I need to prove that, for two linearly independent vectors a,b in RR^3, (a * a)(b * b)−(a * b)(a * b)=(a xx b) * (a xx b) Could someone give me a demonstration of this identity? Or a hint to prove it?

chemicars8

chemicars8

Open question

2022-08-22

I need to prove that, for two linearly independent vectors a , b R 3
( a · a ) ( b · b ) ( a · b ) ( a · b ) = ( a × b ) · ( a × b )
Could someone give me a demonstration of this identity? Or a hint to prove it?

Answer & Explanation

Adrienne Sherman

Adrienne Sherman

Beginner2022-08-23Added 9 answers

The left hand side is the determinant of the Gramian matrix of a and b:
det ( a a a b b a b b ) .
In general, the determinant of a Gramian matrix is the square of the n-dimensional volume of a parallelotope, in this case the square of the area of the parallelogram spanned by a and b.
The right hand side is a × b 2 , where a × b also is the area of the parallelogram spanned by a and b, hence both sides are equal.
slawejagdw

slawejagdw

Beginner2022-08-24Added 1 answers

Observe that ( A × B ) ( A × B ) = | A × B | 2 = | A | 2 | B | 2 sin 2 θ, where θ is the angle between them. Now we have sin 2 θ = 1 cos 2 θ, and I will remind you that A B = | A | | B | cos θ

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