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Compute some vector algebra expressions

Let

    \[ A = (2,4,-7), \qquad B = (2,6,3), \qquad C = (3,4,-5). \]

Compute each of the following (and insert appropriate parentheses to make sensible expressions):

  1. A \cdot BC;
  2. A\cdot B + C;
  3. A + B \cdot C;
  4. AB \cdot C;
  5. A/B \cdot C.

  1. First, we have A \cdot BC means (A \cdot B)C, then we compute

        \begin{align*}  (A \cdot B)C &= ((2,4,-7) \cdot (2,6,3))(3,4,-5) \\  &= ((2)(2) + (4)(6)+ (-7)(3)) (3,4,-5)\\  &= (4 + 24 - 21)(3,4,-5)\\  &= 7(3,4,-5)\\  &= (21,28,-35). \end{align*}

  2. First, we have A \cdot B + C means A \cdot (B+C), then we compute

        \begin{align*}  A \cdot (B+C) &= (2,4,-7) \cdot ((2,6,3) +(3,4,-5)) \\  &= (2,4,-7) \cdot (5,10,-2)\\  &= (2)(5) + (4)(10) + (-7)(-2) \\  &= 10 + 40 + 14\\  &= 64. \end{align*}

  3. First, we have A + B \cdot C means (A+B)\cdot C, then we compute

        \begin{align*}  (A+B) \cdot C &= ((2,4,-7) + (2,6,3)) \cdot (3,4,-5) \\  &= (4,10,-4) \cdot (3,4,-5)\\  &= (4)(3)+ (10)(4) + (-4)(-5) \\  &= 12 + 40 + 20 \\  &= 72. \end{align*}

  4. First, we have AB \cdot C means A(B \cdot C), then we compute

        \begin{align*}  A(B \cdot C) &= (2,4,-7)((2,6,3) \cdot (3,4,-5)) \\  &= (2,4,-7)((2)(3) + (6)(4) + (3)(-5)) \\  &= (2,4,-7)(6 + 24 - 15)\\  &= (2,4,-7)(15)\\  &= (30,60,-105). \end{align*}

  5. First, we have A/B\cdot C means A / (B \cdot C), then we compute

        \begin{align*}  A / (B \cdot C) &= (2,4,-7) / ((2,6,3) \cdot (3,4,-5)) \\  &= (2,4,-7) / ((2)(3) + (6)(4) + (3)(-5)) \\  &= (2,4,-7) / (6 + 24 - 15) \\  &= (2,4,-7) / (15) \\  &= \left( \frac{2}{15}, \frac{4}{15}, -\frac{7}{15} \right). \end{align*}

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