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Q.aˉ,bˉ,cˉ\bar{a}, \bar{b}, \bar{c} are non-coplanar vectors. Prove that the following four points are coplanar −aˉ+4bˉ−3cˉ-\bar{a} + 4\bar{b} - 3\bar{c}, 3aˉ+2bˉ−5cˉ3\bar{a} + 2\bar{b} - 5\bar{c}, −3aˉ+8bˉ−5cˉ-3\bar{a} + 8\bar{b} - 5\bar{c}, −3aˉ+2bˉ+cˉ-3\bar{a} + 2\bar{b} + \bar{c}.

Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education (Intermediate 1st Year) 2024Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Express three of the differences (each point minus the first point) in terms of the non-coplanar basis aˉ,bˉ,cˉ\bar a,\bar b,\bar c; the points are coplanar exactly when this 3×33\times3 coefficient determinant vanishes, which it does.

Given points (position vectors): P1=−aˉ+4bˉ−3cˉP_1=-\bar a+4\bar b-3\bar c, P2=3aˉ+2bˉ−5cˉP_2=3\bar a+2\bar b-5\bar c, P3=−3aˉ+8bˉ−5cˉP_3=-3\bar a+8\bar b-5\bar c, P4=−3aˉ+2bˉ+cˉP_4=-3\bar a+2\bar b+\bar c.

Step 1. Since aˉ,bˉ,cˉ\bar a,\bar b,\bar c are non-coplanar, they form a basis. Four points are coplanar iff the vectors P2−P1P_2-P_1, P3−P1P_3-P_1, P4−P1P_4-P_1 are linearly dependent, i.e. their coefficient-determinant (in the aˉ,bˉ,cˉ\bar a,\bar b,\bar c basis) is zero.

Step 2. Compute the differences:

P2−P1=4aˉ−2bˉ−2cˉP_2-P_1 = 4\bar a - 2\bar b - 2\bar c

P3−P1=−2aˉ+4bˉ−2cˉP_3-P_1 = -2\bar a + 4\bar b - 2\bar c

P4−P1=−2aˉ−2bˉ+4cˉP_4-P_1 = -2\bar a - 2\bar b + 4\bar c

Step 3. Form the determinant of coefficients:

Δ=∣4−2−2−24−2−2−24∣\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} 4 & -2 & -2 \\ -2 & 4 & -2 \\ -2 & -2 & 4 \end{vmatrix}

Step 4. Expand: …

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