S6.12.4.35 Find the volume of the parallelepiped

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The volume of the parallelepiped formed by the vectors PQ, PR, and PS can be calculated using the formula V = |a·(b×c)|. The points provided are P(2,0,-1), Q(4,1,0), R(3,-1,1), and S(2,-2,2). The direction vectors are defined as follows: PQ = 2i + j + k, PR = i - j + 2k, and PS = -2j + 3k. The final volume is determined to be 3 cubic units.

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$\tiny{s6.12.4.35}$

$\textrm{Find the volume of theparallelepiped with adjacent edges
$PQ, PR$, and $PS$.}$

\begin{align*}\displaystyle
P(2,0,-1),& \, Q(4,1,0), \, R(3.-1.1), S(2,-2,2)\\
\end{align*}
ok I know the problem is basically solved with

\begin{align*}\displaystyle
V&=\left|a\cdot(b\times c)\right|
\end{align*}

but was ? about the edges thing!
 
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karush said:
$\tiny{s6.12.4.35}$

$\textrm{Find the volume of theparallelepiped with adjacent edges
$PQ, PR$, and $PS$.}$

\begin{align*}\displaystyle
P(2,0,-1),& \, Q(4,1,0), \, R(3.-1.1), S(2,-2,2)\\
\end{align*}
ok I know the problem is basically solved with

\begin{align*}\displaystyle
V&=\left|a\cdot(b\times c)\right|
\end{align*}

but was ? about the edges thing!

All that means is that the three edges touch each other...
 
Yes, you can't graph the edges because you don't know what the edges are!

PQ is the line segment from P(2, 0, -1) to Q(4, 1, 0). That line can be written, parametrically, as x= (4- 2)t+ 2= 2t+ 2, y= (1- 0)t+ 0= t, and z= (0- (-1))t- 1= t- 1. That way, when t= 0, x= 2, y= 0, and z= -1 and, if t= 1, x= 4, y= -1, and z= 0.

It has "direction vector", which is the "a" in your formula, (4- 2)i+ (1- 0)j+ (0-(-1))k= 2i+ j+ k.
 
$\vec{PQ} = 2i+j+k$

$\vec{PR} = i-j+2k$

$\vec{PS} = -2j+3k$

$$\vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR}=\begin{vmatrix}
i & j & k\\
2 & 1 & 1\\
1 & -1 & 2
\end{vmatrix}=3i-3j-3k$$

$|\vec{PS} \cdot (\vec{PQ} \times \vec{PR})| = |0 + 6 - 9| = 3$

graph shows edges translated to the origin ...
 

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