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Exercise 8.2 · Q9

Q.Show that the following vectors are coplanar

(i) i^−2j^+3k^, −2i^+3j^−4k^, −j^+2k^\hat i - 2\hat j + 3\hat k,\ -2\hat i + 3\hat j - 4\hat k,\ -\hat j + 2\hat k
(ii) 5i^+6j^+7k^, 7i^−8j^+9k^, 3i^+20j^+5k^5\hat i + 6\hat j + 7\hat k,\ 7\hat i - 8\hat j + 9\hat k,\ 3\hat i + 20\hat j + 5\hat k
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Concept understanding — Position Vectors and Section Formula

Fix an origin OO. For any point PP, the vector OP⃗\vec{OP} is the position vector of PP with respect to OO. This single vector encodes the point's entire location, and it converts geometry problems into vector algebra.

The fundamental link. For any two points A,BA,B with position vectors a⃗=OA⃗\vec a=\vec{OA}, b⃗=OB⃗\vec b=\vec{OB}: AB⃗=OB⃗−OA⃗=b⃗−a⃗.\vec{AB}=\vec{OB}-\vec{OA}=\vec b-\vec a.

Section formula (internal division). If PP divides segment ABAB internally in the ratio m:nm:n (i.e. AP:PB=m:nAP:PB=m:n), then OP⃗=na⃗+mb⃗n+m.\vec{OP}=\frac{n\vec a+m\vec b}{n+m}. Idea of the proof: since AP⃗\vec{AP} and PB⃗\vec{PB} point the same way and n∣AP⃗∣=m∣PB⃗∣n|\vec{AP}|=m|\vec{PB}|, we get n AP⃗=m PB⃗n\,\vec{AP}=m\,\vec{PB}; writing AP⃗=r⃗−a⃗\vec{AP}=\vec r-\vec a and PB⃗=b⃗−r⃗\vec{PB}=\vec b-\vec r (where r⃗=OP⃗\vec r=\vec{OP}) and solving gives the formula.

Section formula (external division, without proof). If PP divides ABAB externally in the ratio m:nm:n: OP⃗=mb⃗−na⃗m−n.\vec{OP}=\frac{m\vec b-n\vec a}{m-n}.

Midpoint. Setting m=n=1m=n=1 in the internal formula: the midpoint of ABAB has position vector a⃗+b⃗2\dfrac{\vec a+\vec b}{2}. …

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