Scalar Multiplication in Cross Product

Rarely Tested

Scalar Multiplication in Cross Product

$$\lambda(\vec a\times\vec b)=(\lambda\vec a)\times\vec b=\vec a\times(\lambda\vec b)$$

Usage

- Used to simplify cross-product expressions containing scalar multiples.

Question 1

Let $$\lambda \in \mathbb{R}$$, $$\vec{a} = \lambda\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} - \hat{k}$$, and $$\vec{b} = 2\hat{i} + \lambda\hat{j} + \hat{k}$$. If

$$\left( \left(\vec{a} + \vec{b}\right) \times \left(\vec{a} \times \vec{b}\right) \right) \times \left(\vec{a} - \vec{b}\right) = 25\hat{i} - 20\hat{j} - 10\hat{k}$$

then $$\left| \lambda\left(\vec{a} + \vec{b}\right) \times \left(\vec{a} - \vec{b}\right) \right|^2$$ is equal to:

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