Lesson 10.4

54 ESci 113: Calculus for Engineers II
Lesson 10.4: Cross Product
Lesson Summary
This lesson will discuss how to find the cross product of two vectors (in
space).
Learning Outcome
1. Use determinants to calculate a cross product.
2. Find a vector orthogonal to two given vectors.
3. Determine areas and volumes by using the cross product.
Motivation Question
Is the three-dimensional coordinate system motivation enough?
Discussion
The Cross Product
 The cross product of two vectors, 𝐮 and 𝐯, is a vector perpendicular

(orthogonal) to both 𝐮 and 𝐯.
 Most conveniently defined and calculated using the standard unit
vector form
 Also called vector product
Definition of Cross Product of Two Vectors In Space
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A convenient way to calculate 𝐮 and 𝐯 is to use the following determinant

form with cofactor expansion.
Note the minus sign in front of the 𝐣 − component.
Each of the three 2 × 2 determinants can be evaluated by using the following

diagonal pattern.
Here are a couple of examples.
Example 10.21 Finding the Cross Product
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Theorem 10.7 Algebraic Properties of The Cross Product
Note that Property 1 of Theorem 10.7 indicates that the cross

product is not commutative.
In particular, this property indicates that

𝐮×𝐯 These vectors have equal lengths but opposite
𝐯×𝐮 directions
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Theorem 10.8 Geometric Properties of The Cross

Product
Both 𝐮 × 𝐯 and 𝐯 × 𝐮 are perpendicular to the plane determined by 𝐮 and 𝐯.

One way to remember the orientations of the vectors 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐮 × 𝐯 is to
compare them with the unit vectors 𝐢, 𝐣, and 𝐤 = 𝐢 × 𝐣, as shown in Figure 30.
𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐮 × 𝐯 These three vectors form a right-handed system
𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐯 × 𝐮 These three vectors form a left-handed system
Figure 30. Right-handed systems. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R.
Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton
Mifflin Company
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Example 10.22 Using the Cross Product

Find a unit vector that is orthogonal to both
𝐮 = 𝐢 − 4𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐯 = 2𝐢 + 3𝐣.
Solution:
The cross product 𝐮 × 𝐯, as shown in Figure 31, is orthogonal to both 𝐮

and 𝐯
Figure 31. A directed line segment. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and
R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton
Mifflin Company
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Example 10.23 Geometric Application of the Cross Product
Solution:
From Figure 32 you can see that the sides of the quadrilateral correspond
to the following four vectors.
Figure 32. The area of the parallelogram is approximately 32.19. Adapted from “Precalculus,
7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
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The Triple Scalar Product
For vectors 𝑢, 𝑣, and 𝑤 in space, the dot product of 𝐮 and 𝐯 × 𝐰
𝐮 ∙ (𝐯 × 𝐰) the triple scalar product
as defined in Theorem 10.9.
Theorem 10.9 The Triple Scalar Product
If the vectors 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐰 do not lie in the same plane,
the triple scalar product can be used to determine the

volume of the parallelepiped (a polyhedron, all of whose
𝐮 ∙ (𝐯 × 𝐰)
faces are parallelograms) with 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐰 as adjacent
edges, as shown in Figure 33.
Figure 33. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7th Ed.,” by R. Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York,
NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
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Theorem 10.10 Geometric Property of the Triple Scalar

Product
Example 10.24 Volume by the Triple Scalar Product

Find the volume of the parallelepiped shown in Figure 34 having
𝐮 = 3𝐢 − 5𝐣 + 𝐤 ,𝐯 = 2𝐣 − 2𝐤, and 𝐰 = 3𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝐤
as adjacent edges.
Solution:
By Theorem 10.10, we have
Figure 34. The parallelepiped has a volume of 36. Adapted from “Precalculus, 7 th Ed.,” by R.
Hostetler and R. Larson, 2007, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007
by Houghton Mifflin Company
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A natural consequence of Theorem 10.10 is that the volume of

the parallelepiped is 0 if and only if the three vectors are
coplanar.
That is, if the vectors

𝐮 = 〈𝑢 , 𝑢 , 𝑢 〉
𝐯 = 〈𝑣 , 𝑣 , 𝑣 〉
and
𝐰 = 〈𝑤 , 𝑤 , 𝑤 〉
have the same initial point, they lie in the same plane if and only if
Assessment
1. Given that 𝐮 = 3𝐢 + 5𝐤, 𝐯 = 2𝐢 + 3𝐣 − 2𝐤, find
a. 𝐮 × 𝐯
b. 𝐯 × 𝐮
c. 𝐯 × 𝐯
2. Given that 𝐮 = 〈−8, −6,4〉, 𝐯 = 〈10, −12, −2〉, find 𝐮 × 𝐯 and a unit
vector orthogonal to 𝐮 and 𝐯.
3. Verify that the points 𝐴(0,3,2), 𝐵(1,5,5), 𝐶(6,9,5), and 𝐷(5,7,2) are the
vertices of a parallelogram and find its area.
4. Use the triple scalar product to find the volume of the parallelepiped
having adjacent edges 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐰.
Instructions on how to submit student output

Please see class policies for details.
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54 ESci 113: Calculus for Engineers II

Lesson 10.4: Cross Product

The Cross Product

 The cross product of two vectors, 𝐮 and 𝐯, is a vector perpendicular

Definition of Cross Product of Two Vectors In Space

A convenient way to calculate 𝐮 and 𝐯 is to use the following determinant

Note the minus sign in front of the 𝐣 − component.

Each of the three 2 × 2 determinants can be evaluated by using the following

Here are a couple of examples.

Example 10.21 Finding the Cross Product

Theorem 10.7 Algebraic Properties of The Cross Product

Note that Property 1 of Theorem 10.7 indicates that the cross

In particular, this property indicates that

Theorem 10.8 Geometric Properties of The Cross

Both 𝐮 × 𝐯 and 𝐯 × 𝐮 are perpendicular to the plane determined by 𝐮 and 𝐯.

𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐮 × 𝐯 These three vectors form a right-handed system

𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐯 × 𝐮 These three vectors form a left-handed system

Example 10.22 Using the Cross Product

The cross product 𝐮 × 𝐯, as shown in Figure 31, is orthogonal to both 𝐮

Example 10.23 Geometric Application of the Cross Product

The Triple Scalar Product

For vectors 𝑢, 𝑣, and 𝑤 in space, the dot product of 𝐮 and 𝐯 × 𝐰

𝐮 ∙ (𝐯 × 𝐰) the triple scalar product

as defined in Theorem 10.9.

Theorem 10.9 The Triple Scalar Product

If the vectors 𝐮, 𝐯, and 𝐰 do not lie in the same plane,

the triple scalar product can be used to determine the

Theorem 10.10 Geometric Property of the Triple Scalar

Example 10.24 Volume by the Triple Scalar Product

A natural consequence of Theorem 10.10 is that the volume of

That is, if the vectors

Instructions on how to submit student output

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