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Question #41269

Difficulty: 8/10 | 🟢 Free

The Question

Let a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c} be three non-coplanar vectors such that their scalar triple product [a⃗ b⃗ c⃗]=V[\vec{a} \ \vec{b} \ \vec{c}] = V. Consider the determinant Δ=∣(a⃗×b⃗)⋅(c⃗×a⃗)(a⃗×b⃗)⋅(b⃗×c⃗)∣a⃗×b⃗∣2(b⃗×c⃗)⋅(c⃗×a⃗)∣b⃗×c⃗∣2(b⃗×c⃗)⋅(a⃗×b⃗)∣c⃗×a⃗∣2(c⃗×a⃗)⋅(b⃗×c⃗)(c⃗×a⃗)⋅(a⃗×b⃗)∣\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} (\vec{a}\times\vec{b})\cdot(\vec{c}\times\vec{a}) & (\vec{a}\times\vec{b})\cdot(\vec{b}\times\vec{c}) & |\vec{a}\times\vec{b}|^2 \\ (\vec{b}\times\vec{c})\cdot(\vec{c}\times\vec{a}) & |\vec{b}\times\vec{c}|^2 & (\vec{b}\times\vec{c})\cdot(\vec{a}\times\vec{b}) \\ |\vec{c}\times\vec{a}|^2 & (\vec{c}\times\vec{a})\cdot(\vec{b}\times\vec{c}) & (\vec{c}\times\vec{a})\cdot(\vec{a}\times\vec{b}) \end{vmatrix} Which of the following represents the value of Δ\Delta?

Options

  • A.

    V4V^4

  • B.

    −V4-V^4

  • C.

    V2V^2

  • D.

    −V2-V^2

Check Your Answer

Correct Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Explanation

How the Examiner Thinks

Specialist

Targeted practice for niche, high-difficulty concepts that frequently appear in JEE Advanced exams.

Concepts Behind This Question

Determinant Product Rule|Lagrange Identity|Vector Product Anti-Commutativity

Why This Question Is Tricky

Common Mistakes

This question tests the student's mastery of the determinant product rule and the properties of the scalar triple product.

The primary trap is visual: the determinant closely resembles the Gramian matrix of the vectors a⃗×b⃗,b⃗×c⃗,c⃗×a⃗\vec{a}\times\vec{b}, \vec{b}\times\vec{c}, \vec{c}\times\vec{a}, which would evaluate to +V4+V^4.

However, the columns of the second matrix in the product are reversed relative to the rows of the first.

Students who blindly apply the Gramian identity without verifying the column order will miss the sign inversion caused by the anti-commutativity of the scalar triple product (or equivalently, swapping columns in a determinant), leading them to incorrectly choose V4V^4 instead of −V4-V^4.

Quick Facts About This Question

Question Information

SubjectMathematics
ChapterDeterminants - Class 12
ConceptDeterminant Product Rule
Difficulty8
Cognitive Load7
Target Solve Time160 sec
AccessFree