[Math] How to determine if three 3d vectors are creating a triangle

geometrylinear algebravectors

I have a basic homework vectors question which I can't figure.
let's say I have three 3d vectors: $$\vec{a}=2\mathbf{i}-2\mathbf{j}-\mathbf{k}\\
\vec{b}=6\mathbf{i}-3\mathbf{j}+2\mathbf{k}\\
\vec{c}=4\mathbf{i}-\mathbf{j}+3\mathbf{k} $$
How can I tell if the 3 vectors are creating a triangle?
I was thinking about 2 things. first, I can check the angle between every 2 of them using the dot (scalar) method and sum the angles to see if it's $180^\circ$…it's not.
but Iv'e noticed that vectors $\vec{a}+\vec{c}=\vec{b}$ so $\vec{b}$ is closing a triangle if I think about it this way…
What is actually true?
Thanks!

Best Answer

If the vectors form any closed polygon then traversing them all should bring you back where you started:

$$ \vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = 0 $$

In this case the vectors do not form a triangle, though they do if you replace $\vec{b}$ by $-\vec{b}$ i.e. make $\vec{b}$ point in the other direction.