Calculus 3 Page 3 of 16

The Cross Product of Two Vectors

Topic: The Cross Product

Sub Topic: Operations on Vectors

IV. LESSON PROPER

LET’S BEGIN!

Lesson 1. Vector Multiplication

In mathematics, the cross product or vector product is a binary operation on two vectors in three-
dimensional space. However, if A and B are two nonparallel vectors, representations of these vectors with
the same initial point determine a plane. We show that a vector whose representations are perpendicular to
this plane is given by the vector operation called the cross product of A and B.

The cross product is a vector operation for vectors in V3 that we did not have for vectors in V2.
Let us first define this operation and then consider its algebraic, as well as its geometric properties.

Definition: If A = 〈 𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐 , 𝒂𝟑 〉 and B = 〈 𝒃𝟏 , 𝒃𝟐 , 𝒃𝟑 〉, then the cross product of A and B denoted by

A x B, is given by

A x B = 〈𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟑 − 𝒂𝟑 𝒃𝟐 , 𝒂𝟑 𝒃𝟏 − 𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟑 , 𝒂𝟏 𝒃𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟏 〉

Because the cross product of two vectors is a vector, the cross product is also called the vector
product. The operation of obtaining the cross product is called vector multiplication.

Example 1. If A = 〈 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑〉 and B = 〈 𝟑, −𝟏, 𝟒〉, then using the definition,

A x B = 〈 (𝟏)(𝟒) − ( −𝟑)(−𝟏), (−𝟑)(𝟑) − (𝟐)(𝟒), (𝟐)(−𝟏) − (𝟏)(𝟑) 〉

= 〈 𝟒 − 𝟑, −𝟗 − 𝟖, −𝟐 − 𝟑 〉
= 〈 𝟏, −𝟏𝟕, −𝟓 〉
= i – 17j – 5k
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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

A mnemonic device that we can use to get the cross product is the determinant
notation. A second - order determinant is defined by the equation

𝒂 𝒃
│ │= ad − bc where a, b, and c are real numbers.
𝒄 𝒅

Illustrative example:

𝟑 𝟔
│ │ = 3(5) − ( 6)(−2) = 27.
−𝟐 𝟓

So, the formula can be written as

𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟑 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟑 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐
𝑨 𝒙 𝑩 = |𝒃 𝒃𝟑 | 𝒊 − | 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟑 | j + | 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 | 𝒌
𝟐

The right side of the above expression can be written symbolically as

𝒊 𝒋 𝒌
A x B = |𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟑 |
𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟑

which is the notation for a third-order determinant. However, observe that the first row
contains vectors and not real numbers as is customary with determinant notation.

Example 2. Let us use the mnemonic devise employing determinant notation to find the cross
product of A and B given :

𝒊 𝒋 𝒌
A x B = |𝟐 𝟏 −𝟑|.
𝟑 −𝟏 𝟒
Solution:
1 −3 2 −3 2 1
│ │i + │ │j + │ │ k = (4 − 3)i + ( 8 + 9)j + ( −2−3)k
−1 4 3 4 3 −1

= i + 17j − 5k .

Theorem: If A is any vector in V3 , then

i. A x A = 0
ii. 0 x A = 0
iii. A x 0 = 0

Example 3. Using the position representation, the vector 〈3, − 4〉 can be written in
linear combination 〈3, −4〉 = 3i + ( −4j ) , or
. 〈3, −4〉 = 3i − 4j .
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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

By applying the definition to pairs of unit vectors, i , j , and k, we obtain the following:
i x i = 0 j x j = 0 k x k = 0
i x j = k j x k = i k x i = j
j x i = −k k x j =−i i x k = −j

As an aid in remembering the above cross product, first notice that the cross product of any
one of the unit vectors i, j, or k with itself is the zero vector. The other six cross products can be
obtained from the figure by applying the following rule:

The cross product of two consecutive vectors in the clockwise

direction is the next vector. So, j x k = i , positive, since the j
movement is clockwise. While, the cross product of two i
consecutive vectors in the counterclockwise direction is the
negative of the next vector, say, j x i = − k.
k
In general, if A and B are any vectors in V3 , A x B = − ( B x A ).

Theorem: If A and B are any vectors in V3 , then A x B = − ( B x A ).

Cross multiplication of vectors is not associative. Let us show this by observing the next
examples:

Example 4. Show that i x ( i x j ) ≠ ( i x i ) x j.

Solution: i x (i x j) = i x k (i x i)x j =

= −j = 0 x j
= −j ≠ = 0

Thus, i x ( i x j ) ≠ ( i x i ) x j.

Cross multiplication of vectors is distributive with respect to vector addition as given by the
following theorems:

Theorem: If A , B, and C are any vectors in V3 , then

A x ( B + C) = A x B + A x C

Theorem: If A and B are any two vectors in V3 , and c is a scalar, then

(i) (cA)x B = A x (cB)

(i) (cA)x B = c( A x B)
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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

Example 5. Let us apply the theorem in getting the cross product of the following vectors:
If A = ( 2i + j – 3k ) and B = ( 3i − j + 4k ) , find A x B.
Solution:
A x B = ( 2i + j – 3k ) x ( 3i − j + 4k )
= 6( i x i ) − 2( i x j ) + 8 ( i x k) + 3( j x i) −1( j x j) + 4(j x k) −9(k x i)
+ 3(k x j) −12( k x k ).

= 6( 0) – 2 (k ) + 8 (−j) + 3(−k) −1(0) + 4( i ) −9(j) + 3( −i) −12(0).

= −2k −8j −3k + 4i – 9j −3i
= i − 17j −5k.

Based on our first set of activities, what did you notice about it?
_________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the next discussion.

Lesson 2. Triple Scalar Products

There are two triple products that we have to consider. One is the product A ∙ ( B x C ),
called the triple scalar product of the vectors A, B, and C.
The triple scalar product A ∙ ( B x C ) can be interpreted as A ∙ B x C .

Theorem: If A , B, and C are any vectors in V3 , then

A ∙ B x C = A x B ∙ C.

Example 1. Verify the theorem by considering the given scalar:

Let A = < 1, − 1, 2 > , B = < 3, 4, −2 > , C = < −5, 1, − 4 >
Solution:
B x C = ( 3i + 4j −2k) x ( −5i + j −4k )
= 3k −12(−j) −20(−k) −16i + 10j −2(−i )
= −14i + 22j +23k

A ∙ B x C = < 1, − 1, 2 > ∙ < −14, 22, 23 >

= −14 − 22 + 46
= 10

( 3i + 4j −2k) = ( i −j + 2k ) x ( 3i + 4j −2k)
= 4k −2( −j) −3(−k) + 2i + 6j + 8(−i)
= −6i + 8j + 7k

A x B ∙ C = < −6, 8, 7 > ∙ < −5, 1, − 4 >

= 30, 8, −28
= 10
Therefore, A ∙ B x C = A x B ∙ C.
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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

The other triple product is = A x B x C, called the triple vector product.

Theorem: If A , B, and C are any vectors in V3 , then

A x ( B x C ) = ( A ∙ C ) B − ( A ∙ B)C.

Example 2. Let us verify the theorem by considering an example: Let A = < 1, − 1, 2 >,
B = < 3, 4, −2 >, C = < −5, 1, − 4 >

Solution: Because B x C = −14i + 22j +23k

𝒊 𝒋 𝒌
A x(B x C) = | 𝟏 −𝟏 𝟐|
−𝟏𝟒 𝟐𝟐 𝟐𝟑

= −23i −28j + 22k −14k −44i −23j

= −67i −51j + 8k

A ∙ C = < 1, − 1, 2 > ∙ < −5, 1, − 4 > ; A ∙ B = < 1, − 1, 2 > ∙ < 3, 4, −2 >

= −5 −1−8 = 3 −4 − 4
= − 14 = −5

Thus, ( A ∙ C ) B − ( A ∙ B)C = − 14 < 3, 4, −2 > (−5)( < −5, 1, − 4 > )

= < − 42, −56, 28 > − < 25, −5, 20 >
= <− 67, −51, 8 >
= −67i −51j + 8k

Therefore, A x ( B x C ) = ( A ∙ C ) B − ( A ∙ B)C.

Lesson 2. Geometric Interpretation of the Cross Product

Theorem: If A and B are two vectors in V3 and Ɵ is the radian measure of the angle
between A and B, then

‖𝑨 𝒙 𝑩‖ = ‖𝑨‖ ‖𝑩‖ sin Ɵ.

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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

Let us now consider a geometric interpretation of ‖𝑨 𝒙 𝑩‖ .

Let 𝑶𝑷 be a position representation of A and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑶𝑸 be the position
representation of B. Then the angle between the vectors A and B is defined
to be the angle of positive measure between 𝑶𝑷 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑶𝑸
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ interior to the
triangle determined by the points O, P, AND Q.
y

Q Let the angle between the vectors has a radian measure Ɵ.

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram having OP and OQ as
P
Ɵ the adjacent sides is ‖𝑨‖ ‖𝑩‖ sin Ɵ sq units. The altitude of the
B parallelogram has length ‖𝑩‖ sin Ɵ and the length of the
A
x base is ‖𝑨‖ units. It follows that the area of the parallelogram
O is ‖𝑨 𝒙 𝑩‖ sq units.

Example 1. Show that the quadrilateral having vertices at P ( 1, −2, 3), Q( 4, 3, −1), R( 2, 2, 1)
and S( 5, 7, −3) is a parallelogram. Find its area.

Solution: V ( PQ) = < 4 −1, 3−(−2), −1−3> V( PR) = < 2 −1, 2−(−2), 1−3)
= < 3, 5, −4 > = < 1, 4, − 2 >

V(RS) = < 5−2, 7 −2, −3−1) V(QS) = < 5−4, 7−3, −3 –(−1)
= < 3, 5, − 4> = < 1, 4, −2>

Since V(PQ) = V(RS) and V( PR) = V(QS) , it follows that PQ is parallel to

RS and PR is parallel to QS. Therefore, PQRS is a parallelogram.

Let A = V( PR) and B = V(PQ). Then,

A x B = ( i + 4j −2k ) x ( 3i + 5j −4k)
= 3( i x i) + 5( i x j ) −4( i x k) + 12( j x i) + 20( j x j) −16(j x k) −6(k x i)
−10( k x j) + 8( k x k)
= 3(0) + 5k −4(−j) +12(−k) + 20(0) −16(i) −6(j) −10(−i) + 8(0)
= −6i −2j −7k.

Thus, ‖𝑨 𝒙 𝑩‖ = √𝟑𝟔 + 𝟒 + 𝟒𝟗 = √𝟖𝟗

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is √𝟖𝟗 sq units.

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The Cross Product of Two Vectors

Theorem: If A and B are two vectors in V3 , then A and B are parallel if and only if
A x B=0

Hint: If either A or B is the zero vector , then from the definition, A x B = 0.

A x B = 0, if and only if Ɵ = 0 or Ɵ = 𝝅 .

Theorem: If A and B are two vectors in V3 , then the vector A x B is orthogonal to both
A and B.

Because the dot product of A x B and B is zero, that is A x B ∙ B = 0, then A x B and

B are orthogonal.

Example 2. Find an equation of the plane containing the point ( 4, 0, −2 ) and perpendicular to each
of the planes x – y + z = 0 and 2x + y – 4z – 5 = 0.

Solution: By the theorem we discussed, a normal vector to the plane x – y + z = 0 is

< 1, − 1, 1 > and a normal vector to the plane 2x + y – 4z – 5 = 0 is < 2, 1, − 4 >
.
Thus, a normal vector to the required plane is orthogonal to both < 1, − 1, 1 > and
< 2, 1, − 4 >. . By the theorem, such a vector is

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
< 1, − 1, 1 > x < 2, 1, − 4 >. = |1 −1 1 |
2 1 −4

= 3i + 6j + 3k.

The required plane contains the point, ( 4, 0, −2 ) and has < 3, 6, 3 > as the
normal vector. From the theorem, an equation of this plane is
3( x – 4 ) + 6( y – 0)+ 3 ( z + 2) = 0, or
x + 2y + z − 2 = 0.

We had just completed the discussion on operations applied to

vectors. Let’s move on to the next higher level of activity/ies or exercise/s
that demonstrate your potential skills/knowledge of what you have learned.