   

a1 a1
a  · a  = a 1 b 1 + a 2 b 2 + a 3 b 3 = |a||b| cos θ, if θ is the angle between the two vectors.
   
 2  2
a3 a3

• a · b is a number. This is an odd "multiplication", because you multiply two vectors and get a
number. Like your two pet rabbits having a baby, and it turns out to be a cabbage.

• a · a = |a|2

• a · b = 0 if and only if a and b are at right angles

    ¯ ¯
a1 b1 ¯i
¯ j k ¯
¯
    ¯ ¯
 a  ×  b  = ¯ a a a ¯.
2
    ¯ 2 1 2 3 ¯
¯ ¯
a3 b3 ¯ b1 b2 b3 ¯

• a × a = 0 for all a

• a × b is at right angles to both a and b

• a × b = −b × a

• i × j = k = −j × i

• j × k = i = −k × j

• k × i = j = −i × k

The line r = a + t b is also described by the equations r × b = c (if c = a × b) or (r − a) × b = 0

The plane r = a + sb + t c is also described by the equation

r·n = p

if n = b × c and p = a · b × c

In "Cartesian" form that is n 1 x + n 2 y + n 3 z = p

To get a plane from the form r·n = p or n 1 x +n 2 y +n 3 z = p into the form r = a+ sb+ t c, put s = y and
t = z, then
  p    
−n 2 −n 3
x
   n1   n1   n1 
r = y  =  0  + s  1  + t 
     
 0 


z 0 0 1

If n 1 = 0 put s = x and t = y instead.