Exercise · ZW-CROSS-PRODUCT-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

Compute \(\langle1,2,3\rangle\times\langle4,5,6\rangle\).

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(\langle-3,6,-3\rangle\)

Explanation

\(\mathbf i\) component: \(2\cdot6-3\cdot5=-3\); \(\mathbf j\) component: \(-(1\cdot6-3\cdot4)=6\); \(\mathbf k\) component: \(1\cdot5-2\cdot4=-3\). The middle term of the expansion carries a minus sign.

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Review the concept: Cross product

The cross product of two vectors \(\mathbf u\) and \(\mathbf v\) in \(\mathbb R^3\) is the vector perpendicular to both whose length is the area of the parallelogram they span, oriented by the right-hand rule.

\[\mathbf u\times\mathbf v=\begin{vmatrix}\mathbf i&\mathbf j&\mathbf k\\u_1&u_2&u_3\\v_1&v_2&v_3\end{vmatrix}\]

More practice problems: cross product

ZW-CROSS-PRODUCT-002 →