Vector

Identities
Scalar Triple Product Identity
Vector Triple Product Identity

By: Nyce Lyne M. Sumile

Vector Identities

Scalar Triple Product Identity

⃗
A ∙ (⃗ ⃗ ) =⃗
B ×C B ∙ (⃗
C×⃗ ⃗ ∙ (⃗
A )=C A×⃗
B)

Vector Triple Product Identity

⃗
A ×( ⃗ ⃗ )= ( ⃗
B ×C A∙⃗
C)⃗
B− ( ⃗
A ∙⃗
B) ⃗
C

Proof of Scalar Triple Product

Using the Levi Sveta Symbol

⃗
A ∙ (⃗ Ai[ ⃗
⃗ ) =⃗
B ×C Ck ]= Ai ∈ijk B j C k
B j× ⃗

Using the Einstein Summation conversion

¿ B j ∈ jki C k A i=¿ B j =[ ⃗ A ] j=¿ ⃗

C×⃗ ⃗×⃗
B ∙ (C A)

Dot Product

¿⃗ ⃗×⃗
B∙ (C A ) =Bi ∈ijk C j A k

Using the Cyclical Nature

= C j ∈ jki A k Bi=¿ ⃗
C ∙ (⃗
A×⃗
B)

Another way of looking at Scalar Triple Product is considering that;

⃗
A ∙ (⃗ ⃗)
B ×C

determinants

We’ve learned that, we have to write a cross product as determinant.

i j k
So, ⃗
A ∙ ( ⃗
B × ⃗
C ) = ⃗
A ∙ B 1 B 2 B3
C 1 C 2 C3

A 1 A 2 A3
= B 1 B2 B3
C 1 C2 C 3

A1 times the ( ith) component plus A2 times the (jth) component plus A3 times

(kth) component which results into a 3 by 3 determinant.

∴ So the scalar triple product is just this three by three determinants and the

identity ⃗
A ∙ (⃗ ⃗ ) =⃗
B ×C B ∙ (⃗
C×⃗ ⃗ ∙ (⃗
A )=C A×⃗
B ) is basically the cyclical permutation of

the rows of the determinant.

Scalar Triple Product Identity

Example: ⃗
A=3i− j+2 k ⃗
B=2 i+ j−k ⃗
C =i−2 j+2 k

Show that ⃗
A ∙ (⃗ ⃗ ) =⃗
B ×C B ∙ (⃗
C×⃗ ⃗ ∙ (⃗
A )=C A×⃗
B)

Left hand side x y

3 −1 2
Solving for LHS; ⃗
A ∙ ( ⃗
B × ⃗
C ) = 2 1 −1 A (1st row), B(2nd row) and C
1 −2 2
rd
(3 row) components
Determinants

Note: Write the coefficients of vectors A, B and C components as our

determinants.

Expand (signs should be alternate ( + - + ));

¿3 |−21 −12 |−(−1)|21 −12 |+2|21 −21 |

¿ 3|2−2|+ 1|4+1|+ 2|−4−1|

¿ 5+ (−10 )

⃗
A ∙ (⃗ ⃗ ) =5
B ×C

2 1 −1
Solving for x; ⃗
B ∙ ( ⃗
C × ⃗
A ) = 1 −2 2 B (1st row), C (2nd row) and A
3 −1 2
(3rd row) components
Determinants
Note: Write the coefficients of vectors B, C and A components as our

determinants.

Expand (signs should be alternate ( + - + ));

¿2 |−2 2
−1 2|−1|
1 2
3 2|−1|
3 −1|
1 −2

¿ 2|−4 +2|−1|2−6|−1|−1+6|
¿−4 +4−5
⃗ ⃗×⃗
B ∙ (C A ) =5

1 −2 2
C ∙ (⃗
Solving for y; ⃗ B ) =3 −1 2
A×⃗ C (1st row), A (2nd row) and B
2 −1 −1
(3rd row) components
Determinants
Note: Write the coefficients of vectors C, A and B components as our

determinants.

Expand (signs should be alternate ( + - + ));

¿1 |−11 −12 |−(−2)|32 −12 |+ 1|32 −11 |

¿ 1|1−2|+2|−3−4|+2|3−(2)|

¿−1−14+ 10
⃗
C ∙ (⃗
A×⃗
B ) =5

General Conclusion: Thus, ⃗

A ∙ (⃗ ⃗ ) =⃗
B ×C B ∙ (⃗
C×⃗ ⃗ ∙ (⃗
A )=C A×⃗
B) is true for

⃗
A=3i − j+2 k ⃗
B=2 i+ j−k ⃗
C =i−2 j +2 k
Vector Triple Product Identity

Example: ⃗
A=3i− j+2 k ⃗
B=2 i+ j−k ⃗
C =i−2 j+2 k

Show that ⃗
A ×( ⃗ ⃗ )= ( ⃗
B ×C A∙⃗
C)⃗
B− ( ⃗
A ∙⃗
B) ⃗
C

Left hand side Right hand side

Solution:
i j k
Solving for LHS ⃗
A × ( ⃗
B × ⃗
C ) = ⃗
A × 2 1 −1
1 −2 2

Expand (signs should be alternate ( + - + ));

| | |
A ×i 1 −1 − j 2 −1 +k 2 1
¿⃗
−2 2 1 2 1 −2 | | |
Simplify

¿⃗
A ×i ( 2−2 )− j ( 4 — 1 )+ k (−4−( 1 ))

¿⃗ A × (( ⃗
A × ( 0 i−5 j−5 k ) ¿ ⃗ ⃗ ))
B ×C

Get the components of vector A from the given and cross it with the cross
product of vectors B and C. The equation will be in the form.

3 i− j+2 k × 0i−5 j−5 k =⃗

A ×( ⃗
B ×⃗
C)

i j k
A ×( ⃗
⃗ ⃗ )=3 −1 2
B ×C
0 −5 −5

Expand (signs should be alternate ( + - + ));

¿i |−1
−5 −5| |0 −5| |0 −5|
−1
−j
3 2
+k
3 −1

¿ i ( 5+10 )− j (−15−0 ) +k (−15−0 )

⃗
A ×( ⃗ ⃗ )=15 i +15 j−15 k
B ×C

Solving for RHS ( ⃗

A∙⃗
C) ⃗
B – (⃗
A∙⃗
B) ⃗
C.
Substitute the given to the equation:

(3 i− j+2 k )∙(i−2 j+2 k )(2 i+ j−k ¿−(3i− j +2 k )∙ ( 2i+ j−k ) (i −2 j+ 2 k)

Simplify using the dot product properties:

(Note that we can only obtain greater values than 0 if we get the product of

two the same unit vectors.)

Properties:

i∙ i= j∙ j=k ∙k =1

i∙ j= j ∙ k=k ∙ i=0

Operation/ signs should be (-), it will only be changed depending on the sign

of the component.

(3 i− j+2 k )∙(i−2 j+2 k )(2 i+ j−k ¿−(3i− j +2 k )∙ ( 2i+ j−k ) (i −2 j+ 2 k)

¿(3+ 2+ 4)(2 i+ j−k )−( 6−1−2)(i −2 j+ 2 k)

¿ 9(2i+ j−k )−3(i−2 j+ 2 k)

=(18 i+ 9 j−9 k )−(3 i−6 j+6 k )

Combine like terms: =(15 i+ 15 j−15 k )

General Conclusion: Thus, ⃗

A ×( ⃗ ⃗ )= ( ⃗
B ×C A∙⃗
C)⃗
B− ( ⃗
A ∙⃗
B) ⃗
C is true for

⃗
A=3i − j+2 k ⃗
B=2 i+ j−k ⃗
C =i−2 j +2 k