Skip to content
MiscII · Q171

Q.Prove that (aˉ×bˉ)⋅(cˉ×dˉ)=∣aˉ⋅cˉbˉ⋅cˉaˉ⋅dˉbˉ⋅dˉ∣(\bar a\times\bar b)\cdot(\bar c\times\bar d)=\begin{vmatrix}\bar a\cdot\bar c&\bar b\cdot\bar c\\ \bar a\cdot\bar d&\bar b\cdot\bar d\end{vmatrix}.

Maharashtra MsbshseTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
80% · 171/215 Questions
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

Using the interchangeability of dot and cross in a scalar triple product (property (4) of §5.5.1):

(aˉ×bˉ)⋅(cˉ×dˉ)=aˉ⋅[bˉ×(cˉ×dˉ)].(\bar a\times\bar b)\cdot(\bar c\times\bar d)=\bar a\cdot\left[\bar b\times(\bar c\times\bar d)\right].

Apply the vector triple product expansion to the bracket:

bˉ×(cˉ×dˉ)=(bˉ⋅dˉ)cˉ−(bˉ⋅cˉ)dˉ.\bar b\times(\bar c\times\bar d)=(\bar b\cdot\bar d)\bar c-(\bar b\cdot\bar c)\bar d.

Substituting:

aˉ⋅[(bˉ⋅dˉ)cˉ−(bˉ⋅cˉ)dˉ]=(bˉ⋅dˉ)(aˉ⋅cˉ)−(bˉ⋅cˉ)(aˉ⋅dˉ)=(aˉ⋅cˉ)(bˉ⋅dˉ)−(aˉ⋅dˉ)(bˉ⋅cˉ).\bar a\cdot\left[(\bar b\cdot\bar d)\bar c-(\bar b\cdot\bar c)\bar d\right]=(\bar b\cdot\bar d)(\bar a\cdot\bar c)-(\bar b\cdot\bar c)(\bar a\cdot\bar d)=(\bar a\cdot\bar c)(\bar b\cdot\bar d)-(\bar a\cdot\bar d)(\bar b\cdot\bar c).

This is exactly the expansion of the 2×22\times2 determinant …

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.