Calculating area of a parallelogram defined by 2 vectors

[WinstonB]

Homework Statement

"Find the area of a parallelogram defined by the two vectors P=(4,-10,3) and Q=(2,1,0)"

Homework Equations

The area of the parallelogram is equal to the magnitude of the cross product of the two vectors? i.e. Area = |PXQ|

The Attempt at a Solution

PXQ = (-10x0-3x1)-(4x0-3x2)-(4x1-(-10)x2)=-3-(-6)-(-16)=25

-> area of parallelogram = 25(?)

 

[ehild]

Homework Statement

"Find the area of a parallelogram defined by the two vectors P=(4,-10,3) and Q=(2,1,0)"

Homework Equations

The area of the parallelogram is equal to the magnitude of the cross product of the two vectors? i.e. Area = |PXQ|

That is right.

The Attempt at a Solution

PXQ = (-10x0-3x1)-(4x0-3x2)-(4x1-(-10)x2)=-3-(-6)-(-16)=25

-> area of parallelogram = 25(?)

The cross product is a vector - you wrote a scalar. Check how to calculate a vector product.

ehild

 

[WinstonB]

so I should have = 3i - 6j + 24k?

I can't see how to get an area from the vectors.

 

[HallsofIvy]

The formula you wrote was "Area = |PXQ|". What does the | | mean?