Answer
The vector that appears to be a scalar multiple of $\mathbf{v}$ is $\mathbf{w}$, where the scalar is negative.
Work Step by Step
The scalar multiples of $\mathbf{v}$ are the vectors $\mathbf{w}$, $\mathbf{a}$, and $\mathbf{b}$.
The vector $\mathbf{w}$ is a negative scalar multiple of $\mathbf{v}$, because it is anti parallel with $\mathbf{v}$.
The vector $\mathbf{a}$ is a positive scalar multiple of $\mathbf{v}$ because it is parallel with $\mathbf{v}$.
The vector $\mathbf{b}$ is also a positive scalar multiple of $\mathbf{v}$, because it is parallel with $\mathbf{v}$, and its length is also the same as vector $\mathbf{v}$, so its scalar multiple is 1.
Therefore, the vector that appears to be a scalar multiple of v is $\mathbf{w}$, where the scalar is
negative.
