determine whether the dot product is distributive with respect to the cross product.

Question

turingtest · Answer

we want to know if$$v\cdot (u\times w)=(v\cdot u)\times (v\cdot w)$$$$???$$so write out the formula for each side and compare the results

anonymous · Answer

i think that's what it's asking and i did that and determined that it is not distributive

turingtest · Answer

correct

anonymous · Answer

but i honestly have no clue what i'm doing lol

turingtest · Answer

you may be able to get away with doing it with numbers, but they want you to set up random vectors and try to simplify I believe
what part is troubling you?

anonymous · Answer

well i just wasn't sure if that's correct. i did use letters and i'm going to go with my answer. the next question is determine whether the cross product is associative. would i go  u x (v x w) = (u x v) x w then determine if that does indeed equal each other or not

turingtest · Answer

exactly

anonymous · Answer

thanks !

turingtest · Answer

no prob, looks like you just needed confirmation :D