We consider the coordinates of space vectors in different bases, see the figure.
A
It is apparent from the figure above, that $\mathbf a$, $\mathbf b$ and $\mc$ are linearly independent. A basis $\mathrm m$ is given by $(\mathbf a, \mathbf b,\mathbf c)$. The endpoint of $\mathbf d$ is halfway along the edge opposite of the edge formed by $\mathbf b$ in the parallelepiped. Determine the coordinate vector $_\mathrm m\mathbf d$.
It is also apparent from the figure that $(\mathbf a, \mathbf b,\mathbf d)$ is a basis, let us call this basis $\mathrm n$. Compute the coordinate vector $_\mathrm n\mathbf c$.
hint
From the previous question we get
$\mathbf d= 2\mathbf a+\frac 12 \mathbf b +\mathbf c\,.$ Isolate $\mathbf c$.
Find the volume of the parallelepiped using the formula: the area of the base times the height.
hint
If you choose as the base the parallelogram in the $(x,y)$ plane that is spanned by $\,\ma\,$ and $\,\mb\,,$ then the area of the base is - as is well-known - the length of the cross product of $\,\mathbf N=\ma \times \mb\,.$ The height is found as the length of $\mathrm{proj}(\mc,\mathbf N)\,$.
answer
The length of the cross product is $2$, and the length of the projection is $\,\frac 32 \,.$ Therefore the volume is 3.
Determine using Maple the determinant of the matrix that has the three vectors as columns. Are the three vectors linearly independent?
answer
They are not linearly _in_dependent (they are linearly dependent).
B
A consequence of the answer to question a) is that at least one of the three vectors can be written as a linear combination of the others. Write one of the three vectors as a linear combinations of the other two.
hint
See e.g. Example 10.42 in eNote 10.
answer
As an example it applies that:
$$
(-5,3,3)=-3(3,1,5)+2(2,3,9)\,.$$
C
State the volume of the parallelepiped that is spanned by the vectors $\,(3,1,5),\,(2,3,9)\,\,\,\mathrm{and}\,\,\,(-5,3,3)\,.$
answer
It must be 0, since the vectors are linearly dependent (they are embedded within the same plane and do not span a 3D volume).
D
Determine a vector that is perpendicular to both $\,(3,1,5)\,$ and $\,(2,3,9)\,,$ and that together with the two vectors spans a parallelepiped with the volume $187\,.$
answer
Two possibilities: $\,(-3,-17/2,7/2)\,$ and $\,(3,17/2,-7/2)\,.$