Module 7: The Vector (Cross) Product

Exercise 1: Calculating the cross product and the scalar triple product
Solutions

1) Calculate each of the following vector products

1 −3
a) ( 0 ) × ( 2 )
−2 1

−2 1
b) ( 2 ) × (−2)
−2 −3

3 2
c) (5) × (4)
7 6

d) (𝟐𝐢 − 4𝐣 + 8𝐤) × (𝐢 + 3𝐣 + 5𝐤)

1 −3 0+4 4
a) ( 0 ) × ( 2 ) = (−(1 − 6)) = (5)
−2 1 2−0 2

−2 1 −6 − 4 −10
b) ( 2 ) × (−2) = (−(6 + 2)) = ( −8 )
−2 −3 4−2 2

3 2 30 − 28 2
c) (5) × (4) = (−(18 − 14)) = (−4)
7 6 12 − 10 2

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
d) |2 −4 8 | = (−20 − 24)𝐢 − (10 − 8)𝐣 + (6 + 4)𝐤 = −44𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 10𝐤
1 3 5
2) Given that 𝐚 = 𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 3𝐤, 𝐛 = 2𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐜 = −2𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 𝐤, calculate each of the following

a) 𝐚 × (𝐛 + 𝐜)

b) 𝐚 × 𝐛 + 𝐚 × 𝐜

c) (𝐚 + 𝐛) × 𝐜

d) 𝐚 × 𝐜 + 𝐛 × 𝐜

a) 𝐛 + 𝐜 = 2𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 𝐤 + (−2𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 𝐤) = 0𝐢 − 𝐣 + 0𝐤

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
𝐚 × (𝐛 + 𝐜) = (𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 3𝐤) × (0𝐢 − 𝐣 + 0𝐤) = |1 −2 3| = 3𝐢 + 0𝐣 − 𝐤
0 −1 0

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
b) 𝐚 × 𝐛 = |1 −2 3| = 7𝐢 + 5𝐣 + 𝐤
2 −3 1

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
𝐚 × 𝐜 = | 1 −2 3 | = −4𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 2𝐤
−2 2 −1

𝐚 × 𝐛 + 𝐚 × 𝐜 = 7𝐢 + 5𝐣 + 𝐤 + (−4𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 2𝐤) = 3𝐢 + 0𝐣 − 𝐤

c) 𝐚 + 𝐛 = 𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 3𝐤 + (2𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 𝐤) = 3𝐢 − 5𝐣 + 4𝐤

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
(𝐚 + 𝐛) × 𝐜 = | 3 −5 4 | = −3𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 4𝐤
−2 2 −1

d) 𝐚 × 𝐜 = −4𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 2𝐤 (from part b)

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
𝐛 × 𝐜 = | 2 −3 1 | = 𝐢 + 0𝐣 − 2𝐤
−2 2 −1

𝐚 × 𝐜 + 𝐛 × 𝐜 = −4𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 2𝐤 + (𝐢 + 0𝐣 − 2𝐤) = −3𝐢 − 5𝐣 − 4𝐤

This question demonstrates the distributive property of the vector product over vector addition
3) Find a vector perpendicular to each of the following pairs of vectors.

1 3 8
a) (0) and (−2). Give your answer in the form (𝑎) where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.
4 −1 𝑏

1 5 15
b) (3) and ( 1 ). Give your answer in the form ( 𝑎 ) where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.
3 −4 𝑏

2 3 3
c) (3) and (6). Give your answer in the form (𝑎 ) where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.
4 7 𝑏

3 −5 7
d) (−4) and ( 12 ). Give your answer in the form (𝑎) where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.
5 13 𝑏

1 3 8
a) (0) × (−2) = ( 13 )
4 −1 −2

1 5 −15 15
b) (3) × ( 1 ) = ( 19 ) in the required form the perpendicular vector is (−19)
3 −4 −14 14

2 3 −3 3
c) (3) × (6) = (−2) in the required form the perpendicular vector is ( 2 )
4 7 3 −3

3 −5 −112 7
d) (−4) × ( 12 ) = ( −64 ) in the required form (÷ −16) the perpendicular vector is ( 4 )
5 13 16 −1
4) The unit vector perpendicular to both 𝐢 + 4𝐣 + 8𝐤 and 0𝐢 + 10𝐣 − 5𝐤 can be written in the form

1
(−𝑐𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝑑𝐤)
𝑎√𝑏

where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑑 are positive integers.

Find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑑.

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
(𝐢 + 4𝐣 + 8𝐤) × (0𝐢 + 10𝐣 − 5𝐤) = |1 4 8 | = (−20 − 80)𝐢 − (−5 − 0)𝐣 + (10 − 0)𝐤
0 10 −5

= −100𝐢 + 5𝐣 + 10𝐤

|−100𝐢 + 5𝐣 + 10𝐤| = √1002 + 52 + 102 = 5√202 + 1 + 22 = 5√405 = 5√81 × 5 = 45√5

The unit vector perpendicular to the two original vectors is

1
(−100𝐢 + 5𝐣 + 10𝐤)
45√5

1
To put this into the form 𝑎√𝑏 (−𝑐𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝑑𝐤), a factor of 5 needs to be taken out of the brackets giving

5 1
(−20𝐢 + 𝐣 + 2𝐤) = (−20𝐢 + 𝐣 + 2𝐤)
45√5 9√5

So 𝑎 = 9, 𝑏 = 5, 𝑐 = 20 and 𝑑 = 2
5) The Cartesian equation of the plane passing through the points (1,2,3), (5,3,1) and (−1, −1, −1) can
be written in the form

𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑧 = 𝑐

Find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐

Let 𝐚 = 𝐢 + 2𝐣 + 3𝐤, 𝐛 = 5𝐢 + 3𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐜 = −𝐢 − 𝐣 − 𝐤

𝐛 − 𝐚 = 4𝐢 + 𝐣 − 2𝐤 𝐜 − 𝐚 = −2𝐢 − 3𝐣 − 4𝐤

𝐢 𝐣 𝐤
|4 1 −2| = (−4 − 6)𝐢 − (−16 − 4)𝐣 + (−12 + 2)𝐤 = −10𝐢 + 20𝐣 − 10𝐤
−2 −3 −4

So −10𝐢 + 20𝐣 − 10𝐤 is perpendicular to the plane. This means that 𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤 is also perpendicular to
the plane (dividing each component by −10)

𝐫 ∙ (𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤) = 𝑑 for all points on the plane.

𝐚 is on the plane so (𝐢 + 2𝐣 + 3𝐤) ∙ (𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤) = 𝑑

𝑑 =1−4+3 =0

The equation of the plane is 𝐫 ∙ (𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤) = 0

To convert to cartesian form (𝑥𝐢 + 𝑦𝐣 + 𝑧𝐤) ∙ (𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤) = 0

𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 0

So 𝑎 = −2, 𝑏 = 1 and 𝑐 = 0
6) Find 𝐚 ∙ (𝐛 × 𝐜) in each of the following cases

1 3 −2
a) 𝐚 = ( 2 ), 𝐛 = ( 1 ), 𝐜 = (−2)
−5 −4 1

b) 𝐚 = 3𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 2𝐤, 𝐛 = 5𝐢 + 4𝐣 + 4𝐤, 𝐜 = −2𝐢 + 3𝐣 − 𝐤

1 3 −2 1 1−8 1 −7
a) ( 2 ) ∙ (( 1 ) × (−2)) = ( 2 ) ∙ (−(3 − 8)) = ( 2 ) ∙ ( 5 ) = −7 + 10 + 20 = 23
−5 −4 1 −5 −6 + 2 −5 −4

3 −2 2
b) 𝐚 ∙ (𝐛 × 𝐜) = | 5 4 4 | = 3(−4 − 12) + 2(−5 + 8) + 2(15 + 8) = −48 + 6 + 46 = 4
−2 3 −1
7) In each of the lists of points below, four lie in the same plane and one is the odd one out. Find the odd
one out in each case

a) A (3,1, −2), B (4, −2,5), C (1,3,4), D (2,1, −5), E (−2,5,7)

b) A (−1, −1, −1), B (2,2,2), C (8,5,7), D (−6, −2, −5), E (5, −1,3)

c) A (−5, −1,10), B (5, −1, −3), C (3,6,4), D (1,3,5), E (−1, −5,3)

This can be done using the scalar triple product and trial and improvement methods

a) If 𝐸 is not on the plane then ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝐴𝐵 ∙ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐶 × ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐷 = 0

4 3 1 1 3 −2 2 3 −1
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 = (−2) − ( 1 ) = (−3) , 𝐴𝐶 = (3) − ( 1 ) = ( 2 ) , 𝐴𝐷 = ( 1 ) − ( 1 ) = ( 0 )
5 −2 7 4 −2 6 −5 −2 −3

1 −3 7
so |−2 2 6 | = 0 if 𝐸 is not on the plane
−1 0 −3

1 −3 7
|−2 2 6 | = −6 + 36 + 14 = 44
−1 0 −3

So, 𝐸 must be on the plane and one of the others is the odd one out.

Since 𝐸 is on the plane, work from 𝐸

5 6 3 4
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐴 = (−4) , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐵 = (−7) , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐶 = (−2) , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐷 = ( −4 )
−9 −2 −3 −12

6 −7 −2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
If 𝐴 is not on the plane 𝐸𝐵 ∙ 𝐸𝐶 × 𝐸𝐷 = 0 |3 −2 −3 | = −88
4 −4 −12

𝐴 must also be on the plane. So, 𝐴 and 𝐸 are on the plane.

5 −4 −9
If 𝐵 is not on the plane ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ × ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐴 ∙ 𝐸𝐶 𝐸𝐷 = 0 |3 −2 −3 | = 0
4 −4 −12

So, 𝐵 is the odd point out.

b) An alternative method is to select three points and find the plane that contains these points. If one
of the remaining points is on the plane and the other isn’t then you have found the odd one out.

Using points 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶.

3 9 3 9 6
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (3) , 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (6) (3) × (6) = ( 3 )
3 8 3 8 −9

2 2 2
𝐫∙( 1 )=𝑑 (2) ∙ ( 1 ) = 4 + 2 − 6 = 0
−3 2 −3

2
The equation of the plane containing 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 is 𝐫 ∙ ( 1 ) = 0
−3

−6 2
For point 𝐷: (−2) ∙ ( 1 ) = −12 − 2 + 15 = 1 so 𝐷 is not on the plane
−5 −3

5 2
For point 𝐸: (−1) ∙ ( 1 ) = 10 − 1 − 9 = 0 so 𝐸 is on the plane
3 −3

𝐷 is the odd one out

The method used for B appears to be quicker until you select the odd one out as one of your initial
three.

c) Using points 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶.

10 8 10 8 91
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ( 0 ) , 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ( 7 ) ( 0 ) × ( 7 ) = (44)
−13 −6 −13 −6 70

91 5 91
𝐫 ∙ (44) = 𝑑 (−1) ∙ (44) = 455 − 44 − 210 = 201
70 −3 70

91
𝐫 ∙ (44) = 201
70
 1 91
For point 𝐷: (3) ∙ (44) = 91 + 132 + 350 = 573 so 𝐷 is not on the plane including 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶
5 70

−1 91
For point 𝐸: (−5) ∙ (44) = −91 − 220 + 210 = −101 so 𝐸 is not on the plane including 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶
3 70

This indicates that the odd one out is one of 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶

Starting again with 𝐴, 𝐷 and 𝐸 (since 𝐷 and 𝐸 must be on the plane)

6 4 6 4 −48
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐷 = ( 4 ) , 𝐴𝐸 = (−4) ( 4 ) × (−4) = ( 22 )
−5 −7 −5 −7 −40

22 1 22
𝐫 ∙ (−11) = 𝑑 (3) ∙ (−11) = 22 − 33 + 100 = 89
20 5 20

5 22
For point 𝐵: (−1) ∙ (−11) = 110 + 11 − 60 = 61 so 𝐵 is not on the plane including 𝐴, 𝐷 and 𝐸
−3 20

3 22
For point 𝐶: (6) ∙ (−11) = 66 − 66 + 80 = 80 so 𝐶 is not on the plane including 𝐴, 𝐷 and 𝐸
4 20

The odd one out must be one of 𝐴, 𝐷 or 𝐸 but since it is not one of 𝐷 or 𝐸 it must be 𝐴.

You might like to try the scalar triple product method for this to see which seems more efficient.
8) For each of the sets of vectors below, decide whether 𝐚, 𝐛 and 𝐜 in that strict order form a right-
handed or a left-handed set

a) 𝐚 = 𝐢 + 𝐣, 𝐛 = 𝐣 + 𝐤, 𝐜 = 𝐤 + 𝐢

b) 𝐚 = 2𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 4𝒌, 𝐛 = −3𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 4𝐤, 𝐜 = 4𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 3𝐤

1 2 −3
c) 𝐚 = (−1) , 𝐛 = (−2) , 𝐜 = (−3)
1 −2 3

1 1 0
a) |0 1 1| = 1(1 − 0) − 1(0 − 1) + 0 = 1 + 1 = 2 positive so right-handed
1 0 1

2 −3 4
b) |−3 2 −4| = 2(−6 + 8) + 3(9 + 16) + 4(−6 − 8)
4 2 −3

= 4 + 75 − 56 = 23 positive so right-handed

1 −1 1
c) | 2 −2 −2| = 1(−6 − 6) + 1(6 − 6) + 1(−6 − 6) = −24 negative so left-handed
−3 −3 3
9) Find the volume of this parallelopiped

1 5 2 3
Let 𝐚 = (1) , 𝐛 = (1) , 𝐜 = (2) and 𝐝 = (5)
1 2 3 0

4 1 2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐛 − 𝐚 = (0), 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐜 − 𝐚 = (1) and 𝐴𝐷
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐝 − 𝐚 = ( 4 )
1 2 −1

4 0 1
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ∙ 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝐴𝐷
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = |1 1 2 | = 4(−1 − 8) − 0 + 1(4 − 2) = −36 + 2 = −34
2 4 −1

Volume = 34 cubic units

10) Find the volume of the tetrahedron with vertices at (1, −3, 4), (2,0,3), (−5, 1, 7) and (−1, 1, 6)

1 2 −5 −1
Let 𝐚 = (−3) , 𝐛 = (0) , 𝐜 = ( 1 ) and 𝐝 = ( 1 )
4 3 7 6

1 −6 −2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 = 𝐛 − 𝐚 = ( 3 ), ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐶 = 𝐜 − 𝐚 = ( 4 ) and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐷 = 𝐝 − 𝐚 = ( 4 )
−1 3 2

1 3 −1
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 ∙ 𝐴𝐶 × 𝐴𝐷 = |−6 4 3 | = 1(8 − 12) − 3(−12 + 6) − 1(−24 + 8) = −4 + 18 + 16 = 30
−2 4 2
1
Volume = 6 × 30 = 5 cubic units
11) Find the shortest distance between each of the pairs of lines below.

Give your answers to three significant figures.

1 4 6 3
a) 𝑙1 : 𝑟 = (2) + 𝜆 (5) and 𝑙2 : 𝑟 = ( 5 ) + 𝜇 (2)
3 6 −4 1

−2 2 −5 3
b) 𝑙1 : 𝑟 = ( 1 ) + 𝜆 ( 1 ) and 𝑙2 : 𝑟 = (−7) + 𝜇 ( 2 )
−3 −2 1 −3

𝑥−3 𝑦+1 2−𝑥 𝑦−5 𝑧+3

c) 𝑙1 : = = 𝑧 − 2 and 𝑙2 : = =
2 3 4 2 2

1 6 −5 4 3 −7
a) (2) − ( 5 ) = (−3) (5) × (2) = ( 14 )
3 −4 7 6 1 −7

−5 −7
(−3) ∙ ( 14 ) = 35 − 42 − 49 = −56
7 −7

−7
|( 14 )| = √72 + 142 + 72 = 7√1 + 22 + 1 = 7√6
−7

−56 8 4√6
Dist = |7√6| = = = 3.27 units to 3 s.f.
√6 3

−2 −5 3 2 3 −7
b) ( 1 ) − (−7) = ( 8 ) ( 1 )×( 2 )=( 0 )
−3 1 −4 −2 −3 1

3 −7
( 8 ) ∙ ( 0 ) = −21 − 4 = −25
−4 1
 −7
|( 0 )| = √72 + 0 + 1 = √50 = 5√2
1
−25 5 5√2
Dist = |5√2| = = = 3.54 units to 3 s.f.
√2 2

3 2 2 −4
𝑥−3 𝑦+1 2−𝑥 𝑦−5 𝑧+3
c) 𝑙1 : = = 𝑧 − 2 is 𝑟 = (−1) + 𝜆 (3), 𝑙2 : 4 = 2 = 2 is 𝑟 = ( 5 ) + 𝜆 ( 2 )
2 3
2 1 −3 2

3 2 1 2 −4 4
(−1) − ( 5 ) = (−6) (3) × ( 2 ) = (−8)
2 −3 5 1 2 16

1 4
(−6) ∙ (−8) = 4 + 48 + 80 = 132
5 16

4
|(−8)| = √42 + 82 + 162 = 4√1 + 22 + 42 = 4√21
16
132 33 11√21
Dist = |4√21| = = = 7.20 units to 3 s.f.
√21 7
12) Two straight lines 𝐿 and 𝑀 have equations

𝑦+4 2−𝑧 𝑥+6 𝑧

𝐿: 𝑥 − 3 = = 𝑀: =𝑦+7=
2 3 7 3

a) Do the lines L and M intersect?

9
b) The vector that is perpendicular to both 𝐿 and 𝑀 can be written in the form (𝑝).
𝑞
Find the values of 𝑝 and 𝑞.

c) The vector equation of the plane containing L that is parallel to the line M can be written in the
form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐𝑧 + 𝑑 = 0. Find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑑.

3 1 −6 7
Line 𝐿 in vector form: 𝑟 = (−4) + 𝜆 ( 2 ). Line 𝑀 in vector form 𝑟 = (−7) + 𝜆 (1)
2 −3 0 3

3 −6 9 1 7 9
a) (−4) − (−7) = (3) ( 2 ) × (1) = (−24)
2 0 2 −3 3 −13

9 9
(3) ∙ (−24) = 81 − 72 − 26 = −17 the lines do not intersect
2 −13

1 7 9
b) ( 2 ) × (1) = (−24)
−3 3 −13

𝑝 = −24, 𝑞 = −13

9
c) The vector equation of the plane is 𝐫. (−24) = 𝑘
−13

3
Since this is true for any point on the plane and 𝐿 is on the plane and includes the point (−4)
2
3 9
(−4) . (−24) = 𝑘 ⇔ 𝑘 = 27 + 96 − 26 = 97
2 −13
 9
The vector equation of the plane is 𝐫. (−24) = 97
−13
𝑥 9
(𝑦) . (−24) = 97
𝑧 −13

9𝑥 − 24𝑦 − 13𝑧 = 97

9𝑥 − 24𝑦 − 13𝑧 − 97 = 0

So 𝑎 = 9, 𝑏 = −24, 𝑐 = −13 and 𝑑 = −97