What is the cross product of <2 , 5 ,-7 > and <5 ,6 ,-9 >?

1 Answer
Feb 25, 2016

< -3, -17, -13 >

Explanation:

{: (,,color(blue)bar(a),xx,color(blue)bar(b),=,color(blue)(barv)), (color(cyan)(x),,a_x,,b_x,,v_x), (color(cyan)(y),,a_y,,b_y,,v_y), (color(cyan)(z),,a_z,,b_z,,v_z) :}

Evaluation of the vector barv can be performed in a manner similar to finding determinants.

v_x=+|(a_y, b_y),(a_z,b_z)|color(white)("XXX") v_y=-|(a_x,b_x),(a_z,b_z)|color(white)("XXX") v_z=+|(a_x,b_x),(a_y,b_y)|

For the given vectors:
color(white)("XXX")< a_x, a_y, a_z > = < 2, 5, -7 >
color(white)("XXX")< b_x, b_y, b_z > = < 5, 6, -9 >

This becomes
{: (,,color(blue)bar(a),xx,color(blue)bar(b),=,color(blue)(barv)), (color(cyan)(x),,2,,5,,v_x), (color(cyan)(y),,5,,6,,v_y), (color(cyan)(z),,-7,,-9,,v_z) :}
and

bar(color(white)("XXXXXXXXXX"))
color(white)("XXX")v_x=+|(5,6),(-7,-9)|

color(white)("XXXX")=5xx(-9)-6xx(-7)

color(white)("XXXX")=-45+42=-3

bar(color(white)("XXXXXXXXXX"))
color(white)("XXX")v_y=- |(2,5),(-7,-9)|

color(white)("XXXX")=-(2xx(-9)-5xx(-7))

color(white)("XXXX")=-(-18+35)

color(white)("XXXX")=-17

bar(color(white)("XXXXXXXXXX"))
color(white)("XXX")v_z=+|(2,5),(5,6)|

color(white)("XXXX")=2xx6-5xx5

color(white)("XXXX")=12-25

color(white)("XXXX")=-13
bar(color(white)("XXXXXXXXXX"))