MATH-101 Calculus and Analytical Geometry – 3-0 CHs

By

Irfan Naimat

CROSS PRODUCT

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 CROSS PRODUCT/ VECTOR PRODUCT
INTRODUCTION
Cross product are widely used to describe the effects of forces
in studies of electricity, magnetism, fluid flows and orbital
mechanics.
Definition: 1The vector product or cross product of two
vectors 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 is denoted as 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 and is defined as
𝑛ො
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛ො 𝑩
Where 𝜃 is an angle between 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵
𝑛is
ො a unit vector normal to the plane
containing 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 such that the 𝜃
Ԧ 𝐵 and 𝑛ො from a right
vectors 𝐴, 𝑨
handed system. 2
Now by applying the definition of cross product to unit vectors
෠ have
𝑖,Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘we
a) 𝑖Ƹ × 𝑖Ƹ = 𝑖Ƹ 𝑖Ƹ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 00 𝑛ෝ=0 z
෡𝑗 × ෡𝑗 = ෡𝑗 ෡𝑗 sin 00 𝑛ො
𝑘෠
𝑘෠ × 𝑘෠ = 0
b) 𝑖Ƹ × ෡𝑗 = 𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑠𝑖𝑛 900 𝑘෠ = 𝑘෠
෡𝑗 × 𝑘෠ = 𝑖Ƹ
𝒚
𝑘෠ × 𝑖Ƹ = ෡𝑗 0 ෡𝑗
𝑖Ƹ
NOTE: x
The cross product of 𝑖,Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘෠ are written in the cyclic
pattern. ෠
𝑘 ෡𝑗

𝑖Ƹ 3
Definition:2 Determinant formula for 𝑨 × 𝑩
Our next objective is to calculate 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 from the components
of 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 relative to a cartesian coordinate system.
Suppose that
𝐴Ԧ = a1 iƸ + a2 Jመ + a3 k෠
and 𝐵 = 𝑏1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏2 𝐽መ + 𝑏3 𝑘෠
Then
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = a1 iƸ + a2 Jመ + a3 k෠ × 𝑏1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏2 𝐽መ + 𝑏3 𝑘෠
0
= a1 𝑏1 iƸ × iƸ + a1 𝑏2 iƸ × Jመ + a1 𝑏3 iƸ × k෠
0
+a2 𝑏1 𝑗Ƹ × iƸ + a2 𝑏2 jƸ × Jመ + a2 𝑏3 jƸ × k෠
0
+a3 𝑏1 𝑘෠ × 𝑖Ƹ + a3 𝑏2 𝑘෠ × 𝑗Ƹ + a3 𝑏3 𝑘෠ × 𝑘෠

= a1 𝑏2 (k)෠ + a1 𝑏3 −𝑗Ƹ + a2 𝑏1 −k෠ + a2 𝑏3 𝑖Ƹ

+a3 𝑏1 (𝑗)Ƹ + a3 𝑏2 (−i)Ƹ
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 = (a2 𝑏3 − a3 𝑏2 )𝑖Ƹ − (a1 𝑏3 − a3 𝑏1 )𝑗Ƹ + a1 𝑏2 − a2 𝑏1 𝑘෠

𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3

By interchanging 2nd and 3rd rows

𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = − 𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3 = −𝐵 × 𝐴Ԧ
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3

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PROPERTIES OF CROSS PRODUCT
1. A × B = −B × A(already proof in determinant formula of A × B)
2. Scalar Distributive law:
(𝑠A) × (𝑟B) = rs(A × B)
where s and r are scalar numbers.
3. Vector Distributive law:
A × B + C = A × B + A × 𝐶Ԧ
B + C × A = B × A + 𝐶Ԧ × A
4. From definition of cross product
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛ො Eq. (1)
Therefore 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 Eq. (2)
Ԧ
𝐴×𝐵
Thus from (1) and (2) 𝑛ො = Ԧ
(whichis unit vector)
𝐴×𝐵
Ԧ
𝐴×𝐵
Also 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
A 𝐵
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 5. Parallel Vectors
Non-Zero vectors 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 are parallel ⇔ A × B = 0
ProofIf 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 are Parallel vectors,
so 𝜃 = 00 ⇒ 𝑠𝑖𝑛00 = 0. then
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛ො
= A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛00 = 0.

If𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 0 then
A 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛ො = 0
⇒ either 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0 or A = 0, or 𝐵 = 0.
1) If 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0 ⇒ 𝜃 = 00 or 1800 , which shows that the
vectors 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 are parallel .
2) If A = 0, or 𝐵 = 0, then since the zero vector has no specific
direction. We adopt the convention that the zero vector is parallel
to every vector.
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 6. The vector A × B is Orthogonal to both 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵.
Proof: Using (two vectors 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 are orthogonal ⇔ 𝐴Ԧ ⋅ 𝐵 = 0)
It is sufficient to show that (A × B) ⋅ 𝐴 = 0 and (A × B) ⋅ 𝐵 = 0
Let ෠
𝐴Ԧ = a1 iƸ + a2 Jመ + a3 k, 𝐵 = 𝑏1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏2 𝐽መ + 𝑏3 𝑘෠
𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3
= (a2 𝑏3 − a3 𝑏2 )𝑖Ƹ − (a1 𝑏3 − a3 𝑏1 )𝑗Ƹ + a1 𝑏2 − a2 𝑏1 𝑘෠
(A × B) ⋅ 𝐴 =(a2 𝑏3 − a3 𝑏2 )a1 + b1 𝑎3 − a1 𝑏3 a2
+ a1 𝑏2 − a2 𝑏1 a3
= a1 a2 𝑏3 − a1 a3 𝑏2 + b1 𝑎3 a2 − a1 𝑏3 a2 + a1 𝑏2 a3 − a2 𝑏1 a3 = 0.
Hence A × B is Orthogonal to 𝐴Ԧ
The Proof that (A × B) ⋅ 𝐵 = 0is similar.
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EXAMPLE:Find a vector Perpendicular to each of the vectors
෠ 𝐵 = 4𝑖Ƹ + 2𝐽መ − 𝑘෠
A = 2𝑖Ƹ − 𝐽መ + 𝑘,
SOLUTION:A vector perpendicular to both vectors 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 is
A × B.
𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 2 −1 1
4 2 −1

= −𝑖Ƹ + 6𝐽መ + 8𝑘෠

Verification: (A × B) ⋅ 𝐴 = −𝑖Ƹ + 6𝐽መ + 8𝑘෠ ⋅ 2𝑖Ƹ − 𝐽መ + 𝑘෠

= −2 − 6 + 8 = 0
(A × B) ⋅ 𝐵 = −𝑖Ƹ + 6𝐽መ + 8𝑘෠ ⋅ 4𝑖Ƹ + 2𝐽መ − 𝑘෠ = −4 + 12 − 8 = 0
Hence A × B is perpendicular to both vectors A and B
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 GEOMETRICAL REPRESENTATION OF
VECTOR PRODUCT

Area of Parallelogram:
The magnitude of the cross product / vector product A × B is
equal to the area of Parallelogram.
Area of Triangle:
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 Δ = 𝐴×𝐵
𝟐

Proof (Try yourself)

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EXAMPLE:
1. Find a vector Perpendicular to the plane of
𝑃 4, −3, 1 , 𝑄 6, −4, 7 and 𝑅(1, 2, 2)
2. Also find the area of the triangle with vertices
𝑃 4, −3, 1 , 𝑄 6, −4, 7 and 𝑅(1, 2, 2) .
3. Also find unit vectors perpendicular to plane of 𝑃, 𝑄 and R.
SOLUTION:
The vector 𝑃𝑄 × 𝑃𝑅 is perpendicular to plane because it is
perpendicular to both vectors
PQ = 6𝑖Ƹ − 4𝐽መ + 7𝑘෠ − 4𝑖Ƹ − 3𝐽መ + 𝑘෠ 𝒛
= 6 − 4 𝑖Ƹ + −4 + 3 𝐽መ + 7 − 1 𝑘෠ 𝑹
= 2𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 6𝑘෠ = (2, −1, 6)
𝐏
PR = 𝑖Ƹ + 2𝐽መ + 2𝑘෠ − 4𝑖Ƹ − 3𝐽መ + 𝑘෠
= 1 − 4 𝑖Ƹ + 2 + 3 𝐽መ + 2 − 1 𝑘෠ 𝒚
= −3𝑖Ƹ + 5𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ = (−3, 5, 1) 𝒙
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𝑸
 𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝑃𝑄 × 𝑃𝑅 = 2 −1 6
−3 5 1

−1 6 2 6 2 −1 ෠
= 𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 = −31𝑖Ƹ − 20𝐽መ + 7𝑘෠
5 1 −3 1 −3 5

Hence area of the parallelogram with adjacent sides P, Q and R is

𝑃𝑄 × 𝑃𝑅 = −31 2 + −20 2 + 7 2 = 1410

1
It follows that area of triangle = 1410 = 18.8
2
3) Since 𝑃𝑄 and 𝑃𝑅 is perpendicular to the plane, its direction 𝑛ො is a
unit vector perpendicular to the plane

𝑃𝑄 × 𝑃𝑅 −31𝑖Ƹ − 20𝐽መ + 7𝑘෠

𝑛ො = =
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𝑃𝑄 × 𝑃𝑅 1410
EXAMPLE:Find A × B and 𝐵 × A if
෡
A = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝐽መ + 𝑘, B = −4𝑖Ƹ + 3𝐽መ + 𝑘෡
SOLUTION:
𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 2 1 1
−4 3 1

1 1 2 1 2 1 ෠
= 𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘
3 1 −4 1 −4 3

= 1 − 3 𝑖Ƹ − 2 + 4 𝐽መ + (6 + 4)𝑘෠

𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = −2𝑖Ƹ − 6𝐽መ + 10𝑘෠

𝐵 × 𝐴Ԧ = − 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 2𝑖Ƹ + 6𝐽መ − 10𝑘෠

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EXAMPLE:Find a unit vector perpendicular to plane of
vector 𝑎Ԧ = 2𝑖Ƹ + 2𝐽መ − 𝑘෠ and 𝑏 = 6𝑖Ƹ − 3𝐽መ + 2𝑘෠
Also find the 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 of angle b/w 𝑎Ԧ and 𝑏.
SOLUTION:
Here
𝑖Ƹ ෡𝑗 𝑘෠
𝑎Ԧ × 𝑏 = 2 = 𝑖 Ƹ − 10𝐽መ − 18𝑘෠
2 −1
6 −3 2
Therefore 𝑎Ԧ × 𝑏 = 1 + 100 + 324 = 425 = 5 17
Thus the required unit vector will be
𝑎Ԧ × 𝑏 𝑖Ƹ − 10𝐽መ − 18𝑘෠
𝑛ො = =
𝑎Ԧ × 𝑏 5 17
Now 𝑎Ԧ = 4 + 4 + 1 = 3 and b = 36 + 9 + 4 = 7

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