Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / Paper 2 / 17 / c / i

For $\mathbf{b}=0$, a nonzero coefficient vector $(x,y,z)$ with $x{\mathbf{c}}_1+y{\mathbf{c}}_2+z{\mathbf{c}}_3=0$ is precisely a linear dependence of the three columns. Three vectors in three dimensions are linearly dependent exactly when the determinant of their column matrix, or their scalar triple product, is zero. ThusFor this square homogeneous linear system, the condition is also sufficient.