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Question 86 of 110

Q.(a) Prove that ∣(b+c)2a2a2b2(c+a)2b2c2c2(a+b)2∣=2abc(a+b+c)3\begin{vmatrix} (b+c)^2 & a^2 & a^2 \\ b^2 & (c+a)^2 & b^2 \\ c^2 & c^2 & (a+b)^2 \end{vmatrix} = 2abc(a+b+c)^3. OR

(b) Show that the points given by the position vectors 4i⃗+5j⃗+k⃗4\vec{i}+5\vec{j}+\vec{k}, −j⃗−k⃗-\vec{j}-\vec{k}, 3i⃗+9j⃗+4k⃗3\vec{i}+9\vec{j}+4\vec{k} and −4i⃗+4j⃗+4k⃗-4\vec{i}+4\vec{j}+4\vec{k} are lying on the same plane.
Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC First Year (DGE) Board 2018Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Using the column operations C1→C1−C2C_1\to C_1-C_2 and C2→C2−C3C_2\to C_2-C_3, each entry in the first two columns picks up a factor of (a+b+c)(a+b+c); expanding the resulting determinant and simplifying the algebra proves the identity 2abc(a+b+c)32abc(a+b+c)^3.

Let s=a+b+cs=a+b+c, and let DD be the given determinant.

Step 1 — Introduce column operations.

Apply C1→C1−C2C_1\to C_1-C_2 and C2→C2−C3C_2\to C_2-C_3 (the third column is left unchanged):

C1C_1: (b+c)2−a2=(b+c−a)s(b+c)^2-a^2=(b+c-a)s in Row 1;   b2−(c+a)2=−(c+a−b)s\;b^2-(c+a)^2=-(c+a-b)s in Row 2;   c2−c2=0\;c^2-c^2=0 in Row 3.

C2C_2: a2−a2=0a^2-a^2=0 in Row 1;   (c+a)2−b2=(c+a−b)s\;(c+a)^2-b^2=(c+a-b)s in Row 2;   c2−(a+b)2=−(a+b−c)s\;c^2-(a+b)^2=-(a+b-c)s in Row 3.

Write x=b+c−a, y=c+a−b, z=a+b−cx=b+c-a,\ y=c+a-b,\ z=a+b-c (so x+y+z=sx+y+z=s). The determinant becomes

D=∣xs0a2−ysysb20−zs(a+b)2∣D=\begin{vmatrix} xs & 0 & a^2 \\ -ys & ys & b^2 \\ 0 & -zs & (a+b)^2 \end{vmatrix}

Step 2 — Expand along Row 1.

D=xs[ys(a+b)2−b2(−zs)]+a2[(−ys)(−zs)−0]D = xs\big[ys(a+b)^2 - b^2(-zs)\big] + a^2\big[(-ys)(-zs) - 0\big]

=xs⋅s[y(a+b)2+b2z]+a2 yzs2= xs\cdot s\big[y(a+b)^2+b^2z\big] + a^2\,yzs^2

=s2[xy(a+b)2+xzb2+a2yz]= s^2\big[xy(a+b)^2 + xzb^2 + a^2yz\big]

Step 3 — Simplify the bracket.

Since x=s−2a, y=s−2b, z=s−2cx=s-2a,\ y=s-2b,\ z=s-2c, one has xy=c2−(a−b)2xy=c^2-(a-b)^2, xz=b2−(a−c)2xz=b^2-(a-c)^2, yz=a2−(b−c)2yz=a^2-(b-c)^2. Substituting and expanding:

xy(a+b)2+xzb2+a2yzxy(a+b)^2+xzb^2+a^2yz

=[c2−(a−b)2](a+b)2+b4−b2(a−c)2+a4−a2(b−c)2=\big[c^2-(a-b)^2\big](a+b)^2 + b^4-b^2(a-c)^2 + a^4-a^2(b-c)^2

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