What is the cross product of #[1, 4, -2]# and #[3, 0, 5] #?

1 Answer
Jan 18, 2017

#20hatveci-11hatvecj-12hatveck#

Explanation:

the cross product of two vectors

#veca=[a_1,a_2,a_3]# and #vecb=[b_1,b_2,b_3]#

is calculated by the determinate

#vecaxxvecb=|(hatveci,hatvecj,hatveck),(a_1,a_2,a_3),(b_1,b_2,b_3)|#

so we have here

#vecaxxvecb=|(hatveci,hatvecj,hatveck),(1,4,-2),(3,0,5)|#

expanding by Row 1

#=hatveci|(4,-2),(0,5)|-hatvecj|(1,-2),(3,5)|+hatveck|(1,4),(3,0)|#

#=(4xx5-0xx(-2))hatveci-(1xx5-3xx(-2))hatvecj+(1xx0-4xx3)hatveck#

#=20hatveci-11hatvecj-12hatveck#