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Question 78

Let $$\vec{a}$$, $$\vec{b}$$, $$\vec{c}$$ be three vectors mutually perpendicular to each other and have same magnitude. If a vector $$\vec{r}$$ satisfies $$\vec{a} \times \{\vec{r} - \vec{b} \times \vec{a}\} + \vec{b} \times \{\vec{r} - \vec{c} \times \vec{b}\} + \vec{c} \times \{\vec{r} - \vec{a} \times \vec{c}\} = \vec{0}$$, then $$\vec{r}$$ is equal to:

Given,

$$\vec a\times\{(\vec r-\vec b)\times\vec a\}+\vec b\times\{(\vec r-\vec c)\times\vec b\}+\vec c\times\{(\vec r-\vec a)\times\vec c\}=\vec0$$

Also,

$$\vec a,\vec b,\vec c$$

are mutually perpendicular and have equal magnitude.

Let

$$|\vec a|=|\vec b|=|\vec c|=k$$

Using vector triple product identity,

$$\vec x\times(\vec y\times\vec z)=(\vec x\cdot\vec z)\vec y-(\vec x\cdot\vec y)\vec z$$

Now,

$$\vec a\times\{(\vec r-\vec b)\times\vec a\}=(\vec a\cdot\vec a)(\vec r-\vec b)-\vec a\big(\vec a\cdot(\vec r-\vec b)\big)$$

Since

$$\vec a\cdot\vec a=k^2$$

and

$$\vec a\cdot\vec b=0,$$

we get

$$\vec a\times\{(\vec r-\vec b)\times\vec a\}=k^2(\vec r-\vec b)-(\vec a\cdot\vec r)\vec a$$

Similarly,

$$\vec b\times\{(\vec r-\vec c)\times\vec b\}=k^2(\vec r-\vec c)-(\vec b\cdot\vec r)\vec b$$

and

$$\vec c\times\{(\vec r-\vec a)\times\vec c\}=k^2(\vec r-\vec a)-(\vec c\cdot\vec r)\vec c$$

Adding all three,

$$3k^2\vec r-k^2(\vec a+\vec b+\vec c)-\left[(\vec a\cdot\vec r)\vec a+(\vec b\cdot\vec r)\vec b+(\vec c\cdot\vec r)\vec c\right]=\vec0$$

Since

$$\vec a,\vec b,\vec c$$

form an orthogonal basis,

$$k^2\vec r=(\vec a\cdot\vec r)\vec a+(\vec b\cdot\vec r)\vec b+(\vec c\cdot\vec r)\vec c$$

Substituting,

$$3k^2\vec r-k^2(\vec a+\vec b+\vec c)-k^2\vec r=\vec0$$

$$2k^2\vec r=k^2(\vec a+\vec b+\vec c)$$

Hence,

$$2\vec r=\vec a+\vec b+\vec c$$

Therefore,

$$\boxed{\vec r=\frac12(\vec a+\vec b+\vec c)}$$

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