Question
Find the value of $\lambda$ so that the following vectors are coplanar:
$\vec{\text{a}}=\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{b}}=3\hat{\text{i}}+\lambda\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{c}}=\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}+2\hat{\text{k}}$

Answer

Given:
$\vec{\text{a}}=\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}-3\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{b}}=3\hat{\text{i}}+\lambda\hat{\text{j}}+\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{c}}=\hat{\text{i}}+2\hat{\text{j}}+2\hat{\text{k}}$
We know that vectors $\vec{\text{a}},\vec{\text{b}},\vec{\text{c}}$ are coplanar iff $\Big[\vec{\text{a}}\ \vec{\text{b}}\ \vec{\text{c}}\Big]=0.$
It is given that $\vec{\text{a}},\vec{\text{b}},\vec{\text{c}}$ are coplanar.
$\therefore\Big[\vec{\text{a}}\ \vec{\text{b}}\ \vec{\text{c}}\Big]=0$
$\Rightarrow\begin{vmatrix}1&2&-3\\3&\lambda&1\\1&2&2 \end{vmatrix}=0$
$\Rightarrow1(2\lambda-2)-2(6-1)-3(6-\lambda)=0$
$\Rightarrow5\lambda-30=0$
$\Rightarrow\lambda=6$

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