Show that the four points having position vectors are coplanar.

Vectors parallel to the same plane, or lie on the same plane are called coplanar vectors

The three vectors are coplanar if one of them is expressible as a linear combination of the other two.


Let the four points be denoted be P, Q, R and S for , , and respectively such that we can say,






Let us find , and .


So,







Also,







And,







Now, we need to show a relation between , and .


So,





Comparing coefficients of , and , we get


–6x – 4y = 10 …(i)


10x + 2y = –12 …(ii)


–6x + 10y = –4 …(iii)


For solving equation (i) and (ii) for x and y, multiply equation (ii) by 2.


10x + 2y = –12 [× 2


20x + 4y = –24 …(iv)


Solving equations (iv) and (i), we get



14x = –14



x = –1


Put x = –1 in equation (i), we get


–6(–1) – 4y = 10


6 – 4y = 10


–4y = 10 – 6


–4y = 4



y = –1


Substitute x = –1 and y = –1 in equation (iii), we get


–6x + 10y = –4


–6(–1) + 10(–1) = –4


6 – 10 = –4


–4 = –4


, L.H.S = R.H.S


The value of x and y satisfy equation (iii).


Thus, , , and are coplanar.


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