Thread: the cross product

i wasn't @ school the day we learned the cross product.
heres my first question, just help me get this one so i can complete the worksheet please!!!

<-8,13,-2> X <-2,19,1>

Originally Posted by needmathhelptoujours

i wasn't @ school the day we learned the cross product.
heres my first question, just help me get this one so i can complete the worksheet please!!!

<-8,13,-2> X <-2,19,1>

Do you know how to find determinants? There isn't really anything fancy to understand, the cross product is just a defintion.

If "a" and "b" are the vectors:




The cross-product is the vector defined by:



This is difficult to remember, it's best if you know how to find determinants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_product

If you scroll down to "matrix" notation, you'll see how the determinant definition makes 3-by-3 cross products a little easier to remember.