Question
Find the value of $\lambda$ so that the following vectors are coplanar:
$\vec{\text{a}}=\hat{\text{i}}+3\hat{\text{j}},\vec{\text{b}}=5\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{c}}=\lambda\hat{\text{i}}-\hat{\text{j}}$

Answer

Given:
$\vec{\text{a}}=\hat{\text{i}}+3\hat{\text{j}}$
$\vec{\text{b}}=5\hat{\text{k}}$
$\vec{\text{c}}=\lambda\hat{\text{i}}-\hat{\text{j}}$
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.
$\therefore\Big[\vec{\text{a}}\ \vec{\text{b}}\ \vec{\text{c}}\Big]=0$
$\Rightarrow\begin{vmatrix}1&3&0\\0&0&5\\\lambda&-1&0 \end{vmatrix}=0$
$\Rightarrow1(0+5)-3(0-5\lambda)+0(0-0)=0$
$\Rightarrow5+15\lambda=0$
$\Rightarrow \lambda=-\frac{1}{3}$

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