# Vector homework trouble

1. Mar 19, 2013

### EngnrMatt

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A room has dimensions 2.59 m (height) × 5.81 m × 6.09 m. A fly starting at one corner flies around, ending up at the diagonally opposite corner. (a) What is the magnitude of its displacement? (b) If the fly walks rather than flies, what is the length of the shortest path it can take? (Hint: This can be answered without calculus. The room is like a box. Unfold its walls to flatten them into a plane.)

2. Relevant equations

I'm thinking c=ab*sin($\phi$) has something to do with it (cross product)

3. The attempt at a solution

I took the hint, but honestly I tried it several different ways before giving up. I have an absolutely terrible physics professor and even worse, the book is just as bad at explaining (Halliday and Resnick). I think that this has something to do with cross products of vectors though.

2. Mar 19, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Use the Pythagorean theorem in 3d to compute the box diagonal for the displacement.

For the other you have to try some paths like diagonally across the floor the up the wall or diagonally across a wall... There are a lot of possible walking paths.

3. Mar 19, 2013

### EngnrMatt

Thanks, I didn't realize that pythagorean theorem worked in 3D. Just an example of one of those things that both my professor and the book fail to mention.

4. Mar 20, 2013

### SteamKing

Staff Emeritus
Your math professor should have told you about Pythagoras in 3D.

5. Mar 20, 2013

### vela

Staff Emeritus
It's pretty easy to reason it out on your own. You should get used to the fact you're not going to be spoon-fed everything in college. Playing the victim card and blaming the book and professor for your difficulties is a sure-fire way to fail.

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