Vector Algebra

SECTION – B
Topic - Using vector algebra, find the area of a
parallelogram/ triangle. Also derive the area analytically
and verify the same.

Yashoneel Bingley
XII Science
28
 INDEX
● Acknowledgement.
● Definition of vectors.
● Cross product of Vectors (Vector product).
● Physical representation of vector (Area vector of
parallelogram).
● Properties of vector product.
● Area vector of triangle when two vectors are
given.
● Solved examples.
● Bibliography.
ACKNOWLEDGEMEN
T

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to,

our Maths Teacher Prashant Sir, as well as our Principal
Sudha ma’am, who gave me the golden opportunity to do
this wonderful project on the topic Vector Algebra.
This project also helped me in doing a lot of research and I
came to know about so any new things and I am really
thankful to them.
Secondly, I would also like to thank my cousins who helped
me a lot in finalizing this project within the limited time
frame.
Definition of vector
A vector is an object that has both a magnitude and a direction.
Geometrically, we can picture a vector as a directed line segment, whose
length is the magnitude of the vector and with an arrow indicating the
direction. The direction of the vector is from its tail to its head.

Two vectors are the same if they have the same magnitude and direction.
This means that if we take a vector and translate it to a new position
(without rotating it), then the vector we obtain at the end of this process is
the same vector we had in the beginning.

Cross product of Vectors (Vector Product)

The vector product of two vectors a and b is given by a vector whose
magnitude is given by |a||b| sinθ (where 0∘ ≤ θ ≤ 180∘) which represents the
angle between the two vectors and the direction of the resultant vector is
^
given by a unit vector 𝑛 whose direction is perpendicular to both the
 ^
vectors a and b in such a way that a, b and 𝑛 are oriented in right-handed
system.

Right-handed orientation means that if vector a is turned in the direction of

^
vector b then the direction of the unit vector 𝑛 will be in the direction in
which a right-handed screw would rotate if moved in a similar manner.

Also, both the given vectors a and b are not null vectors and non-parallel
in nature. The right-hand thumb rule gives an idea of the direction of
the resultant vector.

^
Thus we can say that, a×b = |a| |b|sin 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 𝑛, where a×b represents the
cross product of two vectors.

If in any case, any of the vectors is null or both the vectors are parallel to
each other, then the cross product is not defined.

In such a situation we can say that a×b = 0.

Physical Representation of Vectors

a and b are the adjacent sides of the parallelogram OACB and θ is the
angle between the vectors a and b. Then the area of the parallelogram is
given by |a x b| = |a||b| sinθ.

Properties of Vector Product

i) The vector product does not have Commutative Property.
It is given by a×b = – (b×a)

ii) The following property holds true in case of vector multiplication:

(ka)×b= k(a×b) =a×(kb)

iii) If the given vectors are collinear then a×b= 0

(Since the angle between both the vectors would be 0, then sin 0 = 0)

Following the above property, we can say that the vector multiplication of a
^
vector with itself would be (a×a)= |a||a|sin0 𝑛 = 0
Also in terms of unit vector notation
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
𝑖×𝑖 = 𝑗×𝑗 = 𝑘×𝑘 = 0

From the above discussion it also follows that

^ ^ ^ ^ ^
𝑖×𝑗 = 𝑘 = −𝑗×𝑖
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
𝑗×𝑘 = 𝑖 = −𝑘×𝑗
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
𝑘×𝑖 = 𝑗 = −𝑖×𝑘

This can be easily represented using the following diagram. On moving in

clockwise direction and taking cross product of any two pair of the unit
vectors we get the third one and in anticlockwise direction we get the
negative resultant.

v) a × b in terms of unit vectors can be represented as

a =a1𝑖^+a2𝑗^+a3𝑘^

b =b1𝑖^+b2𝑗^+b3𝑘^
→ →
Then 𝑎×𝑏 =(a1𝑖^ + a2𝑗^ + a3𝑘^)(b1𝑖^ + b2𝑗^ + b3𝑘^)

On expanding we will get

^ ^ ^ ^
|a| |b| sinθ 𝑛 = (a2b3–a3b2) 𝑖 + (a3b1–a1b3) 𝑗 + (a1b2–a2b1) 𝑘

vi) Distributive Law: a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c

We know that in a parallelogram when the two adjacent sides are given
by AB vector and AC vector and the angle between the two sides are given
by θ then the area of the parallelogram will be given by |AB×AC∣ and the
value will be given by |AB∣×∣AC∣× sin θ.

A triangle divides a parallelogram into two equal parts, so the area of the
triangle will be given by
1
2
× |AB∣×∣AC∣× sin θ.

When two vectors are given:

Below are the expressions used to find the area of a triangle when two
vectors are known,
1 1 1
2
× |AB×AC∣ or 2
× |BC×CA∣ or 2
× |CB×CA∣
Example 1:
Using vectors, find the area of the triangle with

vertices: A(1,2,3), B(2,−1,4) and C(4,5,−1)

Solution:

Given: A(1,2,3),B(2,−1,4) and C(4,5,−1)

1
Area of triangle ABC= 2 × ∣​AB×AC∣

We have AB= OB – OA
^ ^ ^
= (2−1) 𝑖+ (−1−2) 𝑗+ (4−3) 𝑘
^ ^
= i^ − 3𝑗​+ 𝑘

AC= OC−OA
^ ^ ^
= (4−1) 𝑖+ (5−2) 𝑗+ (−1−3) 𝑘
^ ^
= 3i^ + 3𝑗− 4𝑘

^ ^ ^
AB×AC= | 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 |

|1 -3 1 |

| 3 3 -4 |
 ^ ^ ^
= (12−3) 𝑖 − (−4−3) 𝑗 ​+(3+9) 𝑘

^ ^ ^
= 9𝑖 + 7𝑗 ​+ 12𝑘

Magnitude of AB×AC= √(9)2 + (7)2 + (12)2​

∣​AB×AC∣ ​=√ 81+49+144​

=√274

1 1
Area of △ABC= 2
× ∣​AB×AC∣ ​= 2
× 274​= √274/2 ​sq. units

∴ the required area is √274/2 ​sq. units

Example 2:
Find the area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are determined by
the following vectors,
→ ^ ^ ^ → ^ ^ ^
𝑎 = 𝑖 – 𝑗 + 3𝑘 and 𝑏 = 2𝑖 – 7𝑗 + 𝑘

Solution:

We know that if a→ and b→ represent the two adjacent sides of a

parallelogram, then its area is |a→ x b→|. Also,

→ → ^ ^ ^
𝑎 x𝑏=|𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 |
 =| 1 -1 3 |

=| 2 -7 1 |

Solving the determinant, we get

→ → ^ ^
𝑎 x 𝑏 = 𝑖 {[(-1) x 1)] – [(-7) x 3]} – 𝑗 {[1 x 1)] – [2 x 3]}
^
+ 𝑘 {[1 x (-7))] – [2 x (-1)]}

^ ^ ^
= 20𝑖 + 5𝑗 – 5𝑘
→ → → →
Also, the magnitude of 𝑎 x 𝑏 is, |𝑎 x 𝑏| = √202+52+(−5)2

= √450

= √25×9×2

= 15√2.

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is 15√2 sq. units

 BIBLIOGRAPHY
● www.google.com
● www.toppr.com
● www.byjus.com
● www.googleimages.com