Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 12: Vectors and the Geometry of Space - Section 12.4 - The Cross Product - Exercises 12.4 - Page 719: 32

Answer

Explanation given below.

Work Step by Step

$({\bf u}\times{\bf v})\times{\bf w}$ is perpendicular to both $({\bf u}\times{\bf v})$ and ${\bf w}$. ${\bf u}\times{\bf v}$ is perpendicular to both ${\bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$, if neither of them are zero vectors and they are not parallel (which is the degenerate case in which ${\bf u}\times{\bf v}$=${\bf 0}$). So $({\bf u}\times{\bf v})\times{\bf w}$ is parallel to some vector in the plane determined by ${\bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$. Therefore, $({\bf u}\times{\bf v})\times{\bf w}$ lies in the plane determined by ${\bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$. ${\bf u}\times({\bf v}\times{\bf w})$ is perpendicular to both ${\bf u}$ and $({\bf v}\times{\bf w})$. $({\bf v}\times{\bf w})$ is perpendicular to both ${\bf v}$ and ${\bf w}$, if neither of them are zero vectors and they are not parallel (which is the degenerate case in which ${\bf v}\times{\bf w}$=${\bf 0}$). So ${\bf u}\times({\bf v}\times{\bf w})$ is parallel to some vector in the plane determined by ${\bf v}$ and ${\bf w}$. Therefore, ${\bf u}\times({\bf v}\times{\bf w})$ lies in the plane determined by ${\bf v}$ and ${\bf w}$.
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