathbf{b}})$ circumvents solving cumbersome linear systems of scalar variables.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Mathematics: Vector Algebra