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Bac Cab Rule

This document derives the BAC - CAB rule for cross products using term-by-term component expansion rather than summation notation. It expands the left and right sides of the identity A × (B × C) = B × (A × C) - C × (A × B) into their component forms and shows they are equal through term-by-term cancellation and grouping of like terms. While correct, the document notes that manipulating vector expressions directly using Einstein summation notation is superior, as it is more elegant, compact, and easier to follow compared to the lengthy term-by-term approach.

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427 views2 pages

Bac Cab Rule

This document derives the BAC - CAB rule for cross products using term-by-term component expansion rather than summation notation. It expands the left and right sides of the identity A × (B × C) = B × (A × C) - C × (A × B) into their component forms and shows they are equal through term-by-term cancellation and grouping of like terms. While correct, the document notes that manipulating vector expressions directly using Einstein summation notation is superior, as it is more elegant, compact, and easier to follow compared to the lengthy term-by-term approach.

Uploaded by

ohcomeon
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DERIVATION OF BAC - CAB RULE USING TERM BY TERM COMPONENT EXPANSION

Use term - by - term expansion rather than summation notation to prove the following identity :

Solution :

A B C = B A C - C A B

(1)

The strategy here will be to write out the left hand side and right hand sides in term by term components and show they equal. Let' s start by noting explicitly that each of the vectors can be written in component form :

` ` ` A = Ax x + Ay y + Az z ` ` ` B = Bx x + By y + Bz z ` ` ` C = Cx x + Cy y + Cz z
The right hand side of (1) becomes :

` ` ` B A C - C A B = Bx x + By y + Bz z Ax Cx + Ay Cy + Az Cz ` ` ` Cx x + Cy y + Cz z Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz

All the terms in eq. (2) are scalars, so the order of multiplication is irrelevant. The terms highlighted in red will cancel, leaving us with the following expression for the right side of eq. (1) :

Now, let' s expand the left hand side. We have two cross products, so we should begin by computing the inner cross product :

` B A C - C A B = Bx Ay Cy - Cx Ay By - Cx Az Bz + Bx Az Cz x + ` -Cy Ax Bx + By Ax Cx + By Az Cz - Cy Az Bz y + ` Bz Ax Cx - Cz Ax Bx - Cz Ay By + Bz Ay Cy z

` = Bx Ax Cx + Bx Ay Cy + Bx Az Cz - Cx Ax Bx - Cx Ay By - Cx Az Bz x ` +By Ax Cx + By Ay Cy + By Az Cz - Cy Ax Bx - Cy Ay By - Cy Az Bz y ` +Bz Ax Cx + Bz Ay Cy + Bz Az Cz - Cz Ax Bx - Cz Ay By - Cz Az Bz z

(2)

(3)

BAC-CAB_Rule.nb

` x

` y

` z

B C = Bx By Bz Cx Cy Cz ` x Ax

Now, we use these terms in the computation of the remaining cross product of A(BC):

` ` ` = By Cz - Bz Cy x - Bx Cz - Bz Cx y + Bx Cy - By Cx z ` y ` z Ay Az =

A B C =

By Cz- Bz Cy Bz Cx - Bx Cz Bx Cy - By Cx

` Ay Bx Cy - Ay By Cx - Az Bz Cx + Az Bx Cz x ` -Ax Bx Cy - Ax By Cx - Az By Cz + Az Bz Cy y ` +Ax Bz Cx - Ax Bx Cz - Ay By Cz + Ay Bz Cy z

(5)

A term by term comparison of eqs. (3) and (5) show they are the same, and we have proven the identity. Manipulating vector expressions using Einstein summation notation is far superior to term by term expansion; it is elegant, compact, and easier to follow (once you are familiar with the notation). The sort of term by term expansion shown above is just painful; it requires so many individual steps that you are sure to make at least one if not several errors.

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