# Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products

• November 18th 2012, 09:09 AM
Vileblood
Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products
Use the definition of cross products to prove that for any vectors, a, b, c,
a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x c)
*the variables have a little arrow on top of them
please show all work for this problem
• November 18th 2012, 09:18 AM
Plato
Re: Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products
Quote:

Originally Posted by Vileblood
Use the definition of cross products to prove that for any vectors, a, b, c, a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x c)
please show all work for this problem

Why have you not shown any work whatsoever?
• November 18th 2012, 09:22 AM
Vileblood
Re: Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products
I don't know where to begin with this problem.
• November 18th 2012, 09:52 AM
skeeter
Re: Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products
Quote:

Originally Posted by Vileblood
I don't know where to begin with this problem.

Since the instructions say to use the definition of a cross product, I'd start there.
• November 18th 2012, 10:34 AM
Plato
Re: Lesson 8-4 Perpendicular Vectors: Cross products
Quote:

Originally Posted by Vileblood
I don't know where to begin with this problem.

Start with $a=,~b=,~\&~c=$.

Then use the definitions to find $a\times b + a\times c$.

Then try to unpack it to get $a\times(b+c)$.