Question 13 Marks
If two sides of a triangle be represented by the vectors $\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$ and $3 \hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$, then prove that the area of the triangle is $\frac{5}{2} \sqrt{5}$ square units.
Answer
View full question & answer→Let then
$\vec{a} =\hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$
$\vec{b} =3 \hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$
$\vec{a} \times \vec{b}$
$=\left|\begin{array}{ccc} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 1 & 2 & 2 \\ 3 & -2 & 1 \end{array}\right| $
$=(2+4) \hat{i}-(1-6) \hat{j}+(-2-6) \hat{k}$
$ =6 \hat{i}+5 \hat{j}-8 \hat{k}$
$|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| =\sqrt{(6)^2+(5)^2+(-8)^2}$
$ =\sqrt{36+25+64}=\sqrt{125}$
$ = 5 \sqrt{5}$
We know that area of triangle
$\begin{array}{l} =\frac{1}{2}|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| \\ =\frac{1}{2} \times 5 \sqrt{5} \\ =\frac{5}{2} \sqrt{5} \text { square units. } \end{array}$
$\vec{a} =\hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+2 \hat{k}$
$\vec{b} =3 \hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$
$\vec{a} \times \vec{b}$
$=\left|\begin{array}{ccc} \hat{i} & \hat{j} & \hat{k} \\ 1 & 2 & 2 \\ 3 & -2 & 1 \end{array}\right| $
$=(2+4) \hat{i}-(1-6) \hat{j}+(-2-6) \hat{k}$
$ =6 \hat{i}+5 \hat{j}-8 \hat{k}$
$|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| =\sqrt{(6)^2+(5)^2+(-8)^2}$
$ =\sqrt{36+25+64}=\sqrt{125}$
$ = 5 \sqrt{5}$
We know that area of triangle
$\begin{array}{l} =\frac{1}{2}|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| \\ =\frac{1}{2} \times 5 \sqrt{5} \\ =\frac{5}{2} \sqrt{5} \text { square units. } \end{array}$



